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Republican Chief Michael Steele Deftly Mends Fences at Idaho Confab

2 years ago
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Michael Ames
Michael Ames
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For a major fundraiser in Idaho's toniest enclave last weekend, the state's Idaho Republican Party called in heavy reinforcements from Washington, D.C. But as Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele took the podium on Friday at an opulent base lodge of the Sun Valley ski resort, most of the state's highest-ranking elected Republicans were not in the audience.
For Chairman Steele, the event was an opportunity to score political points against the Obama administration and Idaho Democratic Congressman Walt Minnick, who is vying to be just the third Democrat from this state to win congressional reelection since 1962. But it also gave Steele a chance to mend fences within his own party following a series of spectacular spending scandals earlier this year.
The visit was part of a western trip that had Steele skipping to Billings, Mont., to speak with Republicans there on Saturday. Meanwhile, in what has been described by the Idaho Republican Party as a "complete and total coincidence," Rush Limbaugh was also in Sun Valley on Friday, attending a wedding. According to the Idaho GOP, the two men did not meet during their time in the state.
The Idaho event was hosted by Earl Holding, Sinclair Oil owner and America's 93rd-richest individual, at his historic Sun Valley resort. The $25-general-admission "social summit" followed an earlier $500 private VIP reception with Steele. According to Idaho Republican Party Finance Director Anabel Manchester, the main event's turnout of roughly 250 people was better than expected.
Guest speakers included nationally syndicated conservative radio host Dennis Prager (via video-chat) and a fiery stand-up act by conservative comedian Eric Golub, who writes "The Tygrrrr Express" blog. Golub, who said he wants a return to civility in politics, opened with a joke about the Boise State University Broncos recruiting Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to play defensive tackle. He then pleaded with Gen. David Petraeus to "stop being so nice" to President Obama.
Steele's rhetorical tactics began before his speech with a comment to Boise conservative radio host Austin Hill. Discussing the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Steele sounded off on a recent comment by Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), which suggested that former president George W. Bush shared blame for the spill.
"You have some numb nuts in Congress trying to blame Bush for this. Stop the blaming. At some point you become a leader and you take ownership," Steele said in reference to Dodd's comments on the Don Imus radio show.
Steele was a high-profile speaker for Ketchum, a resort town, but a poor showing from Idaho's senior GOP officials was a reminder of the chairman's continued struggles in gaining the confidence of ranking Republicans. Absent from Friday's event were Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter and Lt. Gov. Brad Little (annual trail ride), Sen. Mike Crapo (committee meetings on Capitol Hill) and Rep. Mike Simpson (missed his flight). The Idaho Republican Party explained the absences as the result of a scheduling crunch that will have the entire party gathered next weekend in Idaho Falls.
Idaho's junior senator, Jim Risch, was in attendance and helped warm up the crowd for the party chairman.
"There are many things that can hurt America," Risch said. "Al Qaeda, Iran, North Korea, the Taliban -- they can all hurt us. But they can't destroy us. This [Obama] Administration can destroy us," he said to enthusiastic applause.
Following Risch, Idaho Republican Party Chairman Norm Semanko, a classmate of Steele's at Georgetown Law, introduced his old friend.
Steele opened with the light-hearted street lingo that has endeared him to some Republicans while offending others, mainly minority conservatives.
"Wassup, Idaho?! Brother came and helped you out!" the former Maryland lieutenant governor said to the all-white, and largely white-haired, audience. Turning to 67-year-old Risch next, he said, "What-up, baby?" and elicited a round of nervous giggles.
Countless commentators have poked fun at Steele's linguistic jujitsu. And while some worry that the chairman could alienate conservative black voters, there were no minorities at the Idaho event to offend. Steele's forced slang scored points instead by offering his party's dwindling demographic the illusion of inclusion in an increasingly multi-ethnic society.
Upon close inspection, many of Steele's historic public gaffes look less like mistakes and more like strategy. In January, when he swore honesty to Fox News host Sean Hannity with the old saying, "Honest Injun," the predictably politically-correct howls from the left sounded, well, predictable, and Steele emerged intact.
Steele's reign at the RNC has been damaged most significantly not by verbal slips, but by scandalous expense disclosures. This spring, reports showed the RNC chairman had spent $35,000 of donor money on luxury hotels and $17,000 on private cross-country jet flights. And in a public relations nightmare that Fox News dubbed a "lesbian bondage fiasco," RNC staffers reported charging $1,946.25 at Voyeur, a topless West Hollywood nightclub. Rebounding from these infamous junkets, Steele's presentation in Idaho may have signaled a renewed seriousness as November, and his own future, hangs in the balance.
Friday's event opened with a short speech by Bob Bergdahl, who spoke on behalf of his son, Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl, the American soldier who grew up near Sun Valley and who was captured by the Taliban one year ago next week. The traditional MIA-POW shrine, an empty table set for one with a white cloth and a lone rose, stood in front of the podium as Bergdahl spoke about the complexities of his military sacrifice, not just his own family's, but that of military families in all nations, including Taliban parents that have lost sons to U.S. missile strikes.
Bergdahl's speech moved several audience members to tears, and when it was Steele's turn to speak, he pivoted on the missing soldier's emotional, and political, impact.
"We are with Bowe," Steele said. "We appreciate the sacrifice of the mother and the father watching their son go off to war. We appreciate it," he said. "But I don't believe this administration -- or its ilk -- appreciate the sacrifice."
After the speech, Steele elaborated that the Obama administration's beliefs are "not consistent with that sacrifice."
For all the distractions that have characterized Steele's time as head of the RNC, his Idaho stop revealed that the man who Jon Stewart once likened to a jive-talking Muppet can also be a ruthless political operator.
To Idaho Republicans, who dominate every wing and office of state government, freshman Democrat Rep. Walt Minnick is a glaring exception to one-party rule. In 2008, Minnick won his seat with little more than a one percent victory over unpopular state legislator Bill Sali. This November, Minnick faces Raul Labrador, a social conservative whose May 25 upset over establishment-favorite Vaughn Ward will carry momentum into summer campaigning.
Against this backdrop, Steele's speech was ultimately a rallying cry to Idaho Republicans looking to take back a seat that most feel rightfully belongs to them.
Filed Under: Republicans, Michael Steele
Tagged: Bob Bergdahl, Eric Golub, Eric Holding, GOP, Idaho, Jim Risch, Raul Labrador, Sun Valley, Walt Minnick
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3 Comments

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mdricki

Another black man, used as a puppet by the white man. It offends me to be white myself when we use one to gain what we want.

June 28 2010 at 2:01 PM Report abuse -5 rate up rate down Reply
hacharacter

" Bob Bergdahl, who spoke on behalf of his son, Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl, the American soldier who grew up near Sun Valley and who was captured by the Taliban one year ago next week." What has happened to this young soldier? Do we know if he is alive? If, so, do we know where he is being held?

June 28 2010 at 12:26 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
hhassociates1

Mr. Steele, Mr, Chairman. you wanted it, now you have it!, it is your baby. Make it work or leave it a alone.

June 27 2010 at 8:12 PM Report abuse +2 rate up rate down Reply
shorthosep

That's funny because if we follow the logic of Steele 9-11 is Bush's fault and the entire financial collapse is also Bush's fault yet if you ask Steele or any of the many Republicon's who's fault this was they will immediately tell you it's Clinton"s. GOP hypocricy at it's best.

June 27 2010 at 6:31 PM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
Kenneth

does it really matter what this man or even the leader of the Democratic party does or doesn't do. The are not running for office,they do not write legislation,and they do not vote on legislation. The only thing they seem to do is try raising money for their party which in that case does not matter to me since I have never given as much as 10 cents to either party or a candidate.

June 27 2010 at 3:56 PM Report abuse +7 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Kenneth's comment
glers

they decide how much funding each candidate will get from their parties so yes they do have importance

June 29 2010 at 4:13 PM Report abuse -3 rate up rate down Reply
andrc657

The republican event was hosted by SINCLAIR OIL in Idaho's toniest and most opulent venue. This was a typical republican event catering to BIG OIL and the MEGA WEALTHY. The republicans are owned and controlled by BIG CORPORATE INTERESTS. How about sticking up for the working guy and gal.

June 27 2010 at 12:47 PM Report abuse -3 rate up rate down Reply
dsmithsfamily

might be seeing a patern here
The Idaho event was hosted by Earl Holding, Sinclair Oil owner and America's 93rd-richest individual
and related news They started with a bang in April, cashing a $1 million check from a Texas oil magnate. After a quiet May, friends and foes are watching to see if the new organization's core group, American Crossroads, can reach its goal of raising $52 million by November.tea party, texas tea party that is millionairs movie stars

June 27 2010 at 12:13 PM Report abuse -2 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to dsmithsfamily's comment
hairhofla

Just a little misleading ssmithig.....perhaps the BP employees gave their largest ***** of donations to Obama totaling just over $70K(chump change for a presidential campaign)But the oil industry as a whole... more than doubled what they gave to Obama in 2008 to John McCain at $2.4 Million...so quit distorting the facts

June 27 2010 at 8:45 PM Report abuse -6 rate up rate down Reply

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