Republicans angry that Steele won’t call Obama a ‘socialist.’
Republicans angry that Steele won’t call Obama a ‘socialist.’
State Republican party leaders are incensed that RNC chairman Michael Steele isn’t labeling President Obama a “socialist.” “We don’t see this president so much as a socialist as we see him as a collectivist,” Steele said earlier this week. At least 16 state leaders are now backing a resolution that would pressure Steele to adopt their partisan rhetoric by calling on the Democratic party to rename itself the “Democrat Socialist Party”:
RESOLVED, that we the members of the Republican National Committee call on the Democratic Party to be truthful and honest with the American people by acknowledging that they have evolved from a party of tax and spend to a party of tax and nationalize and, therefore, should agree to rename themselves the Democrat Socialist Party.
The Washington Times writes, “It is the first time in memory that a sitting national leader of the Republican Party has faced a public challenge over his ideological leadership by conservative members of his own national committee.” Both Oliver Willis and Steve Benen see the resolution as “evidence of broader trouble for Steele.”
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How about calling the repukes..
…The Fascist Republican Party of Regressive Nonsense.
Fcuk the Republicans
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:29 pmAnd I make a motion to rename the Republican Party:
The Repugnicant Violence Cabal & Excess Retaliation Factory
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:31 pmI was going to suggest the “Republican Nazi Party of No”.
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:31 pmTell ya what, folks… if Democrats embrace the new name you GOOPers have chosen for their party, you have to follow suit and let the Dems decide what YOU get to be called. Kick off your re-branding effort properly, hm?
Sound fair?
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:32 pmYou know, they never treated the white people in their party this way…
Hey gang, let’s draft a resolution for what the GOP should have to start calling themselves!
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:32 pmI should have said “Corporation” instead of “Factory.” My apologies!
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:33 pmSo soon Steele will be shown as a weak leader Again for not standing up for something he knows is completely bull…
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:33 pmI’ll give him 48 hours for him to call Obama a Socialist for taxing the 2% rich people.
Do they even know how childish this sounds?
They’re angry at Steele because he won’t call Obama the same names they want to call him?
Did these people ever mature past fifth grade?
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:33 pmand, therefore, should agree to rename themselves the Democrat Socialist Party.
First republicans should adopt “The Spoiled Children Party,”
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:34 pmto more accurately reflect their political outlook.
Of course, forgotten in Republican fear and loathing is the inescapable historical truth. Since the time of Herbert Hoover, Wall Street and the American economy overall almost always do better under Democratic presidents.
For the details, see:
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:34 pm“Democrats. Saving American Capitalism Since 1933.”
These guys still can’t say “Democratic”, can they? Steele is right about one thing – this labeling of Democrats by Republicans is “off the hook”.
The Republican Motto: “When you don’t know, say ‘no’”
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:35 pmSteele is Mussolini to Rush’s Adolf.
Keep up being the puppet and history will label Steele with the unending Pinocchio label.
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:37 pmIn light of the rapidly metastasizing torture revelations shitstorm, expect the Repu’ublicists and their wingnut media running dogs to unrelentingly throw up the chaff. It’s all they got left.
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:38 pmHow about the Republican Party renaming itself to :
“Regressive Party for War and Torture”
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:38 pmI think “The Whore Party” about sums it up.
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:40 pm“The Dimwit Scratchin’ at my Crapload Party”.
Really, the worst thing you can call them is…
…The Republican Party.
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:41 pmThese guys do realize that Steele steers the 2010 campaign money, right?
Alright…
I’ll go:
1: defense of the rich
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:41 pm2: torture
3: Satan
Nah, they’re really just upset they can’t use the “n” word for either.
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:41 pmRESOLVED, that we the members of the Republican National Committee call on the Democratic Party to be truthful and honest with the American people…..
Wow. This is why the republicans are a failed party. They won’t worry about cleaning their own house but will have the gonads to ask the Democratic party to be Truthful.
I’ll start taking the GOP seriously only after they become “truthful” about WMD’s, Torture, Stolen elections and the like.
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:41 pmIt’s good that the RNC members have so much time to concentrate on the important stuff.
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:44 pmHave you ever noticed that the Republicans love to put labels and adjectives on people or groups they don’t like, i.e. socialist, communist, gay, lesbian, left-wing, extremist, radical, inferior, poor, stupid, etc.? Is that where they get their power?
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:44 pmIt reminds me of the speech at certain churches.
It is funny how the repubs have absolutely no ideas. For years now all they have been about is the framing and the messaging, focusing on what to call something rather that what the issues are. Here they go again focusing on what to call the Dems. Pretty sad.
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:44 pmwhirlaway Says:
How about the Republican Party renaming itself to :
“Regressive Party for War and Torture”
I thought that was “Fair and Balanced Coverage…you decide!”
Although today’s GOP is more Patriotism and no Dissent.
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:45 pmWith all thats going on in this country, and with all of the problems that need serious people to attack serious issues, these people with no plans, no alternatives, no ideas, no decency, no respect, have nothing but name calling to do?
Its time to marginalize all of the people who have nothing to offer this country. NOW!!
RIP
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:45 pmSGT Stephen R. Sherman
C CO 1-5 IN (STRYKER)
KIA 3 Feb 2005
Mosul, Iraq
Jebus. It’s Idiots On Parade.
*rolling eyes*
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:46 pmWhy do they have such a hard time saying the word ‘Democratic’?
If they insist on saying “Democrat” then it logically follows that the word “Socialist” needs to be changed too.
The Democrat Social Party.
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:50 pmHow bad is it in the GOP that Michael Steele appears to be lone voice of reason here?
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:50 pm“The Party of Gay One-Armed Midgets”
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:52 pmElBruce, my contribution:
1. corporate welfare
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:52 pm2. torture and serfdom
3. Dark Ages
Antisocial Republicants.
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:52 pmThis absolutely boggles the mind. The Republican Party has a great deal of work to do in order to make their party respectable again, and they are STILL spending their time with petty sniping more befitting an elementary school playground.
Here’s a tip for the GOP: Funneling all your energy into trying to make some meaningless label stick to the Democrats isn’t going to bring your party back. Here’s what will:
Admitting GOP mistakes of the past. Are you REALLY happy with the way the country was run for the past eight years? Accept that most of us aren’t, and we’re not interested in a party that has nothing but the same old same old. Get some fresh solutions and distance yourself from Bushco.
Stopping the hypocrisy. All of a sudden, NOW you’re against running up the debt? All of a sudden, NOW you’re complaining about reconciliation, despite using that to ram your agenda through when you were in power? All of a sudden, NOW you’re complaining about DHS reports? Complaining about the very things you found acceptable during the Bush years isn’t doing much for your credibility.
Being consistent. Adopt positions on issues you can stick to regardless of who’s in power. And once you’ve figured out where you stand on issues like torture, foreign policy, executive powers, domestic surveillance, etc., be proud of them and defend them. Don’t weasel your way to different positions just to attack a Democrat.
And lastly — acting like grownups. Take the high road once in awhile. You might find the view is better from up there.
April 23rd, 2009 at 4:55 pmOne thing that bothers me – the republicnas are every bit as bad as bush and cheney. I hate to say it, but look at what they are doing.
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:01 pmGoodness! The level of ‘deh stupit’ in the GOP! That’s Democratic Party to you stupit GOPers!
I like the new names for the GOP that you all have come up with. My favorite is stateofthedivision’s “The Repugicant Violance Cabal & Excess Retaliation Corporation!” I think that about covers what the GOPers represent.
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:02 pmIf the Republicans wanted an honest name for themselves, they’d themselves the Corporate Socialist Party.
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:03 pmThe playground analogy is excellent. Schools all over America have teams. Each team gets a name. My highschool team was called the Warhawks, and the gradeschool up the street from my home is called the Flames.
To the best of my knowledge, and feel free to correct me if I am wrong, but teams get to pick their own names. If a competing team were to pick their name, they would probably pick something uncomplimentary.
This is just the latest salvo in the Republican propaganda war. They are desperate to try to make liberals out to be socialists, so desperate in fact, that they would, as a group, make such an idiotic gesture.
I hereby resolve to call them the Fascist Corporatist Republican Party and, while I am just one person, I will do what I can to make sure they never regain political power.
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:05 pmSo long as we can refer to them as the Corporate Nanny-State Facist Party, sure.
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:09 pmI see no need to comeup with a new name for the Republican Party. Their current brand equity is so poor I can’t see how rebadging would be anything other than a favor to them.
As for this pitiful resolution, I almost feel sorry for these people if they think calling people names is going to improve their chances.
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:10 pmI laughed so hard when I read that, I nearly choked.
Since when do Republicans know anything about truth and honesty?
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:13 pmThis is pretty funny and a clear admission by the GOPers that this is the only way they’re ever going to win another election: the Democrats have to label themselves filthy commies.
“C’mon Dems, play fair. Call yourselves the dog humping, stool eating, baby rapers.”
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:13 pmDon’t you love the smell of desperation in the evening? It smells like…. victory.
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:14 pmLevi the Dungbeetle Says
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:05 pm
This is just the latest salvo in the Republican propaganda war. They are desperate to try to make liberals out to be socialists, so desperate in fact, that they would, as a group, make such an idiotic gesture.
_____________________________________________________________
Exactly. They feel they need some sort of pejorative, and they’ve discovered they can use just about any word — as long as there are enough people unclear about its literal meaning and it’s said with a sneer.
Ronald Reagan did this with “liberal”, but apparently the GOP believes that term is losing its sting. They made “community organizer” out to be something less than desirable during the campaign, but that didn’t stick enough for them. So now they’re going with “socialist”. Never mind that most of their membership can’t define the term. But that’s OK — as long as they believe it means “something bad”, it will serve its purpose.
I do find it kind of hilarious that they’re turning on their leader just because he’s not willing to play their juvenile game.
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:15 pmHow bad is it in the GOP that Michael Steele appears to be lone voice of reason here?
Amen!
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:17 pmThe headline should read “Republicans Angry”
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:18 pmThen you could use it for virtually every stoiry about them.
Wait a minute, I thought the Pres. Obama is a fascist. Can these people make up their minds yet?
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:26 pm“Can these people make up their minds yet?”
Hard to make up their minds when they’ve lost them.
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:27 pmI just want one Republican to explain to me how Obama can be a Socialist and a Facist at the same time?
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:30 pmmary lacewing Says:
Why do they have such a hard time saying the word ‘Democratic’?
Lately I’ve been thinking it would be funny if Democrats started using “Republic” as an adjective and pretend it was on accident. Just drop the last syllable all the time. “The latest Republic proposal…” “What?” “Oh sorry, I meant to say Republican.”
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:33 pmMost of them don’t like Steele anyway. I guess he’s not crazy enough for them. But if they give him a chance, he can prove that he is nutty just like them. I think the only reason why they appointed him as their fearless leader was because, since Pres. Obama is black, they wanted to show America that the GOP also had a black leader. That said, I have followed some of Steele’s endeavors, and trust me, he’s just as extreme as the rest of the leadership of the GOP.
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:34 pmSo Michael Steele is the least insane teabagger in the republican party. I wasn’t expecting that
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:37 pmHope says:
Most of them don’t like Steele anyway. I guess he’s not crazy enough for them. But if they give him a chance, he can prove that he is nutty just like them.
Steele’s got some bolts loose in his head, but overall, I’d rather put up with him than that famous governor from Alaska–hey there!
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:42 pmIn a way, I feel sorry for Steele–I think somewhere inside is a human being trying to come out of that Republican shell–he just has poor choice in company. Maybe I’m not being harsh enough.
gummble-bee-itch Says:
“C’mon Dems, play fair. Call yourselves the dog humping, stool eating, baby rapers.”
That would be the only way they had a shot in 2010.
.
Hope Says:
I think the only reason why they appointed him as their fearless leader was because, since Pres. Obama is black, they wanted to show America that the GOP also had a black leader.
It’s one thing to appoint a black guy as your leader. It’s quite another to demonstrate that you can actually tolerate a black guy as your leader for long. The R’s passed the first test, but the second is looking pretty iffy.
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:42 pmElBruce, I have posted before that we should start using “Republicanic, adding the “ic” they stole from “Democratic”. Obviously, they feel the need to have those extra letters.
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:44 pmGG Says:
I just want one Republican to explain to me how Obama can be a Socialist and a Facist at the same time?
It’s part of the Doughy Pantload campaign to prove that Fascism is actually Leftist. And a lot of wingnuts are convinced that Nazis were actually socialist — because, well, the National Socialist Party was the full name, much like East Germany called itself the German Democratic Republic (got one out of three right). When confronted with the information that the Nazis initially targeted actual socialists and communists and dissolved the unions, these wingnuts simply run off so they can pretend they heard nothing!
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:46 pmHahahahahahaha! The GOoPers are still jockeying for positions in the circular firing squad. Unfortunately, it looks like the first volley will be aimed at Mr. Steele instead of the freaks who have laid the party low.
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:47 pmFunniest part of this story, the Dems could rename themselves anything you can think of and still win as long as the Republicans keep their shit-stained name as-is.
RESOLVED, that we the members of Think Progress call on the Republican Party to not change a god damned thing about themselves.
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:52 pmHope Says:
Wait a minute, I thought the Pres. Obama is a fascist. Can these people make up their minds yet?
Today is Thursday so he’s a socialist. Tomorrow he will be a marxist. Oh wait, Friday is communist. It’s so confusing. So who is the leader of the GOP?
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:53 pmlivelongandprosper says:
So who is the leader of the GOP?
A leader implies a sense of direction and forward (or backward) movement. When people run around in circles, everyone is the leader. Nobody gets anywhere, but, who cares about getting anywhere? Running in circles is fun.
April 23rd, 2009 at 6:00 pm[Republicans] are “calling on the Democratic party to rename itself the Democrat Socialist Party”
So this is the idea that Republicans have to solve our country’s problems? Maybe they could focus on finding solutions to problems – not making problems for those trying to find solutions!
April 23rd, 2009 at 6:10 pmMy above post makes me feel like “The Sphinx” from the movie “Mystery Men” :)
April 23rd, 2009 at 6:11 pmAt the risk of belaboring the point, the Republicans are all about labels. Their actions here confirm it. they will try to win on labels instead of sound policies. What a shame their tactic works on so many people. People need to know that labels do not produce results.
April 23rd, 2009 at 6:13 pmWord games. Now that the bogey man of communism is dead, we have the word socialism. Most western nations are a combination of socialism programs and democracy. Just what socialist programs are the Republicans willing to give up? And are their parents and grandparents willing to forgo: Medicare, social security, unemployment insurance, FDIC to protect their bank accounts? Which one?
And which of the socialist programs the congress and senate get? Pensions free from loss, free medical care we provide them, that we ourselves do not have? Which of these legislators are willing to give up those socialist programs?
Hello, I can’t hear you? Steele is an idiot. First for being a Republican. Second for letting himself be used and abused by being a token black. He is given no respect. Because he sold out for both reasons. They don’t respect him. He is black but he is no Obama. They are not interchangeable as the GOP thought. So they backed a loser.
The Republicans are so out of step with the country and the way the majority of us think, that they have no idea how to choose anyone. That is anyone different from being white. They have still not caught on to the fact that they lost and why they lost. And they never will. They will still be saying no to everything not Republican now and in the future. While having nothing relevant to contribute of their own. This is who they are now. An empty sleeve pointing to nowhere.
April 23rd, 2009 at 6:28 pmExcellent, curious. Well said.
April 23rd, 2009 at 6:31 pmIt’s pretty sad when wacky Michael Steele is the sane guy in the room.
The Constant Weader at http://www.RealityChex.com
April 23rd, 2009 at 6:43 pmi thought the gop already picked their new name: american taliban
April 23rd, 2009 at 6:53 pmWow. They really have nothing. Awesome.
April 23rd, 2009 at 7:04 pmWhat if he called Obama “a pooty-head”?
April 23rd, 2009 at 7:26 pmShorter Republican Party:
April 23rd, 2009 at 7:54 pm“Why won’t the monkey dance for us? Dance, monkey, dance!”
The irony is raygun had a progressive tax policy very much like President Obama’s, and Nixon invented progressive taxation. LOL
April 23rd, 2009 at 7:55 pmHey Repube dipsh*ts! “Democrat” is a noun. “Party” is a noun. A noun can’t modify a noun so you sound like morons when you say “Democrat Party”. I guess it illustrates the intellectual bankruptcy of an ideology that’s so is so wrong even your grammar is incorrect.
It’s good to see, though, you continue to take a wide stance on issues of no importance like what the other party calls itself. Heck of job, there Repubes.
April 23rd, 2009 at 7:57 pmUm. I must quibble, Progressive Republican. “Progressive tax policy” is dated back to, at least, the French Revolution and U.S. income taxes have been progressive, in theory, since the inception of Federal income tax.
Tricky Dick didn’t invent nuthin’ aside from overt criminal activity in the White House. And even there, one could look at several past Presidents and conclude that Tricky Dick just “invented” getting caught through his own incompetence.
April 23rd, 2009 at 8:05 pmSteele won’t say it. I will: “spread the wealth.”
April 23rd, 2009 at 8:13 pmFrom the story:
Maybe they should throw a little Facist, Commie, Nazi, DickTator hissy fit…
April 23rd, 2009 at 8:16 pmYou’re right he didn’t invent it but he used it very publicly which was unheard of back then. And come on, it wasn;t Nixon’s fault some people broke into those buildings.
April 23rd, 2009 at 8:18 pmMaybe they want to get the Democrats to change the name of the party so they can change the name of their party to “Democrat.” It’s so crazy it just might work!
April 23rd, 2009 at 8:47 pmOMG, I am sooo thankful the Republican Party finally has a plan!
The Plan: “RESOLVED, that we the members of the Republican National Committee call on the Democratic Party to be truthful and honest with the American people by acknowledging that they have evolved from a party of tax and spend to a party of tax and nationalize and, therefore, should agree to rename themselves the Democrat Socialist Party.”
April 23rd, 2009 at 10:48 pmNotice to wingnuts of the GOP. You are powerless, insignificant and irrelevant. Sit down and quit whining.
April 23rd, 2009 at 11:19 pmbrothabill Says:
…and so do the equally corrupt and equally stupid democrats
Equally corrupt and stupid? That’s just not possible. Not even if they tried.
April 23rd, 2009 at 11:40 pmWhy is socialism or socialist such repugnant words in the American or should I dare say Republican vocabulary? This country provides every child under the age of 18 a free education, a socialistic program if I’ve ever seen one. Is not WIC (Women, Infant, Child) Program a socialistic program? What about Social Security, is that not a socialistic program. What are the Republicans afraid that this country will become entirely socialistic? Well the politicians have helped this country along down the road towards socialis, by allowing our economy to go south, literally. Our government has allowed corporations to outsurce the American worker’s jobs to foreign shores for the sake of a larger profit margin. Maybe it’s time for our government to take care of WE the people, since the pliticians have sold our jobs to foreigners. WE the people need the socialistic programs to provide us with affordable health care for all Americans. WE the people need to end the retirement system given to our elected congressmen and senators and put them on Social Security. Now that would be a starting step forward towards a progressive state.
April 24th, 2009 at 12:38 amGood for Steele, finally decided to grow a pair!
April 24th, 2009 at 12:48 amRepublican has been a dead brand for a while. If it was not a lot of people up for reelection would not have called themselves “Independent” or acted like they sympathized with the Democratic Party during the last election.
April 24th, 2009 at 1:20 amAnd if that doesn’t work, call him a Communist. Still not working with the moderates, huh? We’ll try Nazi. If that doesn’t turn your average head, we’ll have to call him the Anti-Christ.
Pushing the middle to the fringe is quixotic. Rave on lunatics.
April 24th, 2009 at 1:31 amWhy does anyone care about Mike Steele he’s useless and ineffective much like Newt is outdated.
April 24th, 2009 at 3:00 amMan O man, it has got to be a sad day to get up in the morning and put on your republican face and report to republican head quarters for work. Or republican training on Rush butt munching.
Hmmm? Unemployment or a paycheck?
Remember, the party of God, apple pie, family values, defense funds, smaller Gov’t and such?
April 24th, 2009 at 4:27 amPatrioticLiberalChristianMantisReligiosa Says:
ElBruce, I have posted before that we should start using “Republicanic, adding the “ic” they stole from “Democratic”. Obviously, they feel the need to have those extra letters.
I think Republican”t would be better.
April 24th, 2009 at 8:41 amThe Rubublican’t must think we’re “still” stupid. They think, well, they voted Buooch in the second time …..
Socialism is ACTUALLY A PROMOTION from where we have been in the last 8-years! Can we say Fascism? Buooch and Cheney were Fascist leaders who took our rights away via memos to the DoJ and cramming down crap legislation because they had majorities.
Main problem is that our politicians take TOO MUCH MONEY from lobbyist and special interests. The Rebpublican’ts take MORE than the Democrats from big oil, insurance, banking, pharmaceuticals, etc., etc. We need a PUBLICLY FUNDED campaign system with NO outside contributions to our politicians. If they take a “bribe” they get canned!
Another point: When the gap between rich and poor widens, the populace usually pushes to MORE socialism! This is human nature when one part of the populace feels screwed (always the lower and middle class)! So, the Republican’t need to only look at themselves for the way the populace feels right now. They’ve voted to take away too much from the populace and given to big business creating the gap we are all now unhappy about! Socialism is created by populace unrest.
Last point: America is a hybrid country where we can have a mix of programs: some capitalistic and socialistic! The only reason some are complaining about socialism is because they want it THEIR way which is excessive profits and salaries for useless management on the back of their workforce. And when there are lay-offs, who are the first to go? The workers who carried the company the ENTIRE time.
April 24th, 2009 at 3:19 pmbrothabill Says:
YOU need to go away. You are ignorant. A brainwashed moron.
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