After a two-year tenure marked by embarrassing gaffes and financial woes, Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele may soon be ousted in an upcoming RNC election, which has already attracted several candidates, including a pharmaceutical lobbyist and a man who has defended a white nationalist. But Tea Party Nation president Judson Phillips doesn’t like the current field. In email to supporters today, the major tea party leader called for a “solid conservative take over the RNC,” explaining, “We must rescue the RNC and the party from those who would make this party Socialist-lite.”

The only person for the job, Phillips concluded, is former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, whom he is hoping to draft into a run for chairman. In an open letter to Palin included in the email, Phillips pleaded with her to run, suggesting that no less than “the survival of our country” is on the line:

We are in a fight for the survival of our country. [...]

We need you as Chairman of the RNC. You have shown in the past no hesitation to take on the establishment. You did it in Alaska. If we end up with establishment control of the GOP and their support for an establishment candidate in 2012, Obama and the socialists will have won. An establishment candidate will not work to repeal Obamacare and the other programs Obama, Pelosi and Reid have put in place. We need someone who will put conservatives in control of the party apparatus, not RINOs. [...]

Finally, you are a superstar. You have an unbelievable ability to light up a crowd and to raise money. Both of which the Republican Party needs. Something is really wrong with the GOP when the RNC cannot fund a get out the vote campaign for mid-term elections. The GOP needs a conservative who can raise money and energize the troops. You are the only one out there with these unique talents.

Back in April, Palin expressed her support for Steele and said he was doing “a great job” as RNC chair. For his part, Steele has rushed to defend Palin in the midst of criticism she has faced from Republican leaders, telling them to “chill out.”

In his letter, Phillips explained that the letter would be sent to Palin “in the next few days” and encouraged supporters to build a movement to draft her. But the email also serves to suggest than anyone short of a far-right tea party conservative as chairman would be unacceptable to the tea party movement. Of course, if Palin did run — and win — the chairmanship, that would likely complicate or prevent an expected presidential bid in 2012.

The Rachel Maddow show blog reported this week that the Tea Party Nation — founded by Tennessee lawyer Judson Phillips — sent out an email to supporters on Saturday urging them to support the Republican candidate in Minnesota’s 5th congressional district because the incumbent — Rep. Keith Ellison (D) — is too…Muslim. “Ellison is one of the most radical members of congress. … He is the only Muslim member of congress. He supports the Counsel for American Islamic Relations, HAMAS and has helped congress send millions of tax to terrorists in Gaza,” the email said. ThinkProgress noted that Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN) is also Muslim. The Daily Caller reports today that Phillips has corrected his false claim that Ellison is the only Muslim member of Congress, but he refused to apologize, saying that he has a problem with Islam:

“I am not going to apologize because I’m bothered by a religion that says kill the infidel, especially when I am the infidel,” Phillips wrote on the Tea Party Nation website Tuesday. “Should we vote out Keith Ellison just because he is a Muslim? No. But his beliefs define his character and his character is a central issue.”

“A majority of Tea Party members, I suspect, are not fans of Islam,” Phillips said. “I, personally have a real problem with Islam. With Islam, you have a religion that says kill the Jews, kill the infidels. It bothers me when a religion says kill the infidels. It bothers me a lot more when I am the infidel.” [...] When asked if he would vote for a Muslim candidate who was a conservative, he replied, “I don’t know.”