Is Michael Steele the Democrats’ worst nightmare? If you listen to Bob Beckel he is.
I have spent hours with Steele at the Fox News studios, and in dozens of TV encounters, and at dinners. Steele is a friendly, formidable, and very partisan man who should not be underestimated. He has a disarming and gifted television personality and an uncanny ability to make the most unreasonable arguments sound rational. In a debate, he can charm his opponents into a false sense of security, and then proceed to maul them. Democrats who underrate Steele do so at their own peril.
The press continually refers to Steele as a “moderate”, but he is not a moderate — he only plays one on television. Under that friendly persona of reasonableness lies the soul of a doctrinaire conservative. From an ardent supply-sider to a committed pro-life advocate (he came within a year of being ordained a Catholic priest), Steele is firmly on the Right.
In the pro-choice state of Maryland, Steele rarely raised the abortion issue in his races for Lieutenant Governor and the U.S. Senate. But his party is looking to him to rekindle the passions of the pro-life movement on a national stage. And Steele is aware of the 2008 falloff of voter turnout in precincts where the pro-life movement is strong. Read full story.
If you’re one of Bill Bennett’s radio listeners you’ve probably heard Mr. Steele when he guest hosts. You’ve also probably seen Steele’s appearances on Fox News. He’s a pretty cool, smooth talking guy.
President Obama’s campaign literally went by the book in following Saul Alinsky’s “Rules for Radicals”. In fact, they’re still following that play book. Is Michael Steele the man who can beat them at their own game?
