Michael Steele delivered something of a mea culpa at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference this afternoon. In his first major address to his party since the string of scandals and resignations that has plagued the last two weeks at the RNC, Steele apologized for the problems at the party organization but said that focusing too much attention on them would serve only to help the Democrats in 2010.
“In life you learn very quickly that you can’t please everyone, but you can certainly make them all mad at you at the same time,” he said. “And that is a lesson well-learned. It is an opportunity as well because folks have been mad at us in the past and we have learned from that past.”
“And now,” Steele continued, “we’re ready to move on into a bright future as leaders as Republicans and as conservatives.”
“I’m the first here to admit I’ve made mistakes and it’s been incumbent on me to take responsibility, shoulder that burden, make the necessary changes and move on,” he said. “We’ve all had to do that from time to time.”
Steele warned the audience that Democrats will try to use his troubles to shift the focus in an election year that looks like it could be a tough road for the majority party. He urged his fellow party members not to let that happen.
“Democrats are looking for those distractions,” he said. “And lord knows I’ve provided a few.”
“But Democrats also know they have some explaining to do,” he added. “And they’d love nothing more than for us to keep pointing fingers at me and others instead of their radical un-American agenda. And we shouldn’t fall for that trap.”
The rest of Steele’s speech was full of the red meat and folksiness that has been the trademark of his chairmanship of the RNC (if you don’t count the scandals). He said that last week’s retirement of Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) was a harbinger of things to come in November.
“When America says no you better listen,” he said. “Just ask Bart Stupak.”
“Mr. Stupak is trying to run around claiming he’s not the first casualty of Americans who are out here saying no to bigger government,” he continued. “Well, Mr. Stupak: sorry bro, you are. And there are many more to follow.”
