The Donkey has been pinned

RNC's Passes "Socialist" Resolution

Washington Post

Michael Steele sought to turn the page on five months of infighting and bad press for the GOP, the organization passed a resolution condemning the Democratic party's "march toward socialism".

"Resolved, that we the members of the Republican National Committee recognize that the Democratic Party is dedicated to restructuring American society along socialist ideals,"reads the resolution.

The vote, which has no practical impact, was cast as a victory by allies of Steele who insisted that catastrophe had been averted when an agreement was reached not to bring forward a resolution that would have re-nicknamed the Democratic party as the "Democrat Socialist Party." Steele had voiced his opposition to the resolution -- telling "Meet the Press" moderator David Gregory last Sunday that he didn't "think that that is an appropriate way to, to express our views on the issues of the day."

Of today's vote, Steele pronounced himself "pleased that the committee adopted a resolution that focuses on the Democrats' policies and their destructive effects on America's economic engine, rather than attempting to rename our opponents."

The longer-term problem for Steele -- and for establishment Republicans across the country -- presented by the "Democrat Socialist Party" debate is that the 168 committee members represent the most conservative element of the party and have almost no concern for how passing a resolution like that would play (and be played by Democrats) to the average independent or moderate voter.

Put simply: these committeemen and committeewomen identify far more with the Dick Cheney/Rush Limbaugh wing of the party than they do with the Charlie Crist/Colin Powell side.

Steele was able to sidestep a public relations nightmare today. But, given the reality of the ideological makeup of the RNC committee members, it almost certainly will not be the last fire will have to put out.