Steele hints at more "libertarian, youth-oriented approach"

by Eric Dondero

We've been saying this since the Fall of 2009 here at Libertarian Republican: Michael Steele represents a new breed of Republican. Perhaps not ideologically down-the-line libertarian, but most certainly attitudinally libertarian.

It's quite unfortunate that many purist libertarians seem to forget that it's not about solely purity in beliefs in judging one's libertarianism that matters. But activism, commitment and a general cultural sense of libertarianism matters too.

This is why we fully supported Steele for the nomination; one of the very first as a matter of act. And this is why we still fully stand by his side.

Now, we're getting vindication from an unlikely source.

Chicago-based nationally syndicated columnist Clarence Page opines, "Steele fights GOP Culture Gap." Page, a consistent liberal, finds the Republican Party's reaction to Steele's recent problems with RNC credit cards used at a "disco-like" nightclub in Los Angeles, to be rather stuffy.
From Page's column:

In fact, it is not Democratic chortles that are causing Steele’s biggest headaches. It is prominent conservatives like Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, a conservative Christian organization. He has urged the group’s supporters to divert their donations to other committees or individual candidates that share their values. That’s their right, but it certainly doesn’t help Republicans or any other party to divide its owns base.

The Voyeur scandal pokes holes in the wrong-headed notion that moral rectitude and patriotism are somehow the property of one party or the other. Michael Steele seemed to be hinting at a more libertarian and youth-oriented approach when he promised to open up the GOP to the “hip-hop generation,” although no one was quite sure of what he meant. His painfully awkward handling of the volatile Voyeur nightclub mini-scandal reveals that he apparently wasn’t very sure of what he meant, either.

The Republican Party needs to get rid of the stuffiness, and the pressed white shirts. Loosen up the tie. Show a little skin.

Sarah Palin gets this. She's a libertarian natural, attitudanally. Palin now shows up to speeches decked out like a Rock Star, short fur skirts, other times tight red skirts with a black leather jacket. A few others get it as well. The New GOP is the Booming New Country of swaggering Texas Governor Rick Perry. It is most assuredly pronounced Hollywood insider Andrew Breitbart and his minion of brash in-your-face reporters like Hannah Giles and James O'Keefe. It's Zo (Alfonzo Rachel), Steven Crowder, and definitely Jason Mattera.

It's not the loveable but self-described "fat redneck" Haley Barbour who is going to win the hearts and minds of younger voters, and African Americans to the GOP.

It's Palin, Perry, Breitbart, with Michael Steele in the lead who understand that the GOP needs to lighten up on the cultural front. And if that angers a few Tony Perkins and Mike Huckabee-like social conservatives here and there, well, they'll just have to get used to it. Cause the libertarian wing of the GOP is here to stay.