Michael Steele told the truth

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele is being demagogued and excoriated by those on his own side of the aisle for basically telling the truth. Let me explain.

First of all, there is no one more pro-military than I – no one. But unless Obama, the leftover Clinton Pentagon pansies and all of the pusillanimous Harvard/Yale theorists get out of the way – the war in Afghanistan will be reduced to a Vietnam. I'm more interested in killing all the enemy radical Muslims I can, more than I am in getting more homosexuals and lesbians into the Marine Corps. I'm pro-military, and I'm pro–crush and thoroughly demoralize the enemy at every opportunity.

There's no question that war in the Middle East is winnable. We are America, and our military is the best in the history of the world. But you cannot have rules of engagement dreamt up and drafted by antimilitary supremacists who care more about not insulting CAIR or offending some Islamist terrorist than they do about effectively prosecuting the war.

This is Obama's war now, and he's doing a lousy job of instilling confidence in his leadership as commander in chief. Did officers and troops refuse to obey direct orders of President George W. Bush by refusing deployment?

Michael may not have spoken eloquently, but what he said doesn't rise to the level of his stepping down. This is "gotcha" politics – Republican-style. If it weren't, those criticizing him would be making the points I'm making.

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The same people attacking him attacked Sarah Palin. The same people, including Karl Rove, derided her at every turn. At each Fox News opportunity, Rove made condescending statements referencing her. He ridiculed and questioned her instincts, her ability and even her political acumen, for stepping down as governor – right up until he was forced to grudgingly acknowledge her campaign efforts for conservative candidates reaped hugely successful results.

I was told by an unimpeachable source that Rove had openly lamented in private surroundings that, if he could have gotten then-President Bush re-elected without the help of the Christian right, he would have.

Those calling for Michael to step down are also close to many of those that Michael very unceremoniously sent packing immediately upon his becoming RNC chairman. It is a very public secret that he ruffled a lot of feathers and flattened a lot of toes when he became RNC chief.

How many of those who are now pooh-poohing his words are the same ones who are turning against Sharron Angle in Nevada? How many of his critics supported Schwarzenegger in California? These are the same people who continue to support McCain. How many times have party elites acted dismissively toward us – then, in the next breath, tried to convince us we should give them our money, votes and grass-roots support?

Is it Michael's fault alone so many Republican voters are looking for other options? Where is their collective outcry pursuant to the contemptible treachery of GOP Reps. Eric Cantor and John Boehner's unwillingness to fully support the efforts to begin the repeal of Obamacare spearheaded by Reps. Tom Price, R-Ga., and Steve King, R-Iowa?

Does Rove forget how we conservatives felt when his former boss arrogantly thumbed his nose at us, declaring his amnesty bill a done deal by saying "I'll see you at the signing," from Sofia, Bulgaria?

Does Rove forget that a conservative Christian leader told his then-boss, "Enough with the spending"? Does he remember how we felt when the highway bill miraculously reappeared on Bush's desk shortly after he was re-elected? Does he, Liz Cheney, Bill Kristol and company remember our opposition to No Child Left Behind, the Medicare prescription bill and Bush's globalist proclivities? If they are as concerned about the health of the party as they would have us believe, why weren't they calling for heads then?

Michael's job is to promote the Republican Party, raise money and get candidates elected. This isn't about what Michael said; it's about his having upset party elites from the moment he took over as chairman.

And, let me repeat myself, this is Obama's war. He's the president – he owns it. And not until he and the politically correct get out of the way and let our great military do what they do better than any other military in the world will we have victory – because you can't win a war with one hand tied behind your back.