Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele addressed an audience of College Republicans yesterday in Minor Hall. The visit was the second stop on the inaugural day of Steele's "Fire Pelosi" campaign, a 117-city national bus tour aimed at energizing the young Republican base before the November election.
Despite the event's aggressive billing, Steele shied away from partisan antagonism with Democrats. Instead, he urged students to embrace "ownership, empowerment and opportunity" within the changing political atmosphere.
"This effort is about how we stake our claim," Steele said. "I encourage you to talk about the differences and impacts in this campaign." Steele further acknowledged a transfer of party responsibility from past generations to a new generation of young adults.
"You guys are a phenomenal fighting force for us," he said about college-aged students. "The old school has been let out. The bell has rung. In a sense, we've moved from the 'Grand Ole Party' to the 'Great Opportunity Party.'"
During a question-and-answer session that followed Steele's address, the content of the dialogue changed from political activism to more current political topics. Tuesday night, two mainstream Republican candidates fell to Tea Party opposition in primaries in New York and Delaware. When asked by a student in the audience about the defeats, Steele denied that they indicated a division in the party between mainstream candidates and Tea Party activists, attributing talk of such a split to media speculation.
"In primaries and general elections, we support each other because we're fighting towards the same ends," Steele said, acknowledging that the Republican Party would most likely back a Tea Party candidate in a race without any Republican contender.
In one of the Tea Party's two victories Tuesday night, Christine O'Donnell upset political veteran Mike Castle in the Republican primary for Senate. Steele said the win was a result of O'Donnell's connection with voters.
"Christine spoke to people," Steele said. "The people are saying who they want and who they support. The responsibility of leadership in the Republican Party is to support the choice of the Republican people. I want more of our team on the field."\nOn the issue of immigration, Steele affirmed the GOP's historical role as an immigrant-friendly party but emphasized the importance of border security in today's international climate.
"We have always been the party of assimilation," Steele said. "But we, like every other sovereign nation, protect our borders."\nOverall, Steele's plea for student political activism was warmly received.
"I think [his goal] generally is and should be to get Republicans excited about the upcoming elections," said Isaac Wood, communications director for the Center for Politics and former Cavalier Daily opinion columnist.
College Republicans President Loren Monk said she believed Steele made a strong effort to do just that.
"Chairman Steele encouraged students to take their own path within the Republican Party and to remind them that this is truly their party," Monk said. "He pushed students to vote for what candidate best represents their views and assured them that the party is listening to their voices."
Some students, however, said they felt that Steele could have more thoroughly addressed important party issues.
"I was hoping he would talk more about the overall vision for the party," first-year College student Brandon Springer said.
First-year College student Jacob Farrell said Steele should have better acknowledged the Tea Party's primary victories. "I wish he addressed division within the party," he said. "He sort of denied an ideological split."
Still, Steele's rallying cry for Republicans at the University to "stand their ground" resonated with those in attendance.
"The party is what college young conservatives make out of it," Farrell said.
Steele's parting words included advice for future leaders in the audience.
"You want to be a leader?" Steele asked. "Learn how to follow. How do you follow? You listen"
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