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Michael Steele, former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland and current chairman of the Republican National Committee, today chided President Barack Obama for not putting "Taxation Without Representation" license plates on the presidential limousine. Steele made his remarks during WTOP's "Politics Program With Mark Plotkin."
In a statement to the press, D.C. GOP Chair Robert Kabel applauded Steele's support of D.C. voting rights, stating, "Chairman Steele doesn't just talk a good game but he enthusiastically believes in D.C. Voting Rights. District Republicans are honored to have a D.C. native leading our Party and talking about our issues."
The D.C. GOP has long supported enfranchising District residents, and we know that in a personal capacity, D.C. native Steele has too. But is this a formal statement of policy from the Republican Party? If so, well, consider it time to party and get some legislation through Congress! If not, chalk it up to one more time where Steele says something that he has to backtrack on.
Spare a few principled defenders of District voting rights like former Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) and Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), the Republican Party hasn't exactly earned what we would like to call a stellar report card on D.C. budget autonomy, home rule or voting rights. Many Democrats have failed in this area, too, but it has been mostly Republicans standing between the District and their voting rights by adding amendments that they know will stink up the whole deal. (Yes, Sen. Ensign, we're looking at you.) Other Republican members of Congress, like Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Tex.) and Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Ut.), forcefully do not believe that D.C. residents deserve their own representative because.
Of course, Steele carefully avoided any mention of actual D.C. voting rights from what we can see, sticking instead to criticizing Obama for simply not putting the taxation tags on his car. But at this point it's hard to care if any politicians put the tags on their car, Democrat or Republican -- we just want something done about the whole 200-year-old injustice thing.
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regardless of steele's position on DC voting rights, he's spot-on criticizing the administration for not using the plates.
never thought i'd hear myself agreeing with the guy, but there you go...
The whole logic of this argument is still totally without merit. DC doesn't need or deserve a vote, and it is blantently unconstitutional for it do have one. "No taxation without representation." Ab-so-friggin-lutely. DC residents, like other US territories not represented in Congress, should either not pay federal taxes, or at very least, pay at a deep discount rate. Let's get on the correct side of this equation!
And who are you?
Well, it's been a few months since the license plate issue came up, so I guess we were about due. My hat is off to you, Martin, for (somewhat) acknowledging what Steele had to say. Oh, it must have been sheer agony!
"DC doesn't need or deserve a vote..."
Need? Do you need a vote? Does anyone? How exactly do you quantify whether someone needs democratic rights? Civil liberties?
Deserve? Why, exactly? Aren't D.C. residents American citizens like everyone else? Is a democratic right something you "deserve"?
The point here is not denying folks civil liberties, freedoms, rights etc, but properly balancing the federal taxation/representation equation. In terms of ease of passage, a bill reducing/eliminating the federal tax burden on DC residents and business would be a far easier measure to pass. Not only would this solve the argument at hand, but such a measure would invariably drive local business and property values, improving the local tax base. Win-Win.
Awwww. That's nice of Steele to speak out about the presidential license plates. But putting Taxation Without Representation on the limousine would be as helpful to the cause as putting a bumper sticker on it that says "Don't Kill...Chill!"
Credulous much?
WTF does it matter what he says on WTOP? He should get no points 'till he says that in Nevada.
Unless, of course, one takes the view that this is pandering. Then it matters, insomuch as folks buy the glib bs.
I totally support obama on his critisism re the administration not using the plates
I totally support obama on his critism
Steele proves every day just how irrelevant he is.
This is how you keep yourself in the news, but add no value.
"This is how you keep yourself in the news, but add no value."
Par for the course regarding ANY minority beard the GOP hides behind.
Martin, how come no post on WaPo article on DC caving on Gura's latest suit?
Because just like you, I read the article late Friday night, and I wasn't about to rush off and post about it!
Good news, in my opinion. Just to reiterate: I'm not a fan about the way the council has approached the new regulations (they've been too obtuse in the process), but I'm much less a fan of Congress stepping in to do it for us. I'm very happy that Heller and Gura et al. have stuck to the democratic method by taking the D.C. government back to court.
If the RNC is in favor of DC voting rights, then they should put their money where Steele's mouth is and do something about it.
Mike Steele, back in the heezie.
Mike Steele, back in the heezie.
talk about low-hanging fruit.
I mean, seriously... if you want to criticize Obama, there are lots of material.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/
Personally, I'd prefer my president spend his time working on actual issues rather than symbolic gestures.
Wow, for the first time I agree with Michael Steele. Spot on, DC voting rights deserves to be highlighted and frankly, as a huge Obama supporter since '03, I think putting those plates on the limo is the very least he can do.
Wow, for the first time I agree with Michael Steele. Spot on, DC voting rights deserves to be highlighted and frankly, as a huge Obama supporter since '03, I think putting those plates on the limo is the very least he can do.