Steele: There’s ‘Some Truth’ In The Claim That GOP Midterm Gains Are ‘Not A Validation’ Of Republicans

By Ben Armbruster

In an interview with the New York Times published today, former Florida governor Jeb Bush (R) suggested that any gains Republicans make in Congress as a result of tomorrow’s midterm elections won’t have much to do with the GOP. “The looming victories for Republican candidates next Tuesday is not a validation of the Republican Party at all,” he said.

When host George Stephanopoulos asked RNC chair Michael Steele on ABC’s Good Morning America today whether Bush’s analysis is correct, Steele responded affirmatively:

STEPHANOPOULOS: Even Jeb Bush, son of the former president, had a pretty startling comment in the New York Times this morning. He said “tomorrow’s results will not be a validation of the Republican party at all.” Is he right?

STEELE: I think there’s some degree of truth to that. … I think there is a degree of truth to that. I think the American people right now are much more skeptical of the direction that the President and Mrs. Pelosi and Mr. Reid are taking the country but they also have some concerns about the direction that Republicans will then lead when we take control of the Congress in 2011.

Watch it:

Steele’s view has been affirmed by GOP leadership. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) — who said last week that his goal for the next Congress is to defeat President Obama in 2012 — noted today that Republicans “need to view this [election] with humility and gratitude. This is not about us…there is no poll data showing the public is in love with us.”

Indeed, the staggering economy appears to be the GOP’s best friend this election cycle because the Party is not only bereft of any new ideas but offers no real solutions for the country’s economic problems. Republicans have campaigned on cutting spending and reducing the deficit but can’t identify any specific spending that should be cut. They want to give costly tax breaks for the rich without offering any idea of how to pay for them or denying that they even have to be offset. Instead, when asked how they would fix the economy and create jobs, many GOPers simply retreat to the Party mantra: “tax cuts.”

M.C.L Comment: I know the media pundits are predicting doom and gloom for the Democrats say they're right the Tea Party inc. wins back the house and here in Michigan Ricky "Made in China" Snyder wins the governorship yeah I know you hate that image but here's the bright side of them winning the Republicans and their allies in the media can no longer be the spoil little brats shooting spitballs and crying about what the Democrats are doing.

In two years Speaker Orange Boner has to defend the do nothing Republican house record to a larger voting electorate not just the old, white and low information Republican voter that shows up during the mid-term elections and in four years here in Michigan Nolan Finely and the right leaning Detroit News editorial boards and blogs like "Motor City Times, Republican Michigander and The Blog Prof have to defend Rick Snyder's cuts to state workers and programs people in this state depend on.

And in the end the so called Republican tidal wave will look like a really bad thunder storm where those Republicans who won congressional seats in 2010 will be looking for jobs in 2013 because outside that older white voter who else does these people appeal to? As for Snyder like I said how can Snyder and his supporters defend cutting state workers pay and cuts to social programs?