Michael Steele Quotes

The real test of party strength is down close to the grass roots.

I believe that Conservatives do best when we focus on strong ideas for our future and when we leverage the strength of grassroots across the country.

Sarah Palin may have chosen to not answer the call for the presidency, but make no mistake, the principles that garnered her the unique support she enjoyed continue to inform and drive the base that lifted her.

Washington is a bubble, and there is nothing more powerful than the conservative grassroots when we are engaged and letting our voice be heard.

The future belongs to Conservatives. They are younger, they are more energetic, they dominate the party caucuses, they dominate the nominating process. They are committed to ideas, not simply personal aggrandizement or title.

The tea party movement has challenged the GOP to get back on track or risk losing its grip on the right wing. It's reminded Democrats that a slick marketing campaign coupled with paid activism isn't the same as a groundswell of real change, and the reason that Democrats are so hostile towards it is because they've never before encountered it.

As recently as 2014, I was a Paul Ryan supporter. I pounded signs and made phone calls on his behalf. I bought his book and gave it out to friends.

When I first started out in politics I was, what you might describe as, a hard right Conservative.

I believe in the power of millions of courageous conservatives rising up to re-ignite the promise of America.

Let's stand up. Let's speak with pride about our morals and our values and redouble our effort to elect more conservative Republicans.

I call it small government, grass-roots activism: The Tea Party activists are a part of it, FreedomWorks is part of it. FreedomWorks is the longest-standing, most active organization within this movement.

The GOP leaders are upset with me, but the Republicans around the district are thanking me for stepping up to the plate and giving them a choice in this election of a real common sense conservative Reagan Republican.

Young Republicans are a very, very important constituency. Along with little old ladies, they provide the foot soldiers for the Republican Party.

The possibility of my presidential candidacy emerged spontaneously in public opinion polls. For my part, I noticed people's affection when I was doing work on the ground. I think the important thing is that my candidacy was born from citizens themselves, driven by the people and which the parties picked up favorably.

One way the Tea Party has benefited female candidates - and the conservative movement generally - is by consciously steering clear of social issues.

The tea partiers are a great addition. The tea partiers have invigorated a base that has been dormant for a long period of time. We're going to have a broad array of different views in our Republican conference, and I think it might be more interesting than any I've been in in a long time.

I am involved with politics today because of the inspiration I received from Ronald Reagan.

You may boo, you may turn your back, but I have devoted my life to the conservative cause.

I mean, people need to remember without the grassroots, Ronald Reagan probably doesn't become president of the United States of America and he worked the grassroots on a regular basis during his political career and especially between the years of 1976 and 1980 after the loss in Kansas City.

And Republican women have always been the backbone of our party. We do the work, we are strong believers in conservative values. Having more of those voices in place at a state level is going to be a great improvement for us as a party.

I've been really clear that my first job as leader of the Labour Party and co-leader of the labour movement is to engage with our base.

The Tea Party did not run me out. If you know me and my personality, I would welcome the challenge.

I'm a Republican and I'm gonna stay a Republican because they need somebody like me to stay in the Party and keep hammering away.

I'm a fellow that likes small parties, and the Republican Party is about the size I like.

It's fashionable in some circles to be pessimistic about America, about conservative solutions, about the Republican Party. I utterly reject that pessimism.