GOP chairman urges caution on health care

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele spoke extensively about health care, the condition of the party and his vision for the GOP's future Thursday.

Steele kicked off the 2009-10 University of Akron Forum Series at E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall.

In comments to the media before a public speech, Steele said a health-care bill might be passed this year, but he expressed concern that legislators are moving too quickly to overhaul the system. Legislators and the Obama administration need to get it right rather than get it fast, he said.

Steele said he hopes passing health-care legislation this year "doesn't become a reality in the current context because I'm very troubled by the fact that, on Afghanistan, for example, the president tells us to slow down, take our time, there's no rush to do the policy there.

"But on health care, a major overhaul of one-seventh of our nation's economy, he wants to get it done in 30 to 40 days.

"I'm a little bit bothered by the pace. I've said from the very beginning that it is in the best interest of the nation, but most especially in the best interest of the doctor/patient relationship, that we take our time, be deliberate and do it right."

President Obama "has moved from this being a crisis of cost in health care to now a crisis of insurance in health care," Steele said. "And so, first off, the American people want to know what it is we're trying to do."

Then, Steele said, people need to know how much it will cost and who will pay for it.

He said the administration hasn't answered those kinds of questions and that is why there are town hall meetings and tea party protests.

Steele said he would be "the cow on the tracks" to stop the health-care process until some of the Republican Party's concerns have been addressed.

"Moo, moo," he said. "Get there and stop it."

Steele dismissed Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe's "yes" vote on a health-care proposal in the Finance Committee.

"One vote does not bipartisanship make," he said."The real vote that matters is the final bill."

Steele said he expects to see Snowe standing with Republicans when the final vote is taken.

On other topics, Steele said he is concerned about the economy and job losses. He said he is working with state party leaders and encouraging them to work with county leaders to move the party forward.

Steele said the party recently launched a Web site -- http://www.gop.com -- and is adopting other tools to be more relevant and to better define today's Republicans. He emphasized a need to be honest.

"What defines us is what we believe," he said.

Steele admitted the GOP lost miserably in the 2008 election because the party had become complacent and failed to live by its own standards, including letting spending get out of control.

"We walked away from our contract with America," he said.

Future Forum Series speakers will include Bel Canto author Ann Pachett, Oct. 21; Outliers, Tipping Point and Blink author Malcolm Gladwell, Nov. 11; former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, Feb. 22; and public talk radio host Diane Rehm, March 24. For tickets, call 330-972-7570.