Michael Steele Attends "Tyson" Movie Premiere

On Monday night, Michael Steele made what for him has become an increasingly rare public appearance. Neither political nor news media focused, the RNC Chairman attended the premiere of the new documentary film "Tyson" -- about the infamously foul-mouthed, ear-biting boxer -- at the Union Square Loews in New York City.

Steele's appearance, reported by the New York Post's Page Six and confirmed by the RNC, would seem like a relatively peculiar choice of venue for the high-profiled politico. Except that his relationship with Tyson is fairly deep. Steele's younger sister, Monica, was the boxer's second wife and Tyson took to the role of campaign surrogate during Steele's run for Maryland's Senate seat in 2006.

"I would do anything to help Michael," Tyson said at the time. "I would box an exhibition for him. I would even fight again to help Mike. I would do anything."

The day after the movie premiere, Steele was slated to give a morning speech before the Religious Action Committee's national convention, a gathering of reform Jews from across the nation. But the RNC Chair had abruptly canceled that appearance by Monday. An official at the RNC said that the cancellation was not due to another event.

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Comments

[KATANGA]

09:15 AM on 04/24/2009

f the Republicans will call the Democrats a socialist party then how about them being refered to as the Republican Nazi Commitee (RNC). In all senses this fits them right! Just slowly, the RNC has turned into a Fascist party!

[BobDobbs757]

06:08 AM on 04/24/2009

Oh the irony.. skipping religious forum to watch documentary on a boxer who cheats in combat and be.ats women up.

[Marie62866]

12:18 AM on 04/24/2009

Is that Mike Tyson?? Mike is a republican? Didn't mike like to beat on woman?

[Kingstone]

11:23 PM on 04/23/2009

Steele is becoming so embrass to our people. He has been chosen at a wrong time.

[jsgaetano]

11:38 PM on 04/23/2009

I think he's the greatest thing to ever happen to the Goopers.

[FUHP]

10:31 PM on 04/23/2009

I am almost to the point where I am rooting for the pro-torture party to succeed because they are failing soooooooo miserably. Almost! Having Cheney/Rove on TV seemingly every day saying how much they love torture keeps me from taking the next step.

[SharpDressedMan]

09:10 PM on 04/23/2009

Does Steele know Tyson can't save him from his RNC problems?

[Prakosh]

07:58 PM on 04/23/2009

If Obama weren't president or if Hillary was president, Michael Steele would have never gotten the job he now has. In fact he might well be out of work. He should thanks his lucky stars that a Black man was elected president. He was the first Republican to benefit from Obama's coattails.

[hortonhearsawho2]

07:13 PM on 04/23/2009

Tyson versus average Joe ?

[Speaker for Sanity]

07:11 PM on 04/23/2009

And someone actually thought there was some gray matter between Steele's ears?

[hortonhearsawho2]

07:11 PM on 04/23/2009

DaddyWarBucks...

[Darthwave]

07:04 PM on 04/23/2009

Steele has sold his soul to the devil for the right to lead that corrupt party. After its all over I hope he will still have a shred of dignity left. Mike is speaking up for him because they are practically family. Mike Tyson was married to Steele's sister and they are still very close.

[iawill]

06:18 PM on 04/23/2009

Steele said he would "do anything to help Michael"! Of course he would. When Mike was in tight with the family, they all reaped the financial benefits of Tyson's labors. According to a local news article, Steele used all of his savings to help finance his Lt. Govenor's campaign. With that in mind, I am sure Steele's brother-in-law (Mike) helped him keep the lights on and the mortgage paid during those tight times. Thus he probably feels indebted to him for that support.

[truegreen]

06:17 PM on 04/23/2009

ME to STEELE: " GROW SOME QUICK"

[damilitantone]

05:45 PM on 04/23/2009

Steele is the new "#1 Soul Brother." The funny part is that he grew up in the Petworth section of DC about ten blocks from me. I guess he's going back to his "roots."

[hortonhearsawho2]

07:12 PM on 04/23/2009

oh yeah, he motown written all over him...

[dax49]

05:33 PM on 04/23/2009

steele is not too relevant in the republican party, is he?