Steele: "I Have A Problem" With New GOP Group Slamming Reagan

RNC Chairman Michael Steele's fill-in stint as the host of Bill Bennett's radio talk show has produced a handful of quasi-embarrassing moments -- most notably his claim that Mitt Romney's Mormonism helped doom him in the Republican Primary.

At the very end of the nearly two-hour segment, it turns out, was another whack Steele took at his fellow Republicans. Responding to a caller disparaging the National Council for a New America -- the new Republican re-branding effort -- the RNC Chairman joined the fray, saying he had "a problem" with the notion, as put forth by former Gov. Jeb Bush, that the party needed to move beyond the legacy of Ronald Reagan.

"This tour is not about bringing minorities to the Republican Party," Steele said, correcting his caller. "This listening tour that these individuals have put in place is their way, as they said, to look forward, bring about a grassroots caucus and to bring moderates and like-minded Democrats to a series of public forums around the country where we can have a debate of ideas. Now, on its face I see nothing wrong with that. But if you are going to go and start this and start slamming Ronald Reagan, I have a problem. And it is going to be an issue. Because you can't blame the past particularly when that past contributed to the success of the party."

In offering his objections to the messaging coming from the NCNA, Steele joins a host of other Republican officials. Still, it remains rare to see the head of a national political committee disparage major players in his own party. In addition to Bush, the NCNA includes former Gov. Mitt Romney, Rep. Eric Cantor, and Sen. John McCain.

Later in the program, Steele was told that he should have run against Barack Obama in 2008, to which he responded, "It would have been an interesting race." When another caller lamented the media's treatment of Gov. Sarah Palin, he said the issue was endemic to all true conservatives, before saying he preached a type of political philosophy that has people "looking over their shoulders and wondering whether or not Michael Steele is standing there."

"Look, the fact that Sarah is a conservative," he said. "Michael Steele is a conservative, Bill Bennett is a conservative, a Jack Kemp was a conservative. We were a target, we were a ready target for these guys... but the strength of conservatism is that it is real and in its realism it has a way to go out to talk to people and connect to people. That's the biggest threat that we offer. And that's the threat I want to take to the streets everyday. I want them looking over their shoulders and wondering whether or not Michael Steele is standing there. Because I will be, with you [caller] standing right next to me and a whole lot of other conservatives."

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Comments

[CatoTheCensor]

I want them looking over their shoulders and wondering whether or not Michael Steele is standing there."

Staring at me, like Jimmy Kimmel in the shower with Matthew Fox.

[coco51]

That he had to correct the caller about the premise of the re-branding is not about "MINORITIES" is telling. Republicans have a problem with minorities i.e. bl ac ks and hiss panics in their midst so they are very paranoid.

[cloudynites]

I wonder if he even knows he's a tool.

[jackjava]

Michael sounds like a good Republican. below average intelligence. Focusing on 5-10 word statements that seem to resonate with their base, i.e., uneducated southern wasps. I don't see a problem with Mikey.

[take10]

Michael, you still don't get it! Contributing to the success of the party is not the same as contributing to the success of the American people! That is why the GOP has been treated to such severe losses. You place party first and country be damned! Your sophomoric attempt to bring the GOP back to a state of influence has actually created disharmony within your ranks and is setting the republicans on a course of long term irrelevancy. Perhaps, you and Coleman can garner enough support to start a new party. There are more than enough educationally challenged dittoheads in the base to follow you. You certainly deserve each other! Don't forget to check with Rush first!

[take10]

Michael, how can there be a real debate of ideas, when only one party has any new ideas worthy of consideration?

[LeftLeanWing]

They did not Slam Reagan..

They simply stated the it was time for them to move on from Reagan centric ideas because what ( supposedly ) worked in the 80's is not working in the 2k-naughts .

While they keep spouting off about Obama as 'the messiah' they seem to worship their own canonized deity. Reagan just happened to be present during the Conservative movement ascension.

It Peaked in 1994. Bush/Cheney, the NeoCons and the Onward Christian Torturers just put the grease on the brakes as they rapidly descend down the Road to Oblivion.

Take your foot off the Gas - Steele !

Take your foot off the Gas !

[charlietuna11]

its only a matter of time before the red necks rid themselves of steele like they did gen. powell. in addition to powell and steele they have also chased about twenty million moderaies. out of the party.,kee­p up the good work.the party needs more ann coulters. limbaughs, hannitys, daniel pipes, savages, david dukes, gaffneys, palins, joe the plumbers, wm. kristles, and the pat robertsons. there is zero space for the late great wm. f. buckley jr., pres reagan or pres ike. it wont be long before george will, will be history.. the g.o.p has become so selective, i can see future conventions held in after hour wendys or dunkin donuts. that is if they will have you. i am ashamed to say it took me so long to see thru these chicken hawks. it should of become obvious to me years ago when i couldn't find any one in the party who knew what a dd216 was...

[take10]

Let them eat cake and keep Steele too!

[kjo46]

What kills me about Reagan was his absolute hypocrisy. I worked for a hospital in the late 60's when Reagan was governor of California. He and Nancy booked themselves into the VIP suite for 3 days for complete physical exams-- and I know he had State insurance, like all elected officials-- yet he had us bill the newly formed MediCal!! When some of us in the admitting department wanted to go to the LA Times with this, we were threatened by our supervisors with our jobs!

[steveo39]

"... but the strength of conservatism is that it is real and in its realism it has a way to go out to talk to people and connect to people."

Oh man, now THAT'S delusional . . .

[PepperzMom]

Trust me, Steele, Democrats and Independents won't be attending any of those little listening pit stops.

Why should they when the MSM will cover whatever "highlights" there may be...in under 3 minutes no less?

[hillplus]

Speak for yourself. This independent would love for Mitt Romney to work on our economy!
Although I don't know if even he could do anything since Bush, and now Obama, have done their work.

[lexnekst]

TOKEN.

[AN2009]

Michael Steele appears to be a little high on himself.

[sandpiper1]

This pathetic man, thinking he could be compete with President Obama. I think he suffers from delusions of grandeur, much like the failin palin. Their egos and arrogance is truly unbelievable.

[kjo46]

Michael Steele has delusions of ADEQUACY.

[Cunningham]

"That's the biggest threat that we offer. And that's the threat I want to take to the streets everyday. I want them looking over their shoulders and wondering whether or not Michael Steele is standing there."

A threat is not an offering.

The day of the reTHUG is over. Get a clue, Steele.

[dragonlady620]

Steele definitely has a problem-he's a major loon.