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

[lennix]

i am a black man and if steel think we are going to to follow him he got to be out of his mind oh wait he is out of his mind

[TheFabOne]

He should remember that Reagan did not particularly stand for him at all. As a Black man, this is what infuriates me about some within my own race who get this recidivist revisionism about past party figures. Reagan, at his best, was racist to the core. He refused to sign the MLK Holiday bill. It wasn't until Congress said it would override his veto that the SOB acquiesced, only to save face.

I agree, the GOP has some rebranding to do, but let's call a rose a rose: the party of Reagan, they do NOT want to be called anymore. You'll lose a ton more elections that way.

[silvertongue]

I agree FabOne. Reagan did not choose to announce his candidacy in Missippi for no reason. He was definitely sending a message. Remember, this was in the late 70's, and Mississippi was symbolic as far as race relations were at that time.

[mapleaforever]

Steele has a problem all right.

[lucite]

the governor probably hardly sees himself in the doghouse for this gem offered up at an official meeting Tuesday with a lady who knelt down while introducing a Westminster winning pooch at the Capitol: "There's nothing I like better than having somebody in my office down on their knees."

Governer of Texas Richard Perry had this to say yesterday at The Capital in Austin:

[Owls723]

Steele's unfortunately an impotent pawn in the GOP's racial politics. It will be interesting to see how long he continues to stick his foot in his mouth and delight us with his idiocy before they force him out.

Perhaps the most hilarious, and truthful description of Steele's plight can be found here:

http://www.whatrickythinks.com/what-ricky-thinks/2009/5/12/michael-steele-in-the-hour-of-chaos-or-where-the-white-women.html

[silvertongue]

Owls723: I went to the link you cited. I agree with the writer, except that Steele is married to a 'white girl' (as described in the article). I assume she's Republican. Maybe he keeps her hidden so Rush won't call him out....... you think?

[FearlessFreep]

Actually, what the GOP needs to do is acknowledge the harm Reagan did.

[drumz]

And shoot down the only martyr the GOP has? I doubt they would do that in fact, I don't ever remember them acknowledging any of their failures and there sure is a long laundry list..

[bronzy]

That would be committing blasphemy!

[gntpat]

HOOOORAY!!!! Someone else besides me critisizing Reagan is a great think. I thought I was the only one in the entire world who disliked Reagan so intensely as to want to spit on his library site.
He was a disaster as a President and made the upperclass rich the benefactors of all tax breaks. Boo to all of them.

[ywcachieve]

I could not stand the fraud. He effed up California and the nation.

[judesuper]

I'm with you! I totally agree. Remember King Ronald's funeral? I couldn't watch TV for a week. All those pundits genuflecting. It made me sick.

[twisted-european]

So many problems, so(ul)less leadership ...

[WasteNJ]

Wait, is Stepin Fetchit Steele trying to say Reagan is "Slammin", or that people are slamming Reagan? With as much played out 1990's slang as he uses, it's hard to tell....

[mitsie]

Hey Bill Mahr, would love to hear your opinion of this issue. I remember you discussing Reagn in the past. LOL

[mitsie]

You just don't get it Steele, it's not conservatives that the MSN is going after, it is the digusting behavior, the lack of compassion, not staying in touch with your constituents, lieing, etc etc etc

[BUZZARDSTKE]

And ppl are asking why the GOP is in such disarray?....Are u serious?

UNBELEIVEABLE.....HIP HOP ON DOWN THE RD, LOOKIN OVER YOUR SHULDER, WHILE BREAKIN FOR THE HEEZEE!!!.....LMAO

[desthmoneses]

Micheal Steele is one of the dumbest people I've ever listened to, he's not just incompetent, and abrasive, he's an incoherent babbling bafoon. He's the new George Bush.

[traveler501]

I agree...now that you mention it. he really is of the W mold: dumb, arrogant and amusing in a strangely rehearsed yet unsuccessful way...like a cute 5 year old, still doing the same shtick at 55. but if the Repugs want to go down in flames...oh yeah, let's keep it coming!

[upbeatdem]

You have a way with words. Very entertaining!

[charger2]

AMEN

[twisted-european]

Mike, if only this were the only thing you've had problems with ...

[Haitiana4Obama]

Pretty soon no ones going to bother listening to him anymore, even to laugh. After a while the comic relief just because uncomfortable pity for the man. I'm tired of him, it's time to focus on matters of greater import, like how we're going to help the President pass Health Care Reform this year.