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

[BeasleysMom]

I keep asking--when does the "hip-hop" part start?

[3dtrix]

The Reagan thing? It's a cult, pure and simple. Death squads, Iran/Contra, AIDS denial, deregulation, environmental rape, trickle down, the economic and political emasculation of the middle class, the degradation of the education and health systems, the 100+ administration officials CONVICTED of felonies - none of that matters if you're a member. It's all about easily debunked dogma, fairy tales, wishful thinking, and validation of one's baser instincts under the umbrella of a smiley-faced monster. I would rather be known far and wide as an unrepentant wife-beater than an acolyte of Ronald Reagan...

[damilitantone]

The debate is over. It was settled last November by a majority of voters who cast their votes for Obama. People use the term "whining" a lot these days when describing the GOP and it fits well along with "petty," bitter," and "angry." These folks act like there are always two sets of facts involving every issue when in reality it's more a matter of lies versus the truth. Steele has become such a publicity wh*re and buffoon that he is insignificant to the discussion as is most of the other gasbags that call themselves conservatives. A historical record exists that exposes the failures of these folks and they continue to look ridiculous by trying to ignore what the rest of us know to be the truth.

[Skyhawk]

Admitting there's a problem is the first step.

[roudy]

Who gets the vote for being the greatest help to continuing to grow the Democratic Party, the Newt, the Dick, or steelehead?

[Rangergirl]

Wow, they are speaking against the conservatives god.....Reagen was not a good president but the repubs consider him the only president..

[Shayrae]

Those desperados have latched onto Reagan simply because they don't dare mention Dubya. Maybe they should mention that not everyone thought Reagan was the best POTUS. Anyone remember when Reagan decided to classify ketchup as a vegetable in the nation's school lunch
program so they could save money to keep Reagan and his rich friends rich. Reaganomics! Woohoo.

[whohortonehears2]

give the kocked up wasilla klan some credit...

[Shayrae]

'' 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.''

Michael, exactly what are you talking about? I don't understand doublespeak, homie.

[BeasleysMom]

So, when does that "realism" and talking and connecting to the people start?

[smileatfear]

It's as painful to read as it is to listen to. I'm really beginning to feel sorry for MS. He doesn't seem to realize just how much he's embarrassing himself.

[andyboy]

I love this quote:

"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."

Whenever you get one of these mindless cretin blowhard egomaniac's refering to themselves in the third person you know he's plummeted over the edge into the deep yawning maw of complete insanity.....

Michael Steele will be known in history as the black guy who didn't mind being a token at all. It pays well and you get a lot of play.....That's all Michael ever wanted anyway.

Notice how you'll never hear Michael worry about anything stupid like right and wrong or how to help black people or racism. He's oblivious to it all. As long as dude has a Rolex and a personal chef and a butler and a maid Michael is all too happy to sit around and talk about Michael.

[Greywolf Borealis]

"...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."
The success of his party, but also the near ruination of our country. He has identified the major problem with republicans and conservative sympathizers though. That is their inability to look forward. They are mired in the past, a past that does not exist in this country today. While the nation has evolved, the republican party has stalemated and shrunk to near oblivion.

[BeasleysMom]

That is what I kept saying during the election. That is why they lost and will continue to lose. A country cannot live in the past for long. The only times that America moved ahead in science, technology, health care, economics and education was under Democrats.

[omobob]

"When Republicans go cannibal". Next on Fox.

[whohortonehears2]

American Canibal...

[MalloMel]

This guy Steele, is the worst of the worst. He doesn't even know that he is being an U.ncle T.om, and is just being used. He probably has it in his mind that he is being accepted by whites, and he is basking in all that glory.

What I am saying is that Steele will never be accepted by the Republicans any more than the slave who gets to work in the masters house. He gets to stay there as long as he does the masters bidding.

I'm sure that Steele feels that he is special, the same way that those who worked in the big house thought that they were special. What he doesn't seem to get is that he should only speak when spoken to.

I don't like Steele, but I don't wish him to go back to being a field worker, because that would be cruel. The sad thing is, that is what is going to happen to him, because there is no where else for him to go, and he will not stay the RNC Chairman forever. There's no up or lateral for him. There is only down. He doesn't get that white Republicans don't really like him. They just want to use him.

[MalloMel]

I just want to add that once he is no longer useful to them, then his @ss is toast (no pun intended). They hate him as it is. It's only a matter of time, and not much time at that.

Steele would really do much better by jumping ship and coming over to the Democrats. If, he waits until he is dethroned by the Republicans, then it will be too late. But, that T.om mentality is not going to allow him to do that. So, all I can say to him is, "good luck."

Another thing that I have noticed, and I'm sure that others have noticed it, also, is that when Steele hugs on those white Republicans, it looks as though they would rather be doing something else. Look at their faces and you'll see what I mean. Now look at the faces of those who hug on Obama, and you'll see something quite different.

Steele is not an Obama, and that I am absolutely sure of, because the Republicans would never have an Obama as their chairman and Obama would never agree to be their chairman.

Anyway, I believe in telling it like I see it.

[andyboy]

Yeah move beyond that wimpy actor commie Reagan......

We need to be doing a whole lot more killing and invading and bombing than Reagan ever dreamed of. Reagan my rear end! He wasn't no Republican.

This Steele should look up whatever happened to Ohio's black Secretary of State. Betcha can't even remember his name. His party is going to eat him for breakfast and poop him out onto the curb than run him over on the way out of Dodge. Michael still can't believe his own party hates him because he's a black man.

Wake up Mr. Steele your writing your own political epitaph. They are using you and when they are finished you will be finished too.

[jarjarbush]

Michael,
"Because you can't blame the past particularly when that past contributed to the success of the party."
You, being the Grand Marshall of the republican D-Bag parade, should know full well that you CAN blame the past, particularly when that past has contributed to the demise and marginalization of the republican party. And this blame goes back almost fourty years.
"those who cannot aknowledge the past are condemmed to become it"

[Dupree]

To: jarjarbush:

I agree with your assessment of Steele and the Republican party. It is the "old white boy gang" and they prefer to keep it that way. If Barack Obama was not of African Descent...Michael Steele would never had been considered for the position of chair of their party. He was simply selected based upon his skin tone. He and Alan Keyes are just "convenient negroes" to be used at different times during political season and when they are deem no longer necessary...they will be discarded and left to hang dry. I do not have respect for any African American who would allow themselves to be used against another person of color for the mere intent to interrupt "his" success. It would be different if they were simply selected based upon principle and of the same mindset that they sought to oppose. But this is quite different...it is about skin tone and other superficial "qualities" that is most offensive. Yes, Steele will be assigned back to the field once his usage is no longer needed.

[Dupree]

Excuse me...I meant to address the post to MelloMan..not jarjarbush. I was so busy "feeling" what I was writing..that I inadvertently wrote the wrong name. Apologies to both.

[dave1111]

Well, he is right about the part that he has a problem.

[Deterninator]

wow!!!!!!! this man needs to take a chill pill for a while and stay away from the public, every words that he utters gets him into hot water. Maybe he likes to hear himself.

[zest]

The Bush wing of the republican party was never particually enamored with Ronald Reagan. Reagan was their competition in controlling the party. Now Jeb Bush is telling the faithful to forget Reagan. Nancy Reagan couldn't stand the Bushes and never invited them to dine in the private quarters of the White House.