Michael Steele Plays Race Card? White House Says He Should Worry About His Credit Card

The president, apparently, is not amused with Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele's assertion that the two of them, as African Americans, face smaller margins for political error.

Asked about Steele's comment, following a week's worth of bad press for the RNC over lavish expenditures, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs acidly replied:

"I think that it is a very silly comment to make. I think Michael Steele's problem isn't the race card, it's the credit card."

Delivered at Monday's morning gaggle, Gibb's retort elicited a few icy ooohs from the gathering of reporters. Asked if he had prepped the line (which he clearly had), Gibbs replied that he may have been tinkering with how to deliver the rhetorical dagger earlier in the morning.

Appearing on "Good Morning America" Monday, Steele was asked whether he was being criticized unfairly over expenditures on items such as private jet travel, high-end hotels, and bondage-themed nightclubs, because of his race.

"The honest answer is, 'Yes,'" he said. "Barack Obama has a slimmer margin. A lot of folks do. It's a different role for me to play and others to play and that's just the reality of it. But you just take that as a part of the nature of it."

Comments

[skatoolaki]

03:32 PM on 04/07/2010

Race has nada to do with it - Steele only wishes for such an excuse to cover up his enormous gaffes and day-to-day buffoonery.

[dimplesmile7]

03:34 PM on 04/06/2010

I can't believe Steele think there are similarities between him and our president.

[InfidelSix]

03:29 PM on 04/06/2010

HuffPo should have titled this one "Ni_gg_a Pleeze!" LOL

[hischagal]

01:04 PM on 04/06/2010

I love Robert Gibbs. Obama could not have picked a better press secretary.

[Elbrando]

12:16 PM on 04/06/2010

Look when you know someone is going to send you a lob you think of how your going to return it. Gibbs had a great line and he used it. BRAVO.

As far as Michael Steal comparing himself to Barack Obama. That is like a pony comparing himself to a Kentucky Derby winner. There is no comparison. Obama was elected president, Michael Steal was selected as a token.

[m a x]

02:02 PM on 04/06/2010

That is like a pony comparing himself to a Kentucky Derby winner.

fanned.

[BrwnSknGurl4]

02:39 PM on 04/06/2010

Love it!

[ladyday60]

10:58 AM on 04/06/2010

Oh, now Steele has something in common with O-bama. He could only say nasty things about him in the past. O'bama just has too much class for any of the negatitvity. Everyone that has gone forth and said ugly things about O'bama has had nothing but bad luck, think about it, Steele is just the latest. I'm waiting for the big downfall of Limbaugh and I don't mean back into drugs, its gotta be more scandalous for him. The hating has got to stop. If Obama can't ignore the obvious racism toward him by the republicans and a lot of democrats, then Steele better learn to also

[Blue Pup in PHX]

10:34 AM on 04/06/2010

His comment with was met with "icy ooohs"... whatever, Robert Gibbs was right on it as usual. Michael Steele is a tool. News, this is NOT. But as for Mr. Gibbs I've gotta say, he's best when he's unleashed. For those of us who love to indulge in the guilty pleasure of nostalgia I urge you to think back to the 08 Presidential Debates when one self-absorbed nammering right wing blow hard, (named Sean Hannity) was just flat taken to church by the indomitable Mr. Gibbs. In case you missed it or would just like an excuse to smile this morning...here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zgn6rjGbp0c&feature=PlayList&p=74EFF3002C816309&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=11

[palefacedmong]

04:06 AM on 04/06/2010

Michael Steele's credit score aside; he makes a valid point no one has the balls to make... something no liberal is ever-ready to make an example of

[Mum]

08:56 AM on 04/06/2010

No one was talking about his credit score. It was a pun on cards - credit versus race. Get it?

And what is the "something no liberal is ever-ready to make an example of"?

[swengnikaerb]

10:06 AM on 04/06/2010

Wow, nonsense smells funny in the morning.

[Blue Pup in PHX]

10:19 AM on 04/06/2010

Yeah, typical rethug..a day late and a dollar short...or in this case $20,000 of them... don't worry...he/she won't get that one either

[gsteinum]

02:06 AM on 04/06/2010

so, steel is honestly playing the race card. or to put it another way: the party that panders so heavily to televangelists now wants us to believe that they'd still get endorsements from pseudo-religions if the only participants in the lesbian s&m club outing were white. just proves how much repugnicants like to borrow the old soviet union's tactic of the big lie. it's more than silly; it's irresponsible and reckless. man up steel.

[scottymac11]

01:40 AM on 04/06/2010

What do the other African American republicans have to say. I imagine something like this.

clarence thomas; That boy don't know nuthi'n. The bright lights got in his eyes. He flinched. Right it was a high tech flinching.

Armstrong Williams; You have to pay first. Then tell me what to say....you know like no child left behind.

Ken Blackwell; They gave him the job and he made a fool of himself...I could have done that. Heck fire I made a fool of my self long before I tried out for the job.

Ron Christie; I don't see any racism. I never saw any. I never will. I had to trade my man marbles to get this job I'm not losing it for nothing.
Alan Keyes; He's mesmerized by dancing girl saphos. That's hedonism In the most influrious of the gaseous congestions!

[iswideopen]

01:08 AM on 04/06/2010

You go, Robert Gibbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Michael Steele is getting everything he deserves. He is keeping that job because he is Black. The Republican party has dug such a nasty deep hole for themselves, they have finally fallen into it and they can't fire him. I will never believe the media hype, especially from CNN pundits talking about how the Republicans have the wind at their backs because of healthcare reform passing it is really pissing me off. They continue to think all Democrats that vote are upset with President Obama and that we won't be working or voting in November. CNN, keep being delusional. Ever wonder why your ratings are down? Do we have a suprise for you and the GOP obstructionist. If you think the voting Americans are really going to allow our country to be run by the rabid Teabaggers, everyone had better think again. Those people are Sarah Palin's base and they are on the same brain wave legnth; they react negatively to all minorities, have no policy substance, wouldn't know intelligence if it slapped them, and are quite hateful. Stay tunned................

[ProudChristian]

08:10 AM on 04/06/2010

Totally agree!

[Blue Pup in PHX]

10:26 AM on 04/06/2010

Agreed! And they just keep climbing farther and farther out on that limb don't they... in case you haven't seen HuffPo's coverage of CNN's Eric Erickson who called on the general populous to pull a shotgun on census workers... straight down the rabbit hole... it's unbelievable!

[Becca-USA]

11:32 PM on 04/05/2010

HOLD ON HERE PEOPLE!!! Miky's got a point...sorta. He is being held to a higher standard, and yes he does have a more narrow margin for era, not because he's black, but because he's black and a member of the Republican party. But, does President Obama face the same slim margin as a Democrat? Yes, but, ONLY when dealing with republicans. As Repubs are so fond of saying, there are certain philosophical differences between the two parties. So much so, that every hate group in America identifies with the republican party: anti-feminists, anti-Black, anti-Asian, anti-Hispanic, every anti-abortion clinic bomber, race supremists, militia, skin head, every anti government organization that threaten the rest of us with violence if their demands aren't met. They all identify with and vote the republican party. They speak the same language as all the hate radio hosts , "suedo" TV new organizations and yes, republican / tea party politicians. So, I can understand why Steele feels so boxed in as a member of the repulican party. Yes, he's their token. And yes, they allow him to raise money and speak at public functions. But, he must know that he's not welcomed at any of their closed / private functions (or rallies). It's got to be just an awful feeling. But, does he actually believe that he and Obama share that same experience? Poor, poor guy!

[Mdazes]

10:25 PM on 04/05/2010

Steele comment is not all false. In some cases his comment is true. Like he said "that is just the way it is" However, Steele and Obama job performance have been so disappointing that this is one of those time when it is not about race.

[Solja]

10:51 PM on 04/05/2010

Sorry to inform you, but this POTUS has already accomplished more than the last POTUS, and it's all good with me.

I campaigned, knocked on doors, made hundreds of phone calls and donated to Obama's campaign, and I am not disappointed in his performance. In fact, I'm very proud of the POTUS for the many accomplishments he's made thus far, regardless of the media's lack of credit. Why don't you try visiting http://whitehouse.gov and see what has actually been accomplished so far, and he's got years to do more, which I am totally hopeful about.

Steele, on the other hand, was only a token in the first place. I lived in MD when he ran for Governor and he didn't have a chance, even though he's black. All he needed was that "R" next to his name and that sealed the deal.

[mlm4420]

11:02 PM on 04/05/2010

Well said and fanned! I also did much of the same including donating more than I could afford. When the time comes, I will do it again for Obama.

[KarenT]

12:21 AM on 04/06/2010

Ditto and fanned.

[mcbox]

11:09 PM on 04/05/2010

Oh pleeze no. Mikey Steele is to our president as a Yugo is to a Rolls Royce. They had something in common like 4 wheels but they were entirely different products. Your comment indicates you have a problem with perception so I will clarify. Mikey is no Rolls Royce.

[LeftLeanWing]

10:20 PM on 04/05/2010

Michael Steele, as George "The Kingfish" Stevens , of Our Generation.

[xpub63]

10:43 PM on 04/05/2010

Great CALL!

[mcbox]

11:25 PM on 04/05/2010

All right now. Apologize to the Kingfish.

[mcbox]

03:12 AM on 04/06/2010

He's more like Kingfishes lawyer algonquin j calhoun.

[voiceofreasontoo]

10:06 PM on 04/05/2010

Steele is not helping his party.

[LeftLeanWing]

10:21 PM on 04/05/2010

He'll 'WHIP' them into shape......

or have them swinging from a POLL.

[MyFatCat]

02:05 AM on 04/06/2010

He'll whip, all right, but how good is he with thongs? "Grooming donors," indeed.