RNC Chairman Michael Steele Criticizes Rand Paul As Out Of Touch On Civil Rights

RNC Chairman Michael Steele on Sunday offered some of the most forceful disapproval of Rand Paul's libertarian positions to date from within the broader Republican Party.

In dual Sunday news show appearance, the Republican National Committee leader said he was "not comfortable" with Paul's position on the Civil Rights Act -- which he called "misplaced in these times" -- and cautioned that if he were to be elected the Tea Party-backed candidate would have to temper his views accordingly.

"He had a philosophical difference as many members who come to Congress have a different philosophies," he said. "But when you get here, what you do and how you execute the job is what matters."

Perhaps a reflection of his own personal history, Steele's rebuke was remarkably direct. At the very least it dwarfed the muddled responses from Republicans in the Senate, who have largely skirted the question of whether they, like Paul, think the Civil Rights Act intruded too deeply in private enterprise.

"I think his philosophy is misplaced in these times," said Steele during an appearance on "Fox News Sunday." "I don't think it's where the country is right now. The country litigated the issue of separate but equal, the country litigated the rights of minority people in this country to access the enterprise, free enterprise system, and accommodation and all of that. And that was crystallized in the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act of '64. And I think that the party stands very firmly behind its efforts then as we do now, to press forward on new civil rights issues... But I think in this case, Rand Paul's philosophy got in the way of reality."

In a separate appearance on ABC's "This Week," Steele said: "I think it's important to understand that Rand Paul has clarified his statement and reiterated his support for...pushing civil rights forward, as opposed to going backwards. Any attempt to look backwards is not in the best interest of our country certainly, and certainly not in the best interest of the party."

Comments

[Longtimeliberal]

04:09 PM on 07/02/2010

Of course he is right but how are the big bosses taking it?

[jnw147]

02:32 PM on 06/06/2010

This is strange coming from Mr. Steele who, by the way, is out of touch on everything.

[Questor3000]

07:21 PM on 05/25/2010

Yes, but don't inflame either. Stay on message without insulting,

[treadway123]

11:20 AM on 05/25/2010

To Palin is against Steele on Rand Paul! Other Republicans are distanceing themself from him, while a few are trying to shut up his mouth from striping over his tungue-----All the while the Republicans are trying to Make Paul become one of them! OH my God, an this is what u all want to lead u in November! GOOD LUCK! Especiall black,disabled in Ky as Paul wants to resend the Civil Rights Act,an Disabibility act! He has his plan all thought out!

[jetskier]

08:18 AM on 05/25/2010

Dear RNC
First you threw ms. steele, as the RNC's Batman to dee wolves by helocopter...then .... t'is sad that the best they could do is offer up Rand Paul as Steele's racist 'boy blunder' Robin.....
What is that crap Lil Abner Paul uses on his hair anyway??? jeri-curl or VO5 ....
it looks like on a hot day you could fry eggs on his forehead...

[marecek]

06:48 AM on 05/25/2010

Mikey Steele proving once again what a complete and utter tool he is. How is it that Rand Paul will have to temper his views AFTER being elected. If it is determined before the election that his views are not suitable, then he should not be elected. If he is elected, there is no way to force him to revise his views. That's the point of getting elected, fool.

[astraia]

05:53 AM on 05/25/2010

steele says: ""I think it's important to understand that Rand Paul has clarified his statement and reiterated his support for...pushing civil rights forward, as opposed to going backwards."

rand "ayn" paul clarified his statements because the sane, intelligent people in this country listened to rand's statements and were appalled. well how very politically expedient.

[treadway123]

11:24 AM on 05/25/2010

Yes, but what other human rights acts may he have a chance to vote on in the Future, while he wants to resend the Civil rights an Disability acts of the Past?KY people who are of color,disabled an are bit biased enough for this bunch had better watch out, if u elect Dr. Paul. U could be on his hit list now, as he represents the few, not all or even half of Ky.

[astraia]

01:07 PM on 05/25/2010

treadway123: "Yes, but what other human rights acts may he have a chance to vote on in the Future, while he wants to resend the Civil rights an Disability acts of the Past?"

that's exactly why rand "ayn" paul cannot win the election. we've got to keep people as active and engaged as they were in the run-up to the november 2008 election. okay, yes, people are FED UP. but let's not sit at home and throw up our hand. if people are tired of status quo, fine -- vote out the incumbents. and let's hope some of those dem incumbents are replaced with better candidates.

[ForeverXL]

04:12 AM on 05/25/2010

Rand Paul is the next Republican to marginalise the party even further.
It's just a matter of time now before the GOP will be irrelevant forever.
Perhaps that we will see a viable third party rise and challenge the Democrats and the Repubs in the future. One can only hope.

[ProudMilVet]

02:43 AM on 05/25/2010

Michael Steele Apology # 2 to Rush Limbaugh, any moment now !

[Mo Racker]

07:31 PM on 05/24/2010

Stelle can say what he wants but Rand Paul will be as reliable as Ron Paul is to back the Nixon Republicans.

[Bruckley]

07:08 PM on 05/24/2010

Can be summed up as, "Rand Paul's gonna have to toe the Republican line if he gets elected." So much for tea-party ideology.

[marecek]

06:50 AM on 05/25/2010

Yeah, who's going to make him? Mikey Steele the Enforcer? LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ComeOnAlready]

06:33 PM on 05/24/2010

What? Steele didn't demand respect for himself and his race? What the heck kind of leader is that? He should have been forceful in his opposition to Rand Paul's statements. I'm so tired of Republican leadership!

[DoinMyHomework]

11:05 PM on 05/24/2010

Republican leadership? I believe that is now officially an oxymoron.

[lcelidon]

06:09 PM on 05/24/2010

Irrelevant slave.......

[Appleton]

05:15 PM on 05/24/2010

Nonsense. It is clear that the Tea Party movement has re-introduced racism as a plank in the Republican Party platform. Rand Paul's candidacy was necessary to provide intellectual cover.

[gigihoffman]

04:03 PM on 05/24/2010

"Any attempt to look backwards is not in the best interest of our country certainly, and certainly not in the best interest of the party." - Michael Steele

Now that is hilarious! Looking backwards is EXACTLY what the republican party is all about.

[Paul Easter]

04:48 PM on 05/24/2010

To be fair, when your head is up your arse, its hard to tell which way is forward or back.