Michael Steele Gets Punked By Activist Posing As Donor, Says He Can Beat Norm Coleman For RNC Post

Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele is prepared to run for re-election to his post even if former Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman, the rumored favorite of other party insiders, decides to mount a challenge.

The current chairman told a conservative reporter last week that he was prepared to put his record up against those who wanted his position -- foreshadowing what could be a bitter and divisive election battle in January 2011.

"Norm is an old friend," Steele said when asked about recent reports that Coleman was considering a run for chairmanship of the RNC. "Norm is not going to challenge me for RNC chairman. If he does I'll put my record up against anyone who comes after to me. I feel confident we'll get re-elected. I'm not worried about that part of it."

The remarks, the first Steele has offered with respect to a potential Coleman bid, were reported by Evan Gahr, a freelance reporter based in New York. How they were obtained seems bound to spur a debate about the conventions and ethics of modern political reporting. Gahr called Steele up at his home residence in Maryland, pretending to be a hedge fund executive and prospective RNC donor. He waited until near the end of the interview to reveal his identity.

"Activists call all the time," Steele said upon finding out he was talking to a reporter. "They don't try to sneak an interview. That is not kosher."

The Huffington Post held off on publishing Gahr's account until its authenticity was verified. RNC spokesman Doug Heye confirmed the account on Monday.

In addition to taking on Coleman, Gahr posed a variety of provocative questions to the embattled RNC chairman, though none that produced the intrinsic news value as the Coleman query.

On the notion that he hasn't been fired because he's black, Steele said: "I didn't hear that. Everybody's got a reason why I haven't got fired. I haven't been fired because I've been doing my job. My won-loss record is better than any chairman in the last 10 years."

On fears that money donated to the RNC would end up going "to strippers" Steele replied: "That's crazy. That was a staffer who got fired as soon as I heard about it. We put all the appropriate controls and not one dollar goes to that kind of activity."

Comments

[YouDontWantMeHere]

01:52 PM on 08/16/2010

millions for hedge fund executives and prospective RNC donors none for reporters!

[take10]

09:07 AM on 08/04/2010

Oh, what a waste of skull space!

[Jeffin90019]

05:05 PM on 08/03/2010

You mean rap master Steele got played? Who could have seen that coming? He's the biggest tool in the GOP belt. This is what comes of a blatant EEOC pick.

[Murphdogg]

03:53 PM on 08/03/2010

I'm going to miss Steele. Maybe they could have a debate where Colman could be the dominant and Steele could be the submissive.

[Caroleeena]

12:32 AM on 08/04/2010

Coleman is totally a bottom. I'm just sayin'....

[Dashboard Buddha]

02:48 PM on 08/03/2010

Steele is as big a dingus that ever came down the pike, but he's right about one thing...what the "reporter" did was unethical.

[spiegelp]

02:25 PM on 08/03/2010

Putting his record up against any one who opposes his is exactly what he should NOT do! He really is an idiot.

[Amalek]

11:01 AM on 08/03/2010

I would say the only way Coleman loses is if he is in jail. Even then, he has a pretty good chance of beating Steele.

[Nairb50]

09:12 AM on 08/03/2010

God I hope he has a big penis. If not...he has absolutely no value at all.

[returntocommonsense]

09:10 AM on 08/03/2010

Let's see - it's perfectly fine if a right wing activist "punks" Acorn and attempts to wiretap a US Senator's office, but it is is not "kosher" if an activist from the other side does the same thing.

Double standard?

[MountainPenelope]

10:07 AM on 08/03/2010

GOPer Rule No. 1: The U. S. Constitution and the laws of the U.S. and individual states DO NOT APPLY to us.

(Write it down.)

[GeneralDisarray]

11:14 AM on 08/03/2010

touche

[highflag]

09:06 AM on 08/03/2010

There's clearly a deep chasm between Michael Steele and reality.

Unless every report and rumor that has emerged regarding his job performance and the inner-circle GOP's perception of his achievements is false, it seems nearly unthinkable that he might serve a second term.

The lily-white "Party of No", tried their darnedest to pretend that they were a "big-tent" organization, but it's time for one of the "Good Ol' Boys" to take the reins.Putting Steele out in front was a nice try, but they fooled no one. And his penchant for straying off-script has been a source of deep embarrassment for the powers-that-be.

It would have been a bit too ugly to remove him mid-term, but once his tenure expires next January, all will revert to normal for the White Party...

[Thomas Paine2012]

08:47 AM on 08/03/2010

Got to love the good-ole'-boy system... No one will run against me or I'll spill the dirt on them.

[bmike]

08:39 AM on 08/03/2010

Repubs are talking about ethics as they spend money on female same sex entertainment.

[VeryGrood]

08:55 AM on 08/03/2010

"Female same sex entertainment?" Man... you have a way of taking the fun out of EVERYTHING.

[Ozerki]

08:06 AM on 08/03/2010

that is like saying that a beet is smarter than a carrot. jeez

[frankjay]

07:57 AM on 08/03/2010

Michael Steele the Ultimate Player-Player. Using the Repubs to get paid. They can not do a dam thing about it. If they try to get rid of him he has a lot dirt to spread around. Brilliant!!!

[cybersense]

08:58 AM on 08/03/2010

Coleman has plenty of dirt that hasn't been sweeped up yet. If he does run for that position, we will see it.

[ih8war]

07:09 AM on 08/03/2010

Steele was duped? Doh. I think the RNC was duped.