Michael Steele Doesn't Seem To Know What The Minimum Wage Is (UPDATE: VIDEO)

[UPDATED with video below.]

Via the daily HuffPost Hill newsletter comes word that Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele couldn't say what the minimum wage is in an interview that aired Tuesday night.

"The Last Word" host Lawrence O'Donnell challenged Steele to defend Alaska Republican Senate candidate Joe Miller's assertion that the minimum wage is unconstitutional, according to a rush transcript blasted out by MSNBC and reproduced below. "I had a minimum wage job once, and I had trouble living on that," O'Donnell said when Steele tried to deflect the line of questioning.

Then he asked Steele to tell him what the minimum wage is. For the record, the federal minimum is $7.25.

"Whether the minimum wage is $7 or $10 or whatever it happens to be in whatever part of the country you live in, the fact is if you don't have a job, that number is irrelevant until you get one," Steele protested. "That'll be your headline: 'Steele doesn't know what the minimum wage is.'"

That, at least, he got pretty much right.

WATCH:

Read the rush transcript below:

ON THE MINIMUM WAGE:

O'DONNELL: Now you've said that the Republican Party and the Tea Party are 'locked hand-in-hand'--that's your phrase--and you have a Republican nominee for Senate in Alaska who says the minimum wage is unconstitutional. So is that now your position, Republican Party position, that the minimum wage is unconstitutional?

Steele: [Laughing] What I meant by that phrase is I think around the issues that we're fighting over this November and the debate that the nation has had about jobs and the economy, we are working together, we have a common interest and a common goal to put a fiscal discipline in place. Every candidate comes to the table with their own particular set of issues that they want to speak to the people of their state or their district about--that's what they're allowed to do. It doesn't necessarily translate that that's the position of every Republican in the United States. I know a lot of folks on the left in particular want to make that leap of faith for them but the truth is, it doesn't translate that way. The reality of it is that the Tea Party is an organic movement out there of citizens who are concerned about the direction that the nation is going. Republicans of all stripes are also concerned, so I wanted to make it very clear that with respect to those common interests on those issues, let's work together and let's move forward together to defeat what we think is an aggressive agenda by government to take over big businesses and the affairs of individuals.

O'Donnell: So Michael, do you want to make a Republican Party commitment to minimum wage workers that you absolutely will not consider repealing or reducing the minimum wage?

Steele: Nice try, Lawrence. I don't do policy, I do political, so you need to talk to our legislative leadership and ask them what their position is going to be on the minimum wage.

O'Donnell: So do you think it's a good idea? Do you think it's good politics to reduce the minimum wage?

Steele: It doesn't matter to me what I think. What matters is that the effort that we put on the ground to help our candidates win this November--they are taking their messages directly to the people, the people are responding, and they'll get the final say on November 2 at the ballot box.

O'Donnell: By the way, what is the minimum wage?

Steele: [Laughing] You really like the minimum wage, don't you? I want to talk about a lot more things beside one issue Lawrence.

O'Donnell: I had a minimum wage job once, and I had trouble living on that.

Steele: Look, the country's hemorrhaging jobs right now.

O'Donnell: It's ok to say you don't know. If you don't care about the minimum wage, it's ok to say you don't know what it is.

Steele: Look Lawrence, stop the trap playing here. The reality of it is--that is not the most paramount issue that voters out there are facing. When you've lost your job, whether you know what the minimum wage is or not is not relevant, you're trying to get a job back. And that's the debate the nation has been engaged in for over the last year. That's the reality that people are facing right now every single day. The administration has failed to create jobs--close to 3 millions jobs have been lost. And this canard that we have saved or created x number of jobs is a joke. The reality of it is that the unemployment rate in this nation is 9.7%. The reality is that a significant number of people here in California and across the nation are looking for jobs. So the debate that candidates need to have with the people of this country and amongst themselves is what are we going to do to stimulate job growth, what are we going to do to empower small business owners? And that's the nature of the debate. Whether the minimum wage is $7 or $10 or whatever it happens to be in whatever part of the country you live in, the fact is if you don't have a job, that number is irrelevant until you get one.

O'Donnell: Well, the minimum wage is not $7 or $10, but let's move on to jobs.

Steele: That'll be your headline: "Steele doesn't know what the minimum wage is."

Comments

[Bodega Express]

08:14 PM on 11/11/2010

O'DONNELL RULES! ! !

http://bodegaexpress.wordpress.com/2010/11/07/lfo/

[nanjemoy]

09:35 AM on 10/07/2010

"For the record, the federal minimum is $7.25."

That's a lot of money. Why do you think we have Dollar Stores? And Food Stamps. And Debtors Prisons (we still have those, right?) A family in Bangladesh can live on $7.25 A DAY! Are you saying that America can't do better than Bangladesh???

If you want to get everybody a job, cut wages in half and then employers can hire twice the number of employees.

And if we really want to make American families strong, make divorce illegal.

Until America takes the tough love of hard work at starvation wages, we will never compete against the third world.

Republicans: making America as strong as Bangladesh.

[MinisterMelinda]

05:50 PM on 11/28/2010

I love you nanjemoy; thanks for your take on this issue.

[negogato]

08:29 AM on 10/07/2010

The GOP will blame everyone but George Bush.
Just imagine what would happen if we restored the Clinton tax code that brought us so much prosperity and raised the minimum wage by 20%.
But, here we are America: George Bush lives on in the Tax Code.
The GOP line is that Jobs are more important than the minimum wage, whatever that might be… not really sure…
Let’s keep it simple. Jobs do not follow without prosperity.

[lstl4]

07:50 AM on 10/07/2010

It doesnt really matter which of our represenatatives know what the minimum wage is, they dont have a clue what it is like to live hand to mouth. They say $7.25 for a family of 4 is poverty level. Are they serious? One person living on $7.25 an hour is poverty level. You cant find a decent apartment for less than $500 a month and after utiliites, telephone, etc, you barely have enough money for groceries. It is outrageous There is absolutely no money for any extras at all, and you have to be presentably dressed for most jobs. I am so disheartened by our representatives who live in their beautiful homes and designer clothes and expect the rest of us to live like paupers. This whole capitalistic society disgusts me. It only gets worse everyday and if the republicans take control of our govt, the "little People" will be living on the streets.

[gparks]

05:39 AM on 10/07/2010

Steele typifies the Republican tea baggers lack of common-sense and willful ignorance... they believe that if they repeat the narrative that jobs is the issue (and it is) WITHOUT acknowledging THEIR recent ACTIVE 12 year role in creating this mess ... that the MAJORITY of the American peoples will forget and or ignore the TRUTH .... Republican/GOP governance, policies and practices ARE the direct and indirect CAUSE of this entire disaster (aka Cluster Fu*k)!

Their current MISUSE of filibusters, holds and obstructionist tactics ARE being noticed and rejected as more Americans begin paying attention to the upcoming Nov elections.

And who can ignore the outright insanity of this current crop of wackjobs, dingbats, unqualified, ill-prepared and obviously out of touch with the vast majority of American citizens?

Exactly who wants to eliminate SS, Medicare, Unemployment Ins, Minimum Wage, Education, VA, Women's Right to Chose, Health Care Reform, Consumer Protection, Credit Card Protection, etc?

When asked ... MOST American's like or in fact ... love these "things" and believe that the Federal Government has NOT gone far enough!

Steele: "It doesn't matter to ME what I think."

Steele doesn't even care about what HE thinks ... why should the American peoples?

[marilyn 63]

12:32 AM on 10/07/2010

Lawrence O'Donnell had Michael Steele on his show and it was beautiful!! Michael Steele was so clownish. and clueless. you could just tell he didn't no what the heck Lawrence was talking about. he laughed every time he couldn't answer Laurence's question. which was most of the time. he should have come on wearing a big red nose. and a big red wig. it would have completed his comedy time. all he no's is jokes. dam i no they regret getting him for their replacement Obama.(i am black) and i cant believe this clown.

[polotik99]

11:58 PM on 10/06/2010

Having spent my entire adult life within the 'minimum wage' income bracket, I've never been able to understand this idea in capitalism to squeeze every, single, last, dime into profit. It would seem to me that paying your lower end employees a living wage, rather than just a minimum wage would produce better employees, turning into better productivity, and in the end, better profits. If Republicans were as 'family friendly' as they claim to be, they would also fight for a living wage, so that maybe both parents would not have to work 60 hours a week, leaving the children in the hands of teachers and strangers to raise. I bet there are as many politicians on the left who don't know the minimum wage as on the right. (Well before today anyway, I bet one of the top searches this week is minimum wage.) If you hire people for 7.25 an hour, you are going to get employees that are worth 7.25 an hour.

[seehowtheyrun]

01:18 AM on 10/07/2010

Well said. Fanned and faved.

[gparks]

05:45 AM on 10/07/2010

You were OK up until YOU tried to link Dems with Republicans in NOT knowing the Federal minimum wage.

It was the Dems WHO created the law and who've fought for the increases ... polo ... Minimum wage IS part of Democrat platform!!!

Willful ignorance is NOT blissful ... just plain stupid!

[taquinas]

07:26 AM on 10/07/2010

If not for the Dems the Repubs will own slaves.

[scottymac11]

11:56 PM on 10/06/2010

Mikey Steele was offended by the word master used in reference to his political overseers. He requested an appology. Well he received one. Quite an elegant and sincere apology from Mr. O'Donnell I think...... Since this is about political correctness and not about Mikey Steele attempting to garner political points when he sees an opening, I think it is all together fitting he speak up when issues of much more racially troubling republican't statements are made by his associates. I have seen him refuse to answer for his party members time after time...... He himself made the chicken and potato salad insensitive gaff. We know about Willie Horton ads. We know about the palidino e-mails. We know about the Tea baggers racial rants and don't forget Beck's racial rants and Rusho's race baiting........ Steele Man knows about them too..... Is the only offense to a black man offensive if it's directed towards him. He said he was judged by a different standard because of his race recently. It seems that he can't see any slights to other black men. Evidently Steele man thinks only he can be disparaged on a racial basis.

[marilyn 63]

12:40 AM on 10/07/2010

he didn't worry about any huge slights to Obama by Beck and Limbaugh. i think he kissed Limbaugh's a- ring.( being black) i waited to see what he would do. i think he went to or was sent to Guam. to get his a- butt out of the way. they got him and now really would like to give him his pink slip but (gasp) they would look like racist. and they have to fake like their a big tent. with him and the cross eyed black guy.

[BigHound1]

10:57 PM on 10/06/2010

As a rabid Democrat, I am proud that Michael Steele requested an apology from Lawrence O'Donnell on his inartful introduction of Mr. Steele. As a African American, I understand the unique position Mr. Steele holds. I totally disagree with Mr. Steele's politics but I believe his sincere request of an apology from Mr. O'Donnell was respectfully requested.

Lawrence O'Donnell impressed me with his unique intellect to understand that 400 years of slavery is not overcome through a couple of elections cycles. Thanks Mr. O'Donnell and Thanks Mr. Steele. I never thought that I would be saying that to Mr. Steele; however, I only want to promote a "United" states of America.

[theocrat]

10:53 PM on 10/06/2010

If Steele gets fired he'll be at the unemployment office the next morning applying for those unconstitutional benefits.

[PoliticalMMA]

10:56 PM on 10/06/2010

but only if he can pass a drug test-at least that what Nikki Haley suggests

[theocrat]

12:14 AM on 10/07/2010

He sounds like he's been smoking something so I don't know if he'd pass the test.

[ItsGettingWeird]

10:45 PM on 10/06/2010

We all know who Michael Steele is, and we know what the Republicans stand for.

Could someone please explain why he should even be thinking about the minimum wage?

[theocrat]

10:53 PM on 10/06/2010

In case they fire him and he has to work at Wendy's.

[marilyn 63]

12:41 AM on 10/07/2010

with that red hat!!

[Loni Wolf]

10:38 PM on 10/06/2010

Why, oh Why , am I not a bit surprised? Evidently, people who make less than he does are NOT worth the bother. When you passionately believe in 300 year old, "trickle -down" Economic theories, in a GLOBAL COMPLEX ECONOMY with more currencies, and overnight markets, that the 18th century Economists could NEVER have envisioned, " it does not make a bit of difference" as Steele himself said. He is RIGHT. What TRULY matters is Steele doesn't give a Crap- he spends more on lunches than the worker on minimum wage GROSSES in an entire WEEK & believes this system is fair, livable, and EQUITABLE. When he's dumped after the Election, let's see if his tune changes a bit.

[theocrat]

10:54 PM on 10/06/2010

Fanned!

[asta1968]

09:56 PM on 10/06/2010

Any tr0lls here still doubting that the man of steele is just a brass token?

[Dr Jimmy and Mr Jim]

08:30 PM on 10/06/2010

Hey there, Mikey, (man of) Steele, I caught your performance on Lawrence O'Donnell's show last night.

You are a funny guy. You laugh a lot. Usually, I like people that laugh. I like them more when the laugh a lot, like you. What I don't like is people who don't know WHEN to laugh.

You don't know when to laugh. It's a quirky thing, like a nervous twitch. When Lawrence asked you any tough questions, (minimum wage?) you laughed.

What are you laughing at? It's not a funny question. It's really a tragedy that someone in your position wouldn't know that.

I bet you know the average price of a lap dance in all 50 states but you don't know the minimum wage. Tragic. Simply tragic.

Others are laughing, Mike, but they are not laughing with you. They are laughing AT you. The way someone might laugh at a bad joke.

[scottymac11]

08:04 PM on 10/06/2010

He showed up in Baltimore at Park Heights and Belvedere begging for votes a couple of years ago. First time anyone there ever saw his republican't self. If he wanted to know what the minimum wage was he could'a asked somebody! They would have told him.