Michael Steele: 'I'm More Of A Street Guy' (VIDEO)

RNC Chairman Michael Steele, who earlier announced that he'd be seeking two more years atop the committee, wasted no time Monday explaining his often fractious tenure, while perhaps reminding his detractors why they want him replaced.

"My style is a little bit different than most conventional Republican party chairmen," Steele explained to Greta Van Susteren of Fox News. "My style is more grassroots oriented, I'm much more of a street guy."

The embattled chairman certainly appears to have spent a large portion of his nearly two years in office trying to prove his "street" credentials, but he said this didn't mean he couldn't do the more traditional functions of his job.

"I love hanging out in boardrooms," Steele continued, "but I prefer to be in the neighborhoods and communities."

Steele then pointed out that one of his first trips as head of the RNC was to Harlem, a part of New York City that he visited at least twice over the last election season to stump for Michel Faulkner, Rep. Charlie Rangel's Republican opponent, and a place where he claimed "the votes are." Faulkner ended up taking about 10 percent of that vote, far behind Rangel's 80.

Van Susteren then seemed skeptical of Steele's claim that there were likely to be Republican votes in Harlem, to which the RNC chairman responded.

"The party needs to get outside its comfort zone...You gotta plant the seed somewhere."

WATCH:

Comments

[DrumMajorforJustice]

12:53 PM on 12/31/2010

This is a late comment. In the last election, the Republicans saw Mr. Steele as an Obama neutralizer. As is typical with a lot of African American Republicans, he willingly played this role for ego and self-aggrandizement purposes. In the end, because of the fecklessness of his leadership, limited public relations savvy and his heightened interest in his own celebrity, he lost the support of his base. Having failed, after being chosen for the wrong reasons, he should be replaced. The lesson for the Republicans should be that, even they can overplay racial politics.

[emperance]

11:12 PM on 12/15/2010

Dang, I didn't know he was soooo fat.

[George Global]

09:45 PM on 12/15/2010

No Michael, you misunderstood.
The republic partiers are telling you to hit the road...not street...road.

[petman2001]

09:43 AM on 12/15/2010

Michael Steele: 'I'm More Of A Street Guy'

Good, because that's where you'll be when the Republican'ts get through with you.

[petman2001]

09:45 AM on 12/15/2010

Perhaps more of a Dead-Ender guy.

[istvan13]

08:43 AM on 12/15/2010

If Steele really sees himself as a street guy, that explains a lot. He is an elite, with little or no street cred. Just being dark of skin does not make one street smart. Steele is a smarmy, self-indulgent, greedy Republican and is typical of his party.

[Guytar]

02:52 AM on 12/15/2010

Thanks for your contribution.
Go away now, please.

[moose and squirrel]

01:25 AM on 12/15/2010

No, sir, you are more of a d00fus

[moose and squirrel]

01:25 AM on 12/15/2010

No, sir, you are more of a doofus

[jaredbrain]

12:28 AM on 12/15/2010

I can see the "Caution, Michael Steele at play" signs on the "street" he's from

[mypov123]

10:36 PM on 12/14/2010

What a clown.

[dsmyre]

10:09 PM on 12/14/2010

Trivia:
Steele's sister, Monica Turner, married and divorced former heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson.

[LiberalScoop]

02:54 AM on 12/15/2010

Apparently, they both have a habit of screwing their way into money....

[emperance]

09:53 PM on 12/14/2010

Michael Steele is a little lost lamb with no where to go.

Repubs don't want him, Dems don't either.

[mypov123]

11:00 PM on 12/14/2010

Dems should want him because he makes the Republican party look bad (not that they didn't look bad before he became RNC Chairman).

[Wallysmom]

09:50 PM on 12/14/2010

Steele then pointed out that one of his first trips as head of the RNC was to Harlem

That's just freekin insulting. Like he was going on a field trip to the zoo...
He needs to stop with the "gettin' jiggy wit it" stuff, he just looks the fool.

[jaredbrain]

12:28 AM on 12/15/2010

I think of him as Bob Saget with melanin.

[LiberalScoop]

02:56 AM on 12/15/2010

You couldn't possibly insult another human being more than with what you just said. I'm so jealous of your good insight!

[FreeProgressLiberal]

09:33 PM on 12/14/2010

"I'm much more of a street guy."

With millions in the bank, I think not ...

[IreneNH]

08:54 PM on 12/14/2010

"I'm much more of a street guy."

Good thing, because that's probably where you're going to find yourself real soon.