Michael Steele: 'I Know How Caesar Felt'

Former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele recently reflected on his ouster from the RNC, drawing a Shakespearean parallel and claiming that he felt like Caesar, with new Chairman Reince Priebus, Steele's former colleague and confidant, playing the part of Brutus.

Here's his conversation with Tim Mak of FrumForum:

"I know exactly how Caesar felt," Steele says, without a hint of irony. "It is what it is." He claims that Priebus had been planning to defect for six, seven, eight months before announcing a bid for the chairmanship. Steele was blindsided. "I trust my friends. Well, I guess the adage is right. In Washington, you should get a dog...We put a lot of resources in Wisconsin over the last two years...that's what you do for [the] team."

CNN reports on why Steele felt stabbed in the back by Priebus, who had once worked to secure Steele's election in 2009 and often defended his tumultuous tenure over the next two years:

Before orchestrating Steele's ouster from the top GOP post, Priebus was the ex-chairman's trusted aide and the committee's top lawyer - a venerable position Steele handed to Priebus.

But Steele says he now believes Priebus, also the chairman of the Wisconsin GOP, was secretly plotting against him for months despite what appeared to be unfettered loyalty.

And for anyone disappointed to see such a dynamic political character "exit, stage right" last week, don't despair -- Steele says he'll be back.

Asked by FrumForum what he'd be doing going into the 2012 elections, Steele responded, "Doin' some TV here and there... [as well] there's a presidential cycle coming up. I plan to play in that a little bit. Maybe a lot."

Comments

[JBaker]

08:06 PM on 01/20/2011

Given that the Republican party is a safe haven for white supremacists (as well as homophobes, misogynists, etc.) I wonder what Steele was thinking. The same goes for Colin Powell and Condoleezze Rice.

I can only suppose that they got what they wanted: a free pass to the top of a bigoted organization in return for spouting Republican policies and pretending to be proof that the Republican party is not deeply racist, which it is.

It fooled nobody, Steele, Powell, and Rice trashed their personal credibility as individuals of any intellectual and moral integrity. In the end, who are their friends? Not Republicans, not the black community...

[Patrick Shaw]

12:27 PM on 01/20/2011

In this case Mr. Steele I do not believe that you were stabbed in the back.

All indications were that you ran headlong into the blade...a number of times.

[shotgunjohnny]

12:27 PM on 01/20/2011

I would say Steele should feel more like Judas. Hope you enjoy your 30 pieces of silver....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/16/michael-steele-reportedly_n_809688.html

[JenInOhio]

12:24 PM on 01/20/2011

He might know how a Caesar salad feels, with egg on his face.

[willandjansdad]

12:12 PM on 01/20/2011

I'd go all pay-per-view to watch Dave Chappell do Steele.

[PatricktPDX]

12:11 PM on 01/20/2011

Did he mean the salad?

[willandjansdad]

12:06 PM on 01/20/2011

Reince Priebus.....Brr Ice Pee In Us

[willandjansdad]

11:59 AM on 01/20/2011

Reince Priebus just has to be an anagram. A little research gave me......Rubes Nice Per I.

That pretty much sums uo the GOP game plan.

[A Meat Beetle]

11:58 AM on 01/20/2011

A black man in the Republican Party--what did he expect? From the back of the bus to the undercarriage of the bus. The only thing that keeps me from feeling sorry for Mike is that I don't want to.

[ChiBloger]

11:54 AM on 01/20/2011

Man of Steele brought down by assassins dagger

[willandjansdad]

11:50 AM on 01/20/2011

Conquered Gaul...Check
Moved from Republic to Pricipate...Check
Ruled half the known world...Check
Conquered Egypt and Cleopatra...Check

Sorry Mike...You're not there yet.

[chaapai]

11:34 AM on 01/20/2011

Hey Mike! Delusional much?

[simplemee]

11:31 AM on 01/20/2011

Homer Simpson compared himself to God when he got his gun. So I think it completely apropos for Mr. Steele to compare himself to Caesar. You have to put it into perspectve.

[lovbug]

11:29 AM on 01/20/2011

Steele, you know how them boys operate...you black. I pity a fool.

[ChiBloger]

11:56 AM on 01/20/2011

Forgive me, but ...I pity the fool, that pity the fool!

[willandjansdad]

12:09 PM on 01/20/2011

Mikey the S ain't fit to wear Mr. Ts gold chains in my book.

Just sayin'

[TooLooze]

10:55 AM on 01/20/2011

As if Mr. Steele didn't realize that he was used as a token. Of the 42 black members of congress and the one Senator, none of them are republicans but the party chairperson is black and he and the republicans don't see the absurdity and hypocrisy in that. I'm sure he feels like the rebel flag is a sign of American pride and doesn't believe in the holocaust, the moon landing or microwave ovens.

[jusathot]

12:14 PM on 01/20/2011

...he believes in microwave ovens, come on...