Steele-ing the Spotlight

Ya gotta love newly-elected RNC Chairman Michael Steele. He's the most fun distraction to arise out of the Republican Party since Idaho's mensroom-footsie-loving Sen. Larry Craig.

Much to the delight of Democrats, who prefer when Republicans eat their own, the former Maryland Lieutenant Governor has found himself in yet another embarrassing shitstorm over comments made in a recent GQ magazine interview. Seems Steele committed partisan heresy for his comments on abortion and homosexuality.

"I think that's an individual choice," Steele said about abortion, before self-diagnosing his foot-in-mouth disease and pulling another classic back-peddle like he did after criticizing media-blowhard Rush Limbaugh two weeks ago: "The states should make that choice. That's what the choice is. The individual choice rests in the states. Let them decide." Sorry, Mike, nice try. Unfortunately for you, the cat's already out of the womb on that one.

On the subject of being gay, Steele bravely offered up this enlightened philosophy: "I think that there's a whole lot that goes into the makeup of an individual that you just can't simply say, oh, like, 'Tomorrow morning I'm going to stop being gay. It's like saying, 'Tomorrow morning I'm going to stop being black.'" Oops! We haven't yet seen the "clarification" on that one, but I'm sure when it comes it'll sound something like this:

"What I meant was, you can stop being gay if you try really hard...like...just put the damn Liza records away, start watching Schwarzenegger flicks and use the word 'dude' a lot. And just look at Robert Downey Jr. He woke up one morning and said 'I am going to stop being white'...well...at least during filming of Tropic Thunder. See? Everyone has the capacity to change."

And get this, Steele also sent conservative tongues wagging with this explanation for why he's currently redecorating his office: "This is going to sound weird, but it's way too male for me." What the hell is going on here!? Sounds like an episode of Queer Eye for the Republican Guy.

Poor Steele. He tries yet again, with great courage, to inject some logical, rational, science-based non-partisan thought into the debate only to be publicly rebuked by his political brethren. I guess that's what happens when you attempt to bring your party into the 21st century.

Comments

[ObjectiveRealist]

The GOP won't win any elections without major change, and it won't change without upsetting the losers who wrecked it, and the country.

Mr. Steele, please stop apologizing. It signals weakness or irresoluteness. Double-down on your wish list, whatever it is you wish the Republican Party to be, or don't bother. Try this one tactic of the neo-cons and Chicago School fools: use this GOP crisis to cram down their throats reforms they wouldn't otherwise accept. Or, get off the pot.

[Belley]

Not that there is anything wrong with it...but Steele might be a closet gay. If you haven't read the entire GQ interview, please do so. Steele said his office is "too male" for him, he watches the Oscars for the dresses and hair and was giving POTUS and FLOTUS fashion advice. WTF??

[MacQ]

He has progressives very upset. Maybe because they're threatened by a gorwn-up black man in contrast to the teenager in the shite house.
Or maybe because they are just livid that a black man would think for himself and leave their plantation.
Progressives are the worst kind of racists to be found.

[LiteSleeper]

Ok Limbaugh, go back to your radio show. If you think Steele is a grown-up black man, your party is already over.

[ObjectiveRealist]

I shouldn't do this [http://catb.org/jargon/html/F/Formosas-Law.html], but regressives don't inspire me to generosity:

Yah baby! Michael Steele is the more "gorwn-up" for sure. Yah baby!

[trumpetman]

You cons are something else. Steele is not smart at all and he acts like a child. Obama on the other hand is a thinker. And progressives love Steele because he is making things worst for the republicans. And you claim that progressives are r acists when the republican party is full of them. LOL

[johnie2xs]

If he keeps going the way he is, he will continue to damage the Rethuglican brand;
and that' a good thing; for us. Continual hilarity will ensue, and the U.S. comedy franchises
will remain strong and vibrant.

However, if he were somehow able to grow a pair (Though I think specially this is improbable), he COULD lead the way to creating a new Republican Party, bringing to the fore moderate Republicans, and leaving in the past the knee-jerk, Uber-Conservative, Evangelical whack jobs.

Thankfully, I don't think this is going to happen. So soldier on, Michael, we're loving the show.