Michael Steele: Meet Amanda Duzak

Tuesday night at Howard University, RNC chair Michael Steele did an impression of the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz: he was absolutely heartless. Not everyday do we see the head of a major political party insult a 23 year old whose mother just died of cancer.

But first let's set the scene:

Steele spoke at Howard in front of roughly 150 students as part of his outreach program to Historically Black Colleges and Universities. His effort to connect with young black students got off to a rather cringe-worthy start when right before the billed "student dialogue" two dozen white members of area young Republican groups arrived to sit in the reserved first two rows of the packed room. One wondered, as students grumbled, if Steele hired John Ashcroft to be his event manager.

But the discomfort turned to boredom as Steele's "dialogue" turned quickly into a monologue. The RNC chair went on a long rambling speech about pulling yourself up by your bootstraps, while the texting audience strained to stay awake. There was no impassioned argument or defense of the Republican Party and any questions in the "dialogue" had to be submitted in writing while Steele spoke. The only thing that caused even a raised eyebrow was Steele's occasional effort at slang. When a student told Steele she was going into business law he said, "Business law! Mo money!"

But when challenged, Steele exposed himself, and it was awful to see the Tin Man's tin ear. When the RNC chair took a written question on health care, he blasted the public option, saying that "every time the government gets involved in something it doesn't work."

Then came Amanda Duzak, and Steele's evening just got a whole lot worse.

Duzak, a 23 year old Towson University grad, stood up, against the rules and out of turn.

"My mother died of cancer 6 months ago because she could only afford three of her six prescription chemotherapy medications," she projected. "There are 50 million people in this country who could end up like my mom, suffering or dying because they do not have adequate health care. Everyone in this room and everyone in this country should have access to good health care."

The room woke up and other than those glaring from the front, the applause was wall to wall. But it's Steele's response that makes this moment both newsworthy and a terrible comment on his character. After saying that he believed in a mature, honest discussion and not in shouting, Steele said, "People are coming to these town meetings and they're like [he then shakes]." He then looked and gestured right at Ms. Duzak and said, "It makes for great TV. You'll probably make it tonight, enjoy it." He then turned his back to her, as the crowd clapped.

Think about what Steele did. He didn't only turn his back and rudely dismiss a young woman whose mother just died of cancer. He used the shameful recent behavior of the right wing town hall screamers -- his own party's base -- to try and turn the crowd against Ms. Duzak.

Damian Smith, a after school counselor and Prince George's County resident, also weighed in about how his aunt is losing her home because of her medical bills. Other people started to shout out as well.

But Steele was worse than non-responsive. He was dismissive and profoundly disrespectful. As Smith said to me afterward, "I couldn't believe he acted that way toward her... toward all of us. He was just mean."

The roots of Steele's unconscionable behavior lie in his own political bankruptcy. The nation faces a health care crisis and has no answer other than telling students, "Everyone in the country needs health care." Lately he has been running commercials telling seniors, "No cuts for Medicare," just two short years after running for senator of Maryland saying that "everything has to be on the table" - including Medicare cuts. As Ron Brownstein wrote in National Journal on Friday, "Steele's pledge this week to 'protect Medicare' might have been more convincing had it not come five months after nearly four-fifths of House Republicans voted to literally end the program as we know it for all Americans younger than 55."

It's one thing to be a fraud. That's politics as usual. But to turn your back on a young person whose mother just died of cancer is more than politics as usual. It's shocking. As Ms. Duzak said to me after the event, very upset, "I wasn't trying to shout or be rude. I just wanted an answer. I thought we were all owed that." We certainly are. But if nothing else, Michael Steele owes Amanda Duzak a sincere apology.

Dave Zirin is the author of "A People's History of Sports in the United States" (The New Press) Receive his column every week by emailing [e-mail]. Contact him at [e-mail].

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Comments

[fragata]

Steele is just a poor man trying to find a way to stand up, but he keeps leaning on the wrong wall.

[AfroGoddess]

Steele is a Good Boy and a Good Black. I know Black conservatives, and he's not them. He's the Republican's Good Black. He's the "You're not the rest of them there n***ggers" Black. He's their "Only Black friend" Black.

No, we do not all need to agree, but he was disrespectful. It comes with his determination to fully be the token that heis being paid to be. I don't trust him to be thoughful, intelligent, or objective.

He is cud that self-hate chews.

[riceroni]

This is the epitome of the Republican party, unless you're rich they could give a flyin' f!@#$

[USMA01]

Mr Steel

WWJD?

p.s. Lucky your son didn't have a pre-existing condition.

[cutesky]

And that my friends sums up the mentality of the Republican Party!!!!!!! It's a disgrace!!

[Char59]

WHY ISN'T THIS THE HEADLINE ON HERE AND TV?

[FloaterBall]

Michael Steele is so full of himself he's about to explode.

[LightningJoe]

Trouble is, Steele wasn't really there to listen, but to present the Republican case for inaction on Health Care. His every move is toward that end, and he's NOT willing to be "taught something he may not know," about it. He already knows everything he thinks worth knowing.

He was actually doing okay there, with the whole "calm down" bit, but then he blew it up big-time, with his final cut.

He shouldn't really be surprised. He should have known better than to try that at a college, in front of real students with real brains, in such a loaded time as this.

He had the chance to learn something valuable from that girl, but he made it into his own parable to them about learning, and nothing more of value remained.

This man is through learning.

[lizt]

Sadly, this is not that shocking coming from the Republicans. I just watched a video of them shouting down a woman in a wheelchair. I think they have lost their souls along with their minds.

[gaysofla]

Baby Jesus would be so proud!!!

[mychagal]

He represents himself and his party of souless individuals. Consider the source. They lost, and keep losing again and again and again.

[AsianAfricanAMERICAN]

Republicans are no longer necessary.

[jcydking]

word

[nimblehuman]

It's nice watching them implode under the weight of their own hatred and lies though.

[monac58]

How true that is. But, does anyone think Michael Steele would be the head of the RNC if he weren't a black man? The most racist organization in America is the Republican party and they put a black man up front to 'even things out' with the Democrats! What a freaking joke he is! He thinks he is
being taken seriously. The party is using him as a hack. His rudeness to this poor woman is the Republican party and the sooner people in this country figure that out the better they will be. They don't care about anyone except big business and feathering their own nests! I am sick of these people.

[Vurz]

I feel bad that he has to act this way to appease the Republican leadership. It's the only way they will let him stay in his position.

[jazzgrrrl25]

never feel sympathy for one who has no character...for one who has to validate himself on the back of someone else's misfortune.

[rocketdog56]

well said!

[gallimaufry03]

Steele -- you're not that bright; you're not that attractive; you don't have wit; you're certainly not compassionate.

You are tall though. I'll give you that one.

[mychagal]

There is nothing remarkable about this man. In fact, I think he's substandard in every way.

[TJ22]

Michael Steele agrees everyone needs healthcare. Its just that someone has to make a profit on it.

Righties would love everyone to have healthcare in the current system, because it causes one of their campaign contributor's pockets are getting fatter.

[jcydking]

Yes!! FOLLOW THE MONEY!
Or in this case, the circling vultures....

[gizmo64]

I tried to find and email address so I could e-mail that man that he should be ashamed of himself and his party that is losing their way but could find nothing so this is it ,So I hope he reads it he is a disappointment for the human race period along with Beck Palin,Beckman Rush and friends.All are made of the same cloth IMO