Former Chairman of the Republican National Committee Michael Steele recently sat down with 92Y Producer Jordan Chariton at The Jefferson Hotel in Washington, D.C. to discuss how to revive the Republican Party.
In part two of our extended interview, Steele touched on everything from the Tea Party movement to the Trayvon Martin case.
Steele doesn't see Tea Party lawmakers as obstructionists:
"They had a charge from the people who elected them...you go to Washington and you draw a line in the sand, you put a hold on the amount of spending, and you say no to more spending without some level of contraction."
Where Steele does acknowledges issues Republicans are having is with communication, specifically with minority groups, joking:
"I think there's a huge gap between our brain and our mouth," Steele said, adding, "You don't always express what you're thinking without thinking it through."
Steele also shared his views on the murder of Trayvon Martin.
"A 17-year-old African American with a bottle of tea and a bag of Skittles was killed for no reason other than being black, young, wearing a hoodie."
He also spoke about President Obama's election, pointing out that it has not ended racism in America.
"Obama's election was not a panacea for race relations. All these folks running around talking about, 'Oh, we're in a postracial America' ... BS, as the Trayvon Martin case readily proves."
Do you agree with Steele's take on the Trayvon Martin murder? Comment below.
This interview was filmed at The Jefferson Hotel in Washington, D.C. For more information on the Jefferson, visit www.jeffersondc.com.