On the organizational side, Steele does not have a chief of staff, a political director, a finance director or a communications director. Last week, one of the two men sharing the job of interim finance director was forced to resign.
For now, “the fourth floor,” as the RNC’s executive suite is known, is being run by a pair of consultants.
“There’s frustration that there’s no discipline, no planning,” said a well-known Republican consultant. “He’s risking being overexposed by accepting every interview, which makes gaffes more likely.”
In a lengthy interview, Steele was unapologetic, referring to the high-level GOP critics and skeptics as “nervous Nellies” and saying that he actually has been tempering his public remarks…
In another incident that drew unwanted scrutiny to the chairman, Steele was asked by Fox News host Neil Cavuto if he would consider supporting primary challengers against the three Republican senators who voted in favor of President Obama’s stimulus package, Steele seemed to threaten moderate Republican Sens. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, Olympia Snowe of Maine and Susan Collins of Maine by responding: “Oh, yes, I’m always open to everything, baby, absolutely.”
Snowe, who is not facing reelection in 2010, told Roll Call that she approached Steele to ask: “You didn’t really mean that, did you?”
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indeed….”tempering his remarks” is best translated as “Baby, these racists were bad but I am here to clean house.” is precisely what he was trying to communicate to the esteemed cultural critic DL Hughgley.
sven10077 on March 4, 2009 at 9:18 AM
I just can’t see any redemption for this guy. This story has grown too many legs.
OmahaConservative on March 4, 2009 at 9:21 AM
Well that pretty well sums it up! Michael Steele has no message, no organization, no staff, no communication skills and no party unity but those who question him are rubes… Pretty much the party-line when it comes to the Republican Party of the last 8 to 10 years. No change here…ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
sabbott on March 4, 2009 at 9:24 AM
Whatever, Snowe. If you completely fold on 30 years and a trillion dollars of Democratic domestic legislation, what exactly are you good for?
Lehosh on March 4, 2009 at 9:24 AM
More and more, Steele looks like a complete stumblebum. At the very least he can avoid shooting himself in the foot by staying off TV for a while.
Percy_Peabody on March 4, 2009 at 9:27 AM
AP our friend is back:
Russian Scholar Says U.S. Will Collapse Next Year
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
MOSCOW — If you’re inclined to believe Igor Panarin, and the Kremlin wouldn’t mind if you did, then President Barack Obama will order martial law this year, the U.S. will split into six rump-states before 2011, and Russia and China will become the backbones of a new world order.
artist on March 4, 2009 at 9:28 AM
I’m disappointed, I have to say. And I supported him. The RNC chair is all about organization and beating the snot out of Democrats.
I see little of either one.
beatcanvas on March 4, 2009 at 9:28 AM
Holy sh*tballs I never thought he’d be *this* bad. He truly is an incompetent Affirmative Action RNC chairman but he’s always been like that for the GOP. I mean his stint as Lt. Governor of MD was a mess, but at least then he managed to just not do anything. Not doing anything as RNC chairman is actually a problem. Say what you will about Obama he’s demonstrating some serious competence when it comes to pushing an agenda through and hard, as well as organizing/manipulating the media into presenting him as apolitical. Michael Steele, instead is being bandied about by the media as a plaything. I have to say, with the exception of Meet the Press I did not see Howard Dean on TV after he became head of the DNC. I didn’t see him on Neil Cavuto or Glenn Beck or even Larry King. He actually rebuilt a party infrastructure instead.
DeathToMediaHacks on March 4, 2009 at 9:29 AM
Steele is going to be on Laura Ingraham in a few minutes.
OmahaConservative on March 4, 2009 at 9:29 AM
He’s been on the job only about as long as o and they both seem to be following a downward curve. Didn’t see that parallel mentioned in this article though. Also, note of interest only for me maybe, but saw a clip of Michelle o talking to servicemen’s families yesterday or the day before and she did not look well. Either she has gained a LOT of weight or something else is wrong since her face and body looked very puffy and full,and this is not catty(this time)just calling it like I saw it.
jeanie on March 4, 2009 at 9:29 AM
If the RNC is to not only survive, but to thrive it will be necessary to elevate someone to the position of Director that has testicles.
Tim Zank on March 4, 2009 at 9:29 AM
Good god, I’m frightened. I actually agree with something you said…
beatcanvas on March 4, 2009 at 9:32 AM
That is troublesome. We don’t need a gutter party.
I hate to say this, but this Steele controversy is one instance where I would be interested to hear what the self-appointed elitists — let’s say Frum and Douthat — have to say (beyond “Steele is off to a bad start and/or that he’s in over his head) and who they would recommend for this job.
BigD on March 4, 2009 at 9:32 AM
Michelle and Bambi have been eating AND drinking rather well on our dime….
but remember he is “borrowing” his current house…
sven10077 on March 4, 2009 at 9:32 AM
“said a well-known Republican consultant”
Can we have some names here?
This is starting to look like another Palin-type media smear job.
“said a party insider”
“said a top-level official”
etc. etc.
I smell fear.
PaddyJ on March 4, 2009 at 9:33 AM
Knock it off, everyone! Politico is now defining our “fears”? Steele made a mistake. Let’s get past this and not be distracted by our leftist enemies.
zeebeach on March 4, 2009 at 9:33 AM
While I don’t think Steele is doing a very good job, I don’t trust Politico, AT ALL. This business of drumming up headlines using “un-named Republican sources” is suspicious. I think Politico is a thinly veiled lib rag and they have a motive for keeping turmoil in the Republican party.
anniekc on March 4, 2009 at 9:34 AM
Steele coming up on Laura Ingraham right now.
http://www.wtmy.com/
Listen online.
roninacreage on March 4, 2009 at 9:35 AM
I agree that that was the least important part of the story, and that Politico got it wrong in saying it attracted additional scrutiny to Steele. Rather, it attracted scrutiny to Snowe.
BigD on March 4, 2009 at 9:36 AM
I think the RNC elected the wrong magic negro.
BPD on March 4, 2009 at 9:37 AM
eating AND drinking rather well on our dime
sven Are you implying something with the ‘drinking’ part? Does she/did she have a problem with this in the past? Interested.
jeanie on March 4, 2009 at 9:44 AM
Republicans are afraid of everything. Michael Steele, stem cells, terrurrists at Walmart – you name it, they’re scared of it.
capitulus on March 4, 2009 at 9:45 AM
Laura is shredding Steele, while trying to be his apologist. Steele is toast.
OmahaConservative on March 4, 2009 at 9:46 AM
Steele has to show conservatives some reason to get on board, and dam quick. All signs are he is another clueless RINO, and that perception will kill the Whigs chances in ‘10.
james23 on March 4, 2009 at 9:46 AM
I expected better.
Spirit of 1776 on March 4, 2009 at 9:48 AM
Democrats are afraid of everything. Rush Limbaugh, newborn babies, terrorists from Walmart – you name it, they’re scared of it.
Lehosh on March 4, 2009 at 9:49 AM
Barry has self-admitted addiction problems and DC and Manhattan are known as the cocktail circuit for a reason….
inductive reasoning says that the media that mocked Bush for his aversion to alcohol and his “spooky work out routines” while singing the praises of Ogabe’s pecs with no shame would have little difficulty harping on the Swiss Family Ogabe’s abstaining from drink as “showing restraint”….
they have been entertaining a bunch and she is puffy….
I don’t need a Weatherman to tell me which way the wind blows….
sven10077 on March 4, 2009 at 9:49 AM
Whig for RiNO is a rather apt metaphor….time for a new “Federalist” party or whatever…
sven10077 on March 4, 2009 at 9:50 AM
Notice how he stuttered and stammered when she asked him if he would cut off campaign funds to those who stick us in the eye? ie, Snowe, Specter and Collins.
He dodged it and said it was up to their states. Bullcrap!!
roninacreage on March 4, 2009 at 9:51 AM
Yep. Burnt toast.
OmahaConservative on March 4, 2009 at 9:54 AM
It is up to their states to elect our ticket it is up to the candidate to fund most of their campaign, but it is up to me whether I fund the 4th floor Mr. Steele and thus far you are not inspiring me…another c-note for SarahPAC.
sven10077 on March 4, 2009 at 9:56 AM
America deserves the hell that is coming after electing Obama.
Republicans too deserve what’s coming for electing Steele.
Elections have consequences, even at the party level.
Hopefully somewhere in 2020 a new party will emerge and challenge Democrats. If there is a country left at all that is.
angryed on March 4, 2009 at 10:03 AM
“You didn’t really mean that, did you?” I sure hope he did. Apparently these two boobs dont talk which explains what happened in teh porkulus vote.
Steele is USELESS and not doing his job.
dogsoldier on March 4, 2009 at 10:18 AM
The problem is that the grassroots of the Republican Party, including a great many people on Hotair (myself included), strongly backed Steele. It’s increasingly appearing like we have all made a big mistake and, if so, I fear that’s going to hurt conservatives’ credibility within the party.
Outlander on March 4, 2009 at 10:20 AM
That’s really an impossible question for the RNC Chair to answer during a live interview. The decision to cutoff funds, etc. needs to be run past the Maine GOP and the NRSC. The RNC is a coordinating body and Steele is the chief coordinator. Steele is not the Republican Pope with the unilateral authority to excommunicate three sitting Senators.
But this is a problem with Steele. The MSM is hostile territory. You have to have a game plan before running out and giving press interviews. He clearly doesn’t — hence, all his goofy statements.
Outlander on March 4, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Could she be pregnant? I saw it recently on the Enquirer while waiting in the grocery store checkout line. So it must be true!
Brat on March 4, 2009 at 10:35 AM
The RNC has a choice: Dump Steele or send a congratulatory letter to Obama on winning his second presidential term.
Crusty on March 4, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Republicans can be such suckers.
http://thirdbasepolitics.blogspot.com/2009/03/shut-up-idiots.html
DJ Tablesauce on March 4, 2009 at 10:52 AM
Rush and Steele made up. End of story.
R D on March 4, 2009 at 12:35 PM
Dump Steele. He is an amateur.
Dr. Manhattan on March 4, 2009 at 12:45 PM
I thought he would be more realistic and dump the social platform and focus on economic issues.
Do people really care about gay marriage when the economy is in shambles?
Sir Andrew on March 4, 2009 at 12:58 PM
Steele needs to go.
Next thing you know, he’ll be peddling the dynasts who drove us into this pit. I can hear it now.
Aw, come on, he doesn’t even look like his brother or old man. So, he’s open borders; we can’t be such purists if we want to keep wrecking the nation and pleasing the northeastern elites.
Besides, criticizing me could be… psst… RAAACIST!
Send them no money and give them no help until the country club leftists are gone.
Feedie on March 4, 2009 at 1:22 PM