"You’re not going to dump the first African-American chairman"

Steele’s status as a high-profile African-American at a time when Republicans are facing serious headwind because of their weakness among non-white voters was a big part of his appeal a year ago. And it is a part of the reason many GOP strategists lament that he is untouchable even though they think the party would be better off to make a change from someone they regard as an unfocused and gaffe-prone leader…

Two Republican sources also tell POLITCO that, when he’s travelling to give speeches that he personally profits from, Steele brings RNC aides along with him – on the committee’s tab. An RNC spokesperson said, “Staff salaries and expenses have not been used in relation to the Chairman’s motivational speeches.” RNC staffers don’t, however, know all the media he’s doing on his book tour; a call this week from a GOP state official to the national party asking why there was no heads-up on a Steele interview in the state was met with a shrug…

Recognizing the firestorm that he’s sparked, however, Steele is working behind the scenes to ensure that his job is safe, phoning the party committee members who are his most important constituency ostensibly just to check in on their states.