Michael Steele plays the race card while saying he will not resign
Today Michael Steele has said that he has no intention to resign as the head of the RNC. As unfortunate as this is to the Republican party and to their fundraising attempts and election bids, it gets worse as he decided to play the race card in his defense.
When asked if he had a “slimmer margin for error” because of his skin color Michael Steele offered the following statement:
The honest answer is yes
George Stephanopoulous then asked him why he had a “slimmer margin for error. To which he replied:
It just is. Barack Obama has a slimmer margin. A lot of folks do. I mean it’s a different role for you know, for me to play and others to play. And that’s just the reality of it. But you take that as part of the nature of it. It’s more because you’re not someone they know. I’m not a Washington insider. … My view on politics is much more grass-roots-oriented. It’s not old boy network oriented and so I tend to come at it a little bit stronger, a little more streetwise if you will. That rubs some feathers the wrong way. At the end of the day I’m judged by whether I win elections and I raise the money
In the same breath that he claimed he would be judged on whether or not he won elections and raised money he also claimed that he would be judged differently because of his race.
Michael Steele is now playing the victim, while at the same time claiming that Barack Obama also has a “slimmer margin for error” because of his skin color. How is claiming that Barack Obama is being judged partially on his race– and comparing himself to Barack Obama at the same time– going to help Republican candidates in the November elections? How is claiming that the Republicans who are calling for his resignation are doing so because of his race and not because of his lack of results going to help the party that he is supposed to be representing?
Barack Obama is being judged on his record, as is Michael Steele. Yet by claiming that he and Barack Obama are being held to a different standard because of their race, he is actually fueling the left and giving them talking points that can now be used in the upcoming mid-term election.
He has now embarrassed himself more than he already was before this statement, while at the same time providing yet another opportunity for the Democrats to marginalize him. Robert Gibbs was quick to jump on Michael Steele for playing the race card when he said, “I think that is a fairly silly comment to make, I think Michael Steele’s problem isn’t the race card, it’s the credit card.”
As much as I hate to admit it, that was a great line. And it is true, that is what makes that line so effective. As head of the RNC, Michael Steele needs to take responsibility for his missteps, but instead he has decided to fall back on the time tested excuse by claiming that he is a victim because of his skin color. This should have been beneath him.
Again Michael Steele has embarrassed himself and the Republican party. There is no doubt that Michael Steele is hurting the Republican party in both image and fundraising and it is time for him to go.
America's Watchtower 
If Steele continues to lead the RNC, we can count on an incredibly weak candidate opposing Obama in 2012 and a very good possibility that Obama will be re-elected…
Unless — Unless the American people, REAL, hard core Conservatives and Conservative Republicans get it together and remove Steele by any means necessary… ANY MEANS!
Race be damned, call me a racist, that’s the favorite tactic of the left right now, big deal, Steele is a jerk and he is in place for one reason and one reason only, he is the GOP’s answer to Obama…
And much like Obama, Steele is a miserable failure…
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My comment belongs here not the other post don’t know how I did that.
The moment a person forms a theory, his imagination sees in every object only the traits which favor that theory Thomas Jefferson.
Unfortunately the Negro in America sees no other thing but that which restricts him.
To be free from such bonds it to ignore that they exist. Only then will one look past all obstacles and persevere.
Here we have another black man who sees his challenges as a straw man.
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It really is disappointing to see him stoop to this level. He should be above making such lame excuses, all he has to do is look at his lack of fundraising.
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I was initially so excited about Steele, but his numerous gaffes and missteps have convinced me that he should’ve stepped down long ago, for the sake of the Republican party.
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I was excited about him also, but he has been disappointing.
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What “slimmer margin”? He got the job based on his race.
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The GOP, in an effort to counteract their opponent (The Democrats, Barrack Obama) opted to bring in someone who fit the race/gender profile they needed. Just like when they got McCain a VP. Instead of focusing on the quality of the individual, they focused on the external appearance. In both cases it has yielded poor results. The GOP would be better-served by bringing in someone like a Newt Gingrich or a Carl Rove who have mounted credible campaigns or blueprints.
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Very true, identity politics at is worst.
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He just proved that he is a RINO and more RINO’s is the last thing the party needs. I was very leary when he won the job, (he was the only one running that doesn’t own a firearm out of all who ran.)
His time is up and he needs to stand down and let a REAL Conservative run the show if the GOP wants to WIN.
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True, how can we expect a real conservative movement to take shape it the head of the RNC is just a RINO?
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When Steele was chosen Chairman, I was convinced we did need a black man, to avoid letting the Dem’s cry racism at every point. I was disappointed that he wasn’t more conservative, but hoped he’d be okay. Now to hear him making these comments about him & BHO underscores my concerns. Whose side is he on?
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I do believe that Steele appointment was designed to take away some of the opportunities that the Democrats would have had to call the GOP a bunch of old white men. It was to counter the election of Barack Obama. We needed the best person for this job based on credentials, not skin color. This is what happens when you use identity politics.
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