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Steele Injects Race Into Obama's Request That Paterson Not Run

Ben Frumin | September 20, 2009, 11:23AM

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Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele had just finished telling Face the Nation's Bob Schieffer this morning that opposition to President Obama and health care reform had nothing to do with race when he seemed to accuse the President of letting race play a factor in another decision.

Asked about this morning's New York Times story that reports Obama has asked unpopular and struggling Gov. David Paterson (D-NY) not to run in the 2010 Democratic primary, Steele said:

I found that to be stunning that the White House would send word to one of only two black governors in the country not to run for reelection.

Looking somewhat stunned himself, Schieffer asked Steele, "Well you don't think he's asked him not to run 'cuz he's black?"

Perhaps sensing that he'd once again said something he shouldn't have, Steele backtracked. Stumbling over his words, he questioned why Obama wasn't asking other Democrats with poor poll numbers -- like Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ) -- not to run, calling it "a curiosity."

Steele also said it "will be very interesting to see" how Obama's request to Paterson will play with black leaders across the country.

Late Update: Here's the video.

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59 comments

Recommend Recommend (2)

September 20, 2009 12:02 PM

I heard about that. So the story now is, Obama's not racist against white people, but he's racist against black people? Really?

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September 20, 2009 1:37 PM in reply to calchala

Truly.

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September 20, 2009 2:09 PM in reply to calchala

Nope. It's that Obbama isn't a racist; he's an Uncle Tom.

Can't wait 'till Limbaugh and Beck change their tunes on that one. And their far-right lunatic fringe dupes all collectively seek emergency room treatment for whiplash.

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September 20, 2009 7:10 PM in reply to JNagarya

This is exactly it. Steele's doing this in a (vain) effort to dupe Black people into a) hating Obama for being a Tom and b) make them into Republicans. Dude.

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September 20, 2009 3:23 PM in reply to calchala

That's how Republicans think - only minorities are racist, Republicans are not.

Plus anyone with half a brain (which is too high a bar for Steele) should say, yeah, I heard about it, but no one is speaking on the record, so I'm not going to comment.

But, as we've seen, Steele has amazing flexibility - he can get his foot in his mouth time & time again, while most of us over 40 can't raise our feet above knee level.

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September 20, 2009 4:41 PM in reply to Hyla Brook

Right on the button! But seriously, Steele is one of the best things Obama's got going for him. If the GOP hadn't elected him chairman, the Dems would have to have invented someone just like him! *snark*

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FebM

September 20, 2009 5:14 PM in reply to calchala

Good, I guess it was the same reason Obama directed that Sen Gilliabrand doesnt get opposed, was that because the opponent was black or white or? never mind

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September 20, 2009 5:39 PM in reply to calchala

You are so missing what's going on here. Obama is "biracial" and is therefore a "biracist". He is so loathsome of all races that he can't even bring himself to discuss the issue except in accepting and reasonable terms. And his failure to inject race into his actions is his most insidious thing of all, forcing others to point out his racism without anything to actually identify to and therefore making them look like racist asses.

The force is strong with this one.

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September 21, 2009 3:11 AM in reply to Stiggs

lol...well done!

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September 21, 2009 9:05 PM in reply to Stiggs

His efforts to get Paterson to step aside for Cuomo is going to really fuck up those who insist he's a stealth racist intent on imposing an African-American socialist agenda.

Oops: Cuomo is Italian. Must be a fascista.

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ESK

September 20, 2009 12:31 PM

Michael Steele epitomizes the Republican party. No real direction, no real purpose, confused, a total joke!

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September 20, 2009 2:10 PM in reply to ESK

All that can be more efficnelty said in one word:

Stoopid.

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September 20, 2009 2:47 PM in reply to ESK

Don't forget totally delused!

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September 20, 2009 7:44 PM in reply to AhTrini1

Holy crap!

The GOP dead-locked on choosing between a cracker (Duncan(?)) and an oreo (Blackwell) in choosing a RNC head and settled on a guy who resembles a sugar-cookie left soaking in milk for too many hours.

Or maybe I owe an apology to soggy cookies everywhere in comparing them to the mush between Chairman Mike's ears.

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September 20, 2009 12:34 PM

Quick! Whatever Obama says, disagree and support the opposite!

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September 20, 2009 12:56 PM in reply to Kinkistyle

Obama should announce that he's 100% against a public option. Steele will probably be on TV shortly thereafter proclaiming the merits of said public option. It's like a goddamn Looney Tunes routine...

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September 20, 2009 3:00 PM in reply to Matt Jones

That's what I've been telling my friends, and they all think I'm crazy. But it's true. If Obama had come out and said, "I want HCR, but will veto anything that includes a public option," we would have single-payer health care by now.

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September 20, 2009 12:34 PM

No worries, I am sure that Matt Drudge and Michelle Malkin will call out Michael Steele for playing the race card. Bwahhaha!

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September 20, 2009 12:37 PM

Of course, if Steele was really sooooo concerned about only 2 black governors, wouldn't the real answer be for the RNC to run quality BLACK candidates instead of whining about the Democrats?

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September 20, 2009 1:15 PM in reply to mk3872

If Steele were able to find a quality black REPUBLICAN candidate he would probably be of lesser quality than the present governor.

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September 20, 2009 2:11 PM in reply to Voter

And of lesser quality than the quality-less Steele.

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September 20, 2009 2:48 PM in reply to Voter

Alan Keys anyone?

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September 20, 2009 5:43 PM in reply to Voter

You can drop the racial designation and the statement loses no validity. The GOP is in such a sad state, really quite pathetic. Can anybody remember the last time a Republican has made a public statement about something pertinent, real and constructive?

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September 20, 2009 1:07 PM

By supporting quotas, is Steele speaking for himself, or is he annunciating the position of the Republican party?

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September 20, 2009 1:28 PM

Pot: Calling kettle!

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September 20, 2009 1:31 PM

This must be one of the daily Rethuglican talking points; Roger Simon of Politico expressed horror that Obama would be pressuring one of the only two BLACK governors to resign...OMG! He's a reverse racist!!!!! (snark)

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September 20, 2009 1:32 PM

Oh, forgot to say that Simon was a guest pundit on Meet The Press...gotta get all those talking head shows covered!!

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truthseeker77

September 20, 2009 1:35 PM

A real journalist would not have put words into Steele's mouth. But then, this is TPM.

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September 20, 2009 2:14 PM in reply to truthseeker77

A real journalist wouldn't put words in Obama's mouth. But trolls such as "truthseeker" and his fellow far-right lunatic fringers do it all the time.

Always based upon their confabulated red herrings.

Steele said what he said; and those who recognize his "race card player" hypocrisy call it for what it is.

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September 20, 2009 3:30 PM in reply to truthseeker77

Beck? Hannity? Savage? Limbaugh?

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readytoblowagasket

September 20, 2009 1:53 PM

This story isn't about Steele! In fact, the Steele angle is the absolute least important part. Why are you even reporting it?

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September 20, 2009 2:17 PM in reply to readytoblowagasket

Of course it's about Steele: he's accusing President Obama of NOT being a racist because NOT supportive of blacks solely because they are black.

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September 20, 2009 1:54 PM

I've always suspected that Obama had it in for black people. :)

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September 20, 2009 2:07 PM

That is probably the most ignorant thing that Steele has ever said. Obama hates white people, black people, he's out to kill black and white grannies, he's a terrorist racist, socialist, communist,nazi, muslim, global warming liar. Christ you need a big hammer to hit these people in the head just to shut them up. But it is kind of funny to watch too. It's like watching a dog eat dog crap.
Ibredheads Reprazent!

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September 20, 2009 2:19 PM in reply to fitley

It's like watching crap eat a dog.

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September 20, 2009 2:52 PM in reply to fitley

You forgot to add fascist, Kenyan.

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September 20, 2009 2:21 PM

So, now Obama is Uncle Tom?

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September 20, 2009 2:30 PM

Steele is trying to portray Obama as untrustworthy.

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September 20, 2009 5:48 PM in reply to Micheline

I think you are giving Steele far too much credit. I don't think he is trying to do anything. I think Michael Steele floats through his life with no real direction or understanding of what's happening around him.

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September 21, 2009 6:47 AM in reply to Stiggs

His lack of perspective and thoughtlessness suggest he is trying to advance a GOP talking point of some sort. Most GOP arguments these days radiate glibness. These arguments don't arise from sober reckoning and perspective, they arise from simpleton ideological strategy. A strategy that I don't think Steele is aware of, but only follows. He seems to have just enough education to present these arguments (occasionally using a big word) that, to the uneducated conservatives, appear compelling.

How inept must the GOP be that they made this dip-shit apparatchik there spokesperson? Surely it couldn't be because they hoped his skin color would serve as credibility. The Republican machine are above manipulating race and gender for political gain.

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September 21, 2009 9:36 AM in reply to lizbensky

I think this scenario is exactly why Steele is the GOP chairman. What Republican could criticize a black president for being racist and get away with it (especially in a situation like this where it doesn't even vaguely make sense)? I know there are a lot of them doing it, however I think there would be a lot fewer if they didn't have the cover of Steele being right there in it with them.

It actually seems like Republican's are underutilizing Steele as a resource. People have been catching on to the fact that a bunch of southern white congressman making up BS reasons to criticize Obama may smell slightly of racism. Steele is highly visible and verbally incontinent so it is a snap to find a criticism of Obama that fits most situations. So why aren't we seeing more "Steele said xyz the other day and I tend to agree with him..."? He's an idiot, sure but why not let him be a useful idiot?

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September 21, 2009 2:36 PM in reply to lizbensky

I would guess plenty of Repugs in DC would like to dump Steele, but they can't because he's . . . you know, black. Wouldn't look good.

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September 20, 2009 2:46 PM

Steele's brain must suffer with sever whiplash....

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September 20, 2009 3:12 PM

Dog help me, try as I might, I can't really see anything wrong with what Steele said. He found it startling that Obama would involve himself in a gubernatorial race that features one of only two black govs -- when there are plenty of other govs who aren't popular, who are wasting Democratic time and money running to hold on to their jobs. What's so awful about that? I'm no fan of Steele's in any way, but I think there's a tendency to pile on every time the guy opens his mouth without really listening.

Okay, now I'm ducking...

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September 20, 2009 3:45 PM in reply to JimmyBobby

I suspect that if there was any other sitting Dem. governor as assured of defeat as David Paterson, Obama might well make the same move (assuming this news is for real, that is). I live in New York and can't tell you how utterly dismal his chances are. A real shame - most of us very much wanted him to succeed and like him still (and, for that matter, DON'T like Andrew Cuomo), but he can't govern the State and he will lose if he runs. Heck, he wouldn't even get the nomination but it will be an ugly, bitter divisive race if he puts his name in. Nowhere near comparable to Corizine, etc.

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CogInSystem

September 20, 2009 6:19 PM in reply to JimmyBobby

Paterson's a mess. There are several reasons for Obama to do this:

1) He injected race into the problems in Albany (Albany has a million and one problems, but racism isn't a big one).
2) He appointed Gillibrand against the President's wishes and talked trash about Kennedy unnecessarily after snubbing Obama.
3) Paterson has been unable to maintain any semblance of control in Albany, overseeing an unprecedented defection, and in general being feckless.
4) Giuliani is testing the waters on a gubernatorial run for the R's, and Cuomo is the only one who stands a chance against him. In order for this to work, he doesn't need a bloody primary battle that will split the Dems (especially one that will allow the R's to play the race card against Cuomo... again.

Steele raises Corzine as an example where the administration has not called for the incumbent governor to step down. This is true, but there are reasons. Corzine has been a reliable ally. He is polling much closer to Christie than Paterson is against anyone.

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September 20, 2009 8:02 PM in reply to JimmyBobby

NY is the second biggest state in terms of population in the US. The Governor's race is maybe a wee bit more important than say the Selectman of some town in Rhode Island.

Switch it around. Imagine Spitzer had been elected Governor and was running for re-election when his scandal broke out. Would the intervention of the President in the election of one of the most powerful politicians in the country still raise the same questions in Steele's (alleged) mind?

Steele raised the question of "Why are you dogging a brother Barack?" To claim otherwise is to wear an eye-patch while jabbing a sharp stick in the other eye.

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September 21, 2009 3:15 AM in reply to JimmyBobby

i'm sorry, did you look at the poll numbers at all? gov paterson is not going to make it.

and moreover, this is all hearsay. the white house did not confirm that story, in fact, i'm sick of all these unnamed sources already!

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September 20, 2009 3:14 PM

We should all step back and take a very deep breath and try to gather what little bit of sanity we have left, if that's possible. Someone, anyone, no one is grasping the moment and stepping up from either side and asking people, pleading with people to stop this division... we are about to become (again) the laughing stock of the world that we claim to be the #1 leader in... ~ Dan Francis (Watertown, NY)

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September 20, 2009 3:15 PM

We should all step back and take a very deep breath and try to gather what little bit of sanity we have left, if that's possible. Someone, anyone, no one is grasping the moment and stepping up from either side and asking people, pleading with people to stop this division... we are about to become (again) the laughing stock of the world that we claim to be the #1 leader in... ~ Dan Francis (Watertown, NY)

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screaminmeme

September 20, 2009 3:19 PM

We're all familiar with the old adage, "Throw enough on the wall and some of it might stick." Seems that the GOPs have taken it to heart. But, every time you think they've gotten to the bottom of the barrel, they dredge up another handful of slime.

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September 20, 2009 5:05 PM

Does Steele even know why he has a job? It's not because he consistently makes sense or the old white southern crowd has had a change of heart. If we didn't have President Obama, they wouldn't have Steele. Who do you think would have Steele's job if we had elected a Latino for president?

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September 20, 2009 10:00 PM

Pretty soon Michael Steele will be leading the GOP, Glen Beck and Rush Limbaugh in a chorus of Chris Rock's "Cause I'm blacker than black and I'm blacker than you." LOL. First Obama's racist against whites and now racists against blacks. Up is down and down is up to this guy and the rest of the right wing in this country.

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September 20, 2009 10:55 PM

Oh, Michael...we Dems do love you. You are the "gift that keeps on gving."

And maybe Steele is also racist because he continues to spout crazy rants against the only black President we've ever had!!!

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September 20, 2009 11:06 PM

I guess Glenn Shreck will come out to say that the President now hates black people. Add that to him hating "white culture/white people" and all President Obama has left are Latinos and Asian-Americans to help him get things done! lol

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September 20, 2009 11:34 PM

Title suggestion: Naked, Alone, And Kafkaesque in the Beltway.

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September 21, 2009 10:22 AM

...but, but, but, I thought you guys were not about race. Your objections with the President are always rooted in policy differences.

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SJNewshound

September 21, 2009 11:04 AM

The best evidence that Michael Steele is a self-important dimwit is that he himself doesn't realize (or admit) that he's the Republican party's shallow attempt to look "diverse". Not long ago that would have been referred to as their "token".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokenism

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Marie Burns

September 21, 2009 3:02 PM

Don't just blame Steele. Amy Sullivan at Time did the same thing & I called her out on it. I'm white, & when I read the story, the race of the Governor & the President never crossed my mind. This race business is in the mind of the beholder. The President favors Cuomo, because Cuomo can win. But maybe we should presume it's because the President likes Italians so much?

The Constant Weader at www.RealityChex.com

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