Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, in an interview this weekend on Univision, said, "I don't think we need a comprehensive overhaul of our health care system."
"Because our health care system," he continued, according to a transcript posted by Latina Lista, "while it remains the best in the country and while it provides largely the services that people need and the quality of those services are very, very good, there are costs associated with this system that needs to be address more directly."
He explained the Republicans' plan for health care, describing it as "elbow grease" that requires neither regulation or taxation.
"It's common sense solution, it doesn't require a nationalizing of our health care system, and it doesn't involve or require a great government intrusion through regulation and taxation and other confiscatory policies," he said. "What it requires is applying a little, you know elbow grease, to allow those businesses, those Hispanic businesses for example, under the market place and get the health care that they need."
During the interview, Steele also offered his thoughts on immigration reform and Glenn Beck's assertion that President Obama is racist.
On immigration:
Basically what we should be saying is that there are rules that you need to get into the country, go the right door, fill out the right form, have some apple pie, hum a few bars of the star spangle banner and get to work, God bless you, and I think that that begins to set us on the right road to dealing with this issue.
And he didn't condemn Beck's comments, even when given two chances by host Jorge Ramos.
Ramos: For instance, when you hear commentators like Glenn Beck saying that for him President Barack Obama is a racist, with a deep seeded hatred for white people, how do you react?Steele: That's one man's opinion.
Ramos: Yes, but...
Steele: That's one man's opinion.
Ramos: but should you defend Barack Obama against these types of comments? I don't know, it's just a question.
Steele: No, no, look the reality of it is when I ran for the United States' Senate and I was called an Uncle Tom by leading Democrats in the country, when I was called a slave by Steny Hoyer who is now the majority leader in the House no one came running to my defense and no one seemed to think that that was racists at the time. I don't play the race card, I don't play the race game, the way some tend to want to do.

TPM Stories Now Surging on Digg.com

jolly ranchero
October 19, 2009 11:13 AM
"Because our health care system," he continued, according a transcript posted by Latina Lista, "while it remains the best in the country
Remains the best in the country? Is he refering to his own RNC-supplied HC plan? What's the "our" in this sentence referring to? Seriously, what does he mean?
Does this clown ever talk in clear, plain English?
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Schmed- ley
October 19, 2009 11:31 AM in reply to jolly ranchero
Imagine how his Spanish translator felt.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Flybynite
October 19, 2009 11:58 AM in reply to Schmed- ley
He sounds like he's been taking syntax lessons from Sarah Palin.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
jeffgee
October 19, 2009 1:15 PM in reply to Flybynite
Word salad, dressing on the side
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
LonewackoDotCom3
October 19, 2009 3:52 PM in reply to Schmed- ley
Wouldn't it be a smart idea to look up a video and see if the transcript is accurate? That's what I'd do.
Another thing I'd do is point out something that's important to keep in mind when reading Jorge Ramos interviews. Write TPM and ask them why they didn't tell you that.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
BrendanM
October 19, 2009 6:31 PM in reply to LonewackoDotCom3
FOX "News" is owned by furners, so should all patriotic 'merkins boycott it? Or is it okay in their case, because Murdoch is white?
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
maya89
October 19, 2009 8:03 PM in reply to jolly ranchero
I think he misspoke, I think he meant the best "in the world"... remember, one of the Reps' and right-wingers' mantra has always been that we have the "best health care system in the world"..
of course how a health care system in which about 40 million people don't have access can be considered "the best in the world" is beyond all reason and logic, but then these retarded morons have never been big on reason or logic.. just myths and delusions and superstition, thank you very much..
did you catch Sen. Kyle saying this past weekend that the Harvard study that came out last month saying about 40,000 people in this country die every year because they lack access to health care is not true? no evidence, no way he can prove this, no nothing, it's just a truth he doesn't like so of course it's not true. period. I simply can't understand the people who continue to vote these morons into office. In no other modern democracy in the world could these retarded morons win elections... only in America..
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
commie atheist
October 19, 2009 11:16 AM
That's his solution to the immigration "problem"? Jeebus, this man is a first-rate idiot.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
castanea
October 19, 2009 11:33 AM in reply to commie atheist
The words "God bless you," spoken after every sneeze, are really the foundation of any Republican's health care plan. Who needs flu shots when you can invoke the Almighty instead?
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Minne sconsin
October 19, 2009 1:31 PM in reply to commie atheist
I want to see that drafted into legislation.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
bluesplashy
October 19, 2009 4:53 PM in reply to Minne sconsin
Yeah, me too. I'd vote for that - especially the humming part!
What is up with this bird? Is this some kind of act he puts on? Is he going to break out in "Swanee" and do a little shuffle ball change? How does he keep his job? People walk away from me if I talk like that. I'm sure the Latina community was so impressed by his interview that they are going to rush out and vote republican ASAP after they get through humming a few bars and applying elbow grease to that health care issue.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
commie atheist
October 20, 2009 1:52 PM in reply to bluesplashy
He is the GOP's House Negro. If they dump him, they will just make it obvious to everyone (as if it isn't already) that they are the White Man's Party. If they keep him, they will make it obvious to everyone that he was an affirmative action hire, who was elected chairman simply because they figured they needed a black face to counter Obama, and that any black face would do (where have you gone, Alan Keyes? A movement turns its lonely eyes to you, woo-woo-woo). In all, a win-win situation.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Snig
October 19, 2009 11:22 AM
I think when he inevitably gets fired by the GOP, the dems should keep him around. He's unintentionally like Colbert in the way they both "support" the Republican strategy.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Seafarer
October 19, 2009 11:23 AM
The greatest lie the Republicans ever told was that they were our friends.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Schmed- ley
October 19, 2009 11:29 AM
I don't play the race card,
I don't play the race game, the way some tend to want to do.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
WineDarkSea
October 19, 2009 11:53 AM in reply to Schmed- ley
Nice fact check work, Schmedley!
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
guest4000
October 19, 2009 1:19 PM in reply to Schmed- ley
Oh, it gets even better. Let's look at the incident Steele specifically referred to in the quote.
"No, no, look the reality of it is when I ran for the United States' Senate and I was called an Uncle Tom by leading Democrats in the country, when I was called a slave by Steny Hoyer who is now the majority leader in the House no one came running to my defense and no one seemed to think that that was racists at the time. I don't play the race card, I don't play the race game, the way some tend to want to do."
Hoyer Remark 'Racist,' GOP's Steele Charges
The original remark by Hoyer, by the way, was that Steele made "a career of slavishly supporting the Republican Party." Perhaps a poor choice of words, he didn't call him a slave, he nonetheless apologized immediately, and no leading democrats called him an Uncle Tom. That's a blatant lie.
A little more research shows that I'm not the only one who noticed this: Michael Steele Doesn’t Race-Bait, Except When He Does
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
johnbwarner
October 19, 2009 1:55 PM in reply to guest4000
Excellent digging around re: Steele's veracity. Doesn't he realize every time he unleashes a whopper, he'll be exposed. It's like he's asking for it. Shades of Gary Hart daring the media to follow him, which they sure did, big time.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
kevbo
October 19, 2009 11:33 AM
So America's health care system is the best health care system in America? Really?
Is the RNC's current plan really to prove that W wasn't the stupidest human being in existence?
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Schmed- ley
October 19, 2009 11:41 AM in reply to kevbo
Well, it would be unpatriotic to say that it was the worst in the country, right?
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
FlyingV
October 19, 2009 11:42 AM
Why does it always seem like this guy is out there all by himself? Is there really no one, on his staff, in the RNC, no one they could bring in from outside...... who can help this guy deliver a talking point or two any better than this?
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
rbe1
October 19, 2009 11:48 AM in reply to FlyingV
I think you have to consider his target audience. He's not addressing democrats.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
LFC
October 19, 2009 1:23 PM in reply to rbe1
F**! He's not even addressing adults with IQs over 80!
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
_jonny_5_
October 19, 2009 1:42 PM in reply to rbe1
I think you got it wrong here. (and poor Mike Steele missis this point too).
The GOP has NO INTEREST in Steele providing sound argument in their favor. His is merely a token to appear inclusive. This stsategy os twofold...
1st (and most obvious): Have someone other and a 60+ white guy spouting their BS talking points.
2nd (& most often missed): In the mind of the target audience of the GOP (Read:uninformed), every mistake Micheal Steele Makes is a direct reflection on Obama's lack of qualification(as, like Steele, a black man) to handle the presidency.
I'm not saying ALL Repubs are Racists, just, all Racists are Republicans and that constituency, like all others in the party are courted with deliberate actions and rhetoric.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
bakeneko
October 19, 2009 2:32 PM in reply to _jonny_5_
"2nd (& most often missed): In the mind of the target audience of the GOP (Read:uninformed), every mistake Micheal Steele Makes is a direct reflection on Obama's lack of qualification (as, like Steele, a black man) to handle the presidency."
That idea just set off an alarm bell in my head, hadn't considered it before. Scary concept if true, but would explain a lot.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
ShawnATL
October 19, 2009 11:45 AM
OK - this has to be another hoax. There is no way Steele said "fill out the right form, have some apple pie, hum a few bars of the star spangle banner and get to work" in an interview with Univision.
With Univision for f***'s sake?
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
bondwooley
October 19, 2009 11:54 AM
Ever wonder who's coaching Michael Steele? Makes it clear once you know.
http://bit.ly/3ppyiu
(satire)
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
VivaAmerica!
October 19, 2009 11:59 AM
What a complete embarrassment and a complete coward. "That's one man's opinion" - Really?
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Avvocato
October 19, 2009 12:11 PM
Ummmmmmmmm!
A deal is being cut to include a special program in the upcoming health care reform - the Gr-ass-ley amendment. For the price of a $10 co-pay, they are adding a program to provide psychological counseling for those Republicans who want it. The bipartisan nature of this program may help to ensure passage of the legislation.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Antineocon
October 19, 2009 12:28 PM
I doubt that Steele will get fired because there is no other 'token' African American who could replace him, or would want to anyway.
His handlers need to keep him as close to their vests as they can even though he strays so far away with his nonsense.
The Repuglicans have to have an African American at the Chairman of their party so they can use that against all of us.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
jacks45
October 19, 2009 12:31 PM
Come on, folks. Where's the love? We should all get behind Mikey as re-invents the GOP. Who knows, maybe he'll be able to deliver our "Dream Ticket" for 2012. Yeah, you know...
Palin & Bachmann!
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
jenzinoh
October 19, 2009 1:25 PM in reply to jacks45
Actually contemplating a Palin/Bachmann election poster costume for Halloween... Let's face, it there is nothing scarier... for the GOP.
Palin/Bachmann 2012... America has had enough sane solutions, let's try something else.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
writergal
October 19, 2009 12:42 PM
love my Michael Steele updates.
Everything you could ask for in a buffoon and more.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Court Jester
October 19, 2009 12:51 PM
Try this on for size: Palin/Steele 2012.
Can you imagine how much fun the campaign and debates would be?
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
amabo666
October 19, 2009 1:09 PM
Steele is a token? Then the Obamanator must be the 'uber' token.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Minne sconsin
October 19, 2009 1:22 PM in reply to amabo666
Sheesh, we need a better breed of troll here at TPM. If this is all the better Redstate and the freepers can do, it's no wonder that the GOP is in trouble.
I will say it very slowly for you amabo666 so that you can understand... Since the Democratic party has a broad range of support, a black man is not a token in the party (since we have plenty of African-American politicians).
But since the GOP is mostly rich white privileged guys, yes, Steele is a token.
Just for you, amabo666 - a trivia question - who is the highest ranking black elected GOP official in the country?
Just askin', ya know.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
_jonny_5_
October 19, 2009 1:48 PM in reply to Minne sconsin
Trivia Bonus Round: How many GOP member are there in the Congressional Black Caucus.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
LFC
October 19, 2009 1:31 PM in reply to amabo666
Not at all. Obama is a highly intelligent person who worked hard, took advantage of his opportunities, ran an excellent campaign against both Clinton and McCain, and stopped torture.
Compare that to that wealthy welfare child, George W. Bush. He accomplished almost nothing on his own. Everything was handed to him because of who his daddy was.
Now I have to admit, Palin doesn't suffer from the same "daddy's little faded gene" problem. But as dumb and intellectually incurious as Bush was, Palin surpasses him on the Stupidity Scale (tm).
But hey, maybe the GOP will run Mike "I Don't Believe in Evolution" Huckabee.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
BeeClone
October 19, 2009 3:37 PM in reply to amabo666
You do understand what a token is right?
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
amabo666
October 19, 2009 1:12 PM
If the Obamanator gets dumped in the 2012 primaries 'who you gonna call?'.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
LFC
October 19, 2009 1:32 PM in reply to amabo666
Oh, puh-leeeeeaze. Now your just having a Glenn Beck wet dream.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
truthspeaker
October 20, 2009 9:03 AM in reply to LFC
Take it easy on the racist guys, they are an endangered species. They have tried every way to hide their true identity and failed, so please allow them to die a quick but agonizing death. Their time has come and gone. Like my friend said to me the other day, you can't tell your kids anything mean about others based on race, b/c they'll quickly accuse you of being a racist.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
pbres
October 19, 2009 1:37 PM
republicans: YOu get what you deserve. The GOP..leading America into oblivion.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
kalimuzo
October 19, 2009 1:39 PM
Steele is a coward. He is being used and he lets himself be used.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
TexasSkeptic
October 19, 2009 2:31 PM
You have to just keep hoping Steele keeps it up--he's so incoherent that even with Bush keeping a low profile and Palin in and out of the public eye, we can remain assured that the Republican "leader" cannot speak straight. (You can follow the transcript and hear Steele misspeaking under the translator--unfortunately, the transcript is pretty accurate excepting a couple homonyms.)
Not only is his syntax all over the place, but he talks about only needing to apply "elbow grease" to the "healthcare system" that is "the best in the country" to get businesses the health care they need. No practical solutions to actually fix something that even most Republicans admit needs fixing, just elbow grease (why not use a "monkey wrench", too?). No concern about the millions of people (heck, he is so petty he even disputes the numbers, rather than showing some compassion for ANYONE) without health care coverage; just have to get the businesses in the marketplace and everything will be better.
And how much more condescending can he be toward those who would like to become citizens than to tell them to just eat apple pie and hum the Star-Spangled Banner, fill out the right forms and go through the right door? Maybe he could explain how this works exactly--I bet Univision would be happy to give him 15 or 30 minutes uninterrupted to lay out his detailed plans for immigration reform. Maybe the potential immigrants would even play baseball and chow down some hot dogs in his extended remarks.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
slb
October 19, 2009 4:34 PM in reply to TexasSkeptic
A monkey wrench -- hmmmm, yes, the Republicans seem to be pretty good at throwing monkey wrenches into things, so that would be an appropriate analogy!
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
LisB
October 19, 2009 3:24 PM
Steele: We Don't Need Comprehensive Health Care Reform
RNC: We Don't Need Comprehending Chairman
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
commie atheist
October 20, 2009 2:09 PM in reply to LisB
Republican Base: We Don't Need No Education
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Kuyleh
October 19, 2009 3:24 PM
Of course he doesn't think we need health care reform. He has health care.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Leftflank
October 19, 2009 6:20 PM
Mikie, What Up? I was just wondering if it bothers you that all your hip-hop ideas get shut down immediately? Including your latest blog. Or that you are a living race card but don't get it?
Anyway Mikie, so many questions, so little time.
Keep it real, really.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
commie atheist
October 20, 2009 2:15 PM
What's so awesome about Michael Steele is that he has done and said so many stupid things in the past year that everyone seems to have forgotten the famous "Oreo" incident, or should I say non-incident:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_SteeleI was reminded of this when I read a recent comment somewhere by a freeper-type that said something to the effect of, "Michael Steele was pelted with Oreos at several events when he was running for the Senate." So, in wingnut lore, a single event which probably never even happened has mutated into several events, proving once again that liberals are the real racists.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?