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Steele Won't Defend 'Unfortunate' RNC Presentation (VIDEO)


RNC chairman Michael Steele

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Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele appeared on Fox News this afternoon, and had to answer some tough questions about the recent internal fundraising presentation that included negative depictions of President Obama, Speaker Nancy Pelosi -- and the RNC's own donors.

The fundraising presentation, which was originally reported by the Politico, included the infamous illustration of Obama as the Joker, and also compared Pelosi to Cruella de Vil. It also directed how to appeal to "ego-driven" large donors, and to appeal to small donors through "fear" and "extreme negative feelings" and "reactionary" attitudes against the Obama administration.

Steele said he just became aware of the presentation yesterday, and that the RNC is looking into it through an internal process. When asked by Megyn Kelly how to defend it, Steele responded: "Well you don't defend it. It was unfortunate."

Kelly asked Steele about "essentially ripping on its own donors in this" by referring to large donors as ego-driven and small donors as driven by fear. She asked Steele for his response.

"I'm trying to figure out what the intent behind - I mean, the words on paper don't sound appealing. And certainly we love our donors and we thank them for the support that they've given us over the past year, and continue to give us," said Steele. "I don't know what the context, or how that was presented to this particular committee of individuals. I was told, that's typically what people think about our donors -- or think about donors generally. But that is not the case for our donors. Our donors are compassionate, concerned activists out there who support a party that they believe in. And we want that to continue."

Comments (62) | Join the Conversation!

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March 4, 2010 2:29 PM   

Indeed, it's time for Republicans to quit acting like Democrats.

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March 4, 2010 2:38 PM    in reply to shooter242

Now, that's some major projection, ButtLicker. Instead of manning up and taking the heat, the typical Repug blames the other guy for his party's behavior.

Pathetic.

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March 4, 2010 3:06 PM    in reply to Schmed

I didn't say it was the Democrats fault. I said it's time stop acting like them. You know, act like adults instead, rather than calling them names... like you just did. Tsk.
Keep up the good work.

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March 4, 2010 3:20 PM    in reply to shooter242

Again you just fell off the bus from Stupid Town. Is this the hairshirt you wear? Your daily flagellation from we who attended school? If you're so inclined to punished just throw yourself in front of a Tea Party Bus and be done with it.

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March 4, 2010 4:49 PM    in reply to shooter242

You used a tepid tu quoque defense, essentially blaming the other guys for doing the same stupid thing. You didn't say that the Republicans were solely responsible for their bad behavior and that they should own up to it without referring to the bad behavior of others.

Nice try, pathetic ButtLicker. Thanks for playing.

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March 4, 2010 5:18 PM    in reply to shooter242

I think he was using "ButtLicker" as a term of endearment. Seriously, you Conservative types are too sensitive.

Now, if he had said ButtSNIFFER, you would have an argument.

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March 4, 2010 3:27 PM    in reply to Schmed

You must appeal to this one by exploiting his fear and deep negative feelings.

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March 4, 2010 3:37 PM    in reply to oskieoskie

It's time for Shooter to stop acting like a Republican by saying Republican things, blaming others for his behavior, always making excuses and never manning up.

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km

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March 4, 2010 4:46 PM    in reply to Schmed

I've never seen a study that links projection to the authoritarian/paranoid mindset, but that must be a PhD dissertation just waiting to be written. I've never seen a more consistent psychological tic.

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March 4, 2010 3:26 PM    in reply to shooter242

So ...how much DO you donate to the RNC/GOP?
Are you an ego driven or a scared and angry donor?

From the profile to the avatar, Shooter2....the typical Repug troll, self tasked to annoy the left.

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March 4, 2010 3:27 PM    in reply to shooter242

Can't you read? The article says that the Republicans were caught admitting that they manipulate their small donors using fear tactics, and Steele didn't even have a defense prepared. Your response is to say something stupid, because you know it's true.

Once again, I ask you: when will you next be in NYC? I'd love to see you in person... although I'm sure I'll be able to smell you blocks before I lay eyes on you.

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March 4, 2010 3:28 PM    in reply to shooter242

Time for your mom to stop acting like Paris Hilton, too.

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March 4, 2010 8:16 PM    in reply to shooter242

Fear[ful], reactionary and basically stupid is what the RNC thinks of its donors and voters, LMAO . . . .

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March 4, 2010 2:29 PM   

One thing about being a butterface...the mask slips so easily.

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March 4, 2010 2:40 PM   

So big GOP donors are ego-driven fat cats out to protect their wallets, and small GOP donors are a bunch of paranoids afraid of the black guy.

Ouch, the truth hurts!

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rwc

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March 4, 2010 3:25 PM    in reply to Dorn76

and it sure is funny also, my sides are splitting

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March 4, 2010 5:51 PM    in reply to Dorn76

And the RNC is cynical enough to manipulate them all -- egomaniacal big donors and fear-driven little donors. What a bunch of crappy people.

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March 4, 2010 2:42 PM   

As a minor side note, I live in the area of the resort that this event took place at, and I have actually done work there on a number of occasions. It is a very posh resort with a private airport nearby, a private marina, etc. It's good to see such 'fiscally responsible' people spending other people's money like drunken sailors.

Here's a link to rates page of the resort.

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March 4, 2010 2:43 PM   

Shorter Steele: Now that our actual strategy has been inadvertently revealed, let me see if I can bullshit my way out of this.

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March 4, 2010 3:17 PM    in reply to commie atheist

Very concise.

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March 4, 2010 2:48 PM   

Are we really supposed to believe that this $2500/person fundraising retreat happened without Steele's knowledge? Somebody just went rogue? OK.

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March 4, 2010 2:53 PM    in reply to FreeRider

Michael Steele has no idea what Michael Steele does.

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March 4, 2010 3:04 PM    in reply to TBender

That's just the way he rolls.

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March 4, 2010 3:11 PM    in reply to tiowally

Touche!

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slb

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March 4, 2010 4:02 PM    in reply to tiowally

But it's all part of his deliberate strategy!

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March 4, 2010 5:52 PM    in reply to slb

Steele is a joke.

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March 4, 2010 3:11 PM   

Yes, it was most unfortunate that the pathologically cynical contempt for the intelligence of the electorate and the voters that has been the only thing animating our rotting zombified corpse of a party was revealed in a such a way that the MSM could not pretend it didn't already know about it.

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March 4, 2010 3:17 PM    in reply to The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve

'Sabout the size of it.

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March 4, 2010 8:38 PM    in reply to The Commenter Formerly Known as NCSteve

So now we have to kiss the asses of our big donors, and tell our small donors of something else to fear and who to blame. Then we can get back to business as usual. All will soon be forgotten and we know the media won't mention it again.

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March 4, 2010 3:17 PM   

We cannot let this stand. I say we call out the militia. They'll get to the bottom of it.

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/operation_exodus_louisiana_sheriff_taps_locals_for.php?ref=fpblg

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rwp

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March 4, 2010 3:20 PM   

And the Democrats have a hard time getting their message across vs. these boobs...

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March 4, 2010 3:22 PM   

Unfortunate = That was some racist shit that is splitting our party into right-wing and far right-wing and I completely disavow myself from any affiliation with these folks. But, I can't actual put it in those terms, cause these are my peeps!

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March 4, 2010 3:30 PM    in reply to GTFOOH

Unfortunate = Not supposed to see the light of day.

Where is some of that plausible deniability when you need it?

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March 4, 2010 3:33 PM   

"Unfortunate" is a misnomer. Luck or fortune has NOTHING to do with it. This isn't a lottery ticket missing the jackpot by one digit. This is willful ignorant ad hominem rat-fncking, and Steele should denounce it unequivocally...but he won't, because he's weasel.

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March 4, 2010 3:33 PM   

Oh, come on. "Steele appeared on Fox News and had to answer some tough questions . . ." I started busting up when I read that. That's why repukes go on fox entertainment, so they do not have to answer tough questions. That's the repuke propoganda machine. Too funny.

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March 4, 2010 3:52 PM    in reply to Michael A

Yea, and so it makes me wonder why they asked Steele about the memo - are they going after Steele? Or was it a rouge reporter?
(oops, rogue - I get soo confused)

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March 4, 2010 4:06 PM    in reply to bluesplashy

Rouge works too.

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March 4, 2010 3:33 PM   

"Our donors are compassionate, concerned activists..."

So, I take this as a defacto admission that the Republicans do like activists...we will not be hearing about "activists" in a negative way, anymore?

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March 4, 2010 4:55 PM    in reply to sheerahkahn

Re: "activist" Only if it's a Supreme Court nominee.

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March 4, 2010 5:21 PM    in reply to sheerahkahn

Republican activists?Huh? Their last activist just landed his plane on some IRS guys desk after burning his house down.There's your activist.

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March 4, 2010 3:36 PM   

I posted this a long time ago.
Birthers, teabaggers, radical right wing "christians", secessionist, healthcare anti-reformist,etc., are all the same core group of poor, uninformed ultra-conservative pawns tricked by the corporate masters and cheerleadered by AM conservative talk radio to get these people to believe and vote against their own self interest.

It isn't any wonder that the main weapon to keep the rank and file conservatives in check is fear. Conservatives fear that their guns are going to be taken away, they fear that U.S. will become socialist, they fear that health care reform will kill off the elderly, they fear that the president is a muslim, they fear that when minorities are in power that reverse racisms will run rampant, they fear that every nation under the sun wants to destroy the U.S. and on and on. This is the main message of Limbaugh, Beck, Hannity, et al. to be afraid. After 8 hours a day at least 5 days a week conservatives literally become
brainwashed through the radio and then some on Fox news to be afraid and angry.

Conservatives don't even know what exactly they are trying to conserve. They speak of fair play and freedom but when a group other than their circumscribed group speaks about and want such things (i.e. gay rights, immigrants, minorities, the poor)these ideas suddenly become liberal pandering.

Conservatives don't realize that what they fear most is change. The changing of American society and of the world. Thus their behavior is not much different from other conservative movements around the world, i.e. Taliban, Al Qaida, Likud, Abadgaran. These groups want to maintain the status quo and use fear and sometimes violence to achieve their means. These groups target the same type of people to believe in their ideology. These are usually the poor, rural denizens who feel that the rest of society is moving too fast and that they are being excluded because the city centers are thriving and they are not, all the while the corporate elite uses and abuses them under the guise of religion a social wedge issues.

It is this simple mind trick that has allowed the military-industrial complex to roll along unabated for so long. The very thing president Dwight Eisenhower,a Republican, warned against. However, it was only recently that Republicans were up in arms against the slashing of the military budget and discontinuance of the F-22. and then later blocking the Defense appropriations bill just because it would stall healthcare reform. This is just another example of how twisted and convoluted conservatism/republicanism is. It contradicts one of their venerated leaders and ideals and is willing to do anything in order to keep the status quo.

Unfortunately, contradiction and hypocrisy have become the norm for conservatives, so much so that entire shows are based on it and have become very popular (The Colbert Report, Countdown, The Daily show etc.). When conservatives are confronted with this, the usual retort is that it’s the “main stream media” distortion, wholly ignoring that “main stream” = normal or average, non-fringe. Again this is just fear working on these people, fear that their ideology is being pushed to the fringe creating the us vs them mentality.

“No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear.” Edmund Burke.


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March 4, 2010 3:43 PM    in reply to Ironcomments

Iron, I fear the RNC will be copying and pasting your notes for internal strategic use.

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March 4, 2010 3:46 PM   

ROTFLMAO! I love to shake the hand of the person that leaked that memo.

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March 4, 2010 3:49 PM   

1. Republican donors compassionate? This is not the first word that comes to mind when I picture Republican donors.

2. Don't you love it that Fox has to take a long shot now and then to show off the legs of their "anchor"? I am so weary of looking at naked Fox-thighs on every Fox clip I see.

3. I hope the Republicans keep this up. It's just grand and will only serve to make more of the poor sods say - throw all the bums out - and will increase their migration to the poorly informed ranks of "Dr." Ron Paul. Such fracturing of the right wing base will no doubt lead to a second term for President Obama.

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March 4, 2010 4:10 PM    in reply to Verified

Don't you love it that Fox has to take a long shot now and then to show off the legs of their "anchor"? I am so weary of looking at naked Fox-thighs on every Fox clip I see.

It's not so bad if you mute the sound and sort of squinch your eyes.

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March 4, 2010 5:56 PM    in reply to Verified

Yeah, but those longs shots of Glenn Beck's gams are truly scary.

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March 4, 2010 3:51 PM   

Presentation decoded: For the wealthy ones, motivate with access to Senators and more tax cuts. For the stupid poor ones, Fear.

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March 4, 2010 5:47 PM    in reply to traitorjoe

. . . works like a charm, EVERY TIME.

Every time I see Steele, I'm just waiting for him to rub off the face black or peel that crafted latex head cover off to reveal a whiter than white cracker.

I would imagine that his mother is very proud.

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March 4, 2010 4:00 PM   

Why didn't the fundraising graphic instead identify repubs according to how they wear their hat (tipped to the side, backwards, etc.)?

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/04/steele-i-wear-my-gop-hat-backwards-thats-how-we-roll-in-the-northeast.php

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March 4, 2010 4:01 PM   

you can't defend the undefendable

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March 4, 2010 4:14 PM    in reply to neesy08

but I'm convinced that the democrats do it tooooo~ooooooo! they must!!! WAAAAAAHHH!!1!

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March 4, 2010 4:29 PM    in reply to neesy08

Good morning to you, there, Rip. Enjoy that ten year nap?

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March 4, 2010 4:15 PM   

His mustache conceals the truth. lol

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March 4, 2010 4:33 PM   

"...the words on paper don't sound appealing", but you should hear the Singing Senators rendition!

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March 4, 2010 4:35 PM   

So apparently Steele isn't the RNC's chairman today. Does anyone seriously think Steele isn't the person who directs big donor sales pitches from the RNC, pleaze. Give me a break, that memo has Steele's incompetence and childlike quality written all over it.

The truth is it will not effect contributions. Scared egomaniacs don't care when one of their own slips up with the truth, defeating the pinko commie democrats is more important than any principle.

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March 4, 2010 5:01 PM   

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele appeared on Fox News this afternoon, and had to answer some tough questions

There's something about this sentence that seems .... odd.

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March 4, 2010 5:26 PM    in reply to we r all husseins

It's trying to use faux news and tough questions in the same sentence...just can't wrap your head around the concept.

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March 4, 2010 5:58 PM    in reply to we r all husseins

Like Faux News would ever toss a Rethug anything but a softball question. What crap.

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March 4, 2010 9:30 PM   

He's got no problem at all with the "negative depictions". The totally unwarranted disrespect for the President & of course the free shot at women are all good for him apparently. But he'll slink & slither to make nice with the donors/book-buyers.

Steel: My bad - please send money.

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March 4, 2010 10:33 PM   

Michael Steele and his posse are a little easier to understand when you find out who's coaching them:


Coaching Steele


(satire)

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PO

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March 5, 2010 12:09 AM   

I actually like that they do things like this. Every so often, it helps to be reminded of the mentality we're all dealing with when we talk about the modern Republican party. None of them have matured any further since turning 14 years old, and they are among the least tolerant, meanest children I have ever met. Which is why I have absolutely no sympathy for Democrats who persist in treating them as peers -- as adults -- allowing them to further block progress in this country. Fuck 'em. Use reconciliation for everything. Fuck 'em.

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March 5, 2010 2:26 AM   

No wonder he won't defend it - he doesn't want anyone examining the names of his super-fundraisers too closlty! For example, one Charles Ryan, Russian investment banker and Putin Fan:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/23/mccain-fundraising-chair_n_108790.html

I bet we can go down the line of those "Leaders" and find sewage about all of them...

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