Steele gets heated over 'you people'

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele got into a heated exchange Wednesday morning with the cast of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”

It started with CNBC commentator Donny Deutsch, who pointedly asked Steele about the GOP’s criticism of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s comments comparing opponents of health care reform to those who tried to block the abolition of slavery.


“Any great change throughout history, the naysayers say ‘it’s not time, it’s not time?’ So why is that not a relevant analogy?” Deutsch asked.

“I won’t even dignify that with a response,” Steele said. “Next question.”

Deutsch interjected to say that Reid was “comparing it to dramatic change,” and was not suggesting Republicans were equivalent to those who opposed emancipation.

“Ok, whatever,” Steele responded. “Whatever. Next question.”

“That’s a great response,” Deutsch shot back. “That’s an intelligent and brave response.”

“It is, as was your question,” Steele said.

Later, Steele got into it with MSNBC’s Mike Barnicle who, in discussing health care, asked, “What are you people for?

“You people?” Steele asked. “Who are you people?”

“The Republicans, what are you for?” Barnicle responded.

Laughing, Steele – the first African American chairman of the RNC – said, “Mike, I just wanted to you define the pronoun baby, that’s all.”

“Oh, come on,” Barnicle responded.

This article tagged under: Michael Steele

Joe Scarborough