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Steele Talks About His Comments About Bush And GOP
WBAL ^ | 07/26/06 | Scott Wykoff and The Associated Press

Posted on 07/26/2006 9:30:18 PM PDT by nunya bidness

In an exclusive interview on WBAL's "The Buzz", Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele says his comments about President Bush and the Republican Party were taken out of context in a story in The Washington Post.

He says he is not running away from the President.

"If the President wants to come and help me in Maryland he is more than welcome because I'm not going to turn my back on a friend," said Steele on "The Buzz" on WBAL.

The Post reported on a conversation Steele had with nine reporters from newspapers, magazines and networks over lunch at a Capitol Hill steakhouse Monday.

Steele said it was an "off the record" meeting with the reporters and the Washington Post is the only paper that did a story on what was said in the meeting.

The newspaper said the candidate said the Iraq war "didn't work" and that U.S. policymakers "didn't prepare for the peace" . The U.S. Senate candidate is quoted by the Post as saying "there is a palpable frustration right now in the country".

The published and Internet report says that when asked if he wanted President Bush to campaign for him, the candidate initially said "well you know, I don't know" and then said "to be honest with you, probably not".

"I'm not trying to diss the President," said Steele on WBAL. "I'm not trying to distance myself from the President. I'm trying to show those lines where I have a different perspective and a different point of view. If I'm not free to share that as a candidate for the U.S. Senate how can people expect me to share that and express that as a United States Senator."

"I've been quoted before as calling the President my homeboy, and that's how I feel," said Steele on WBAL.

The White House said Wednesday that Bush still is backing Steele in his Senate race.

"Look," said Bush spokesman Tony Snow, "the president understands what politics are about. And he wants Michael Steele to be elected as senator."

"I appreciate Tony Snow on behalf of the President reiterating the White House support for me," said Steele on WBAL with Chip Franklin and Clarence Mitchell IV.

 


TOPICS: Front Page News; Government; US: Maryland
KEYWORDS: maryland; michaelsteele; senate; steele
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To: NormsRevenge
Michael Steele is no dummy, He knows what will draw the national media, and this story is national now. yet he says his words were taken out of context, yet the words he speaks of were uttered in confidence, the same "confidence" the NYT's is willing to see their Reporters to go to jail in order to defend :-)
21 posted on 07/26/2006 10:10:32 PM PDT by MJY1288 (THE DEMOCRATS OFFER NOTHING FOR THE FUTURE AND THEY LIE ABOUT THE PAST)
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To: Pukin Dog
We will see how this plays out!

Cheers

22 posted on 07/26/2006 10:12:27 PM PDT by MJY1288 (THE DEMOCRATS OFFER NOTHING FOR THE FUTURE AND THEY LIE ABOUT THE PAST)
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To: Pukin Dog

The media twists and distorts. Why assume Steele wasn't misquoted?


23 posted on 07/26/2006 10:23:50 PM PDT by Once-Ler (The rat 06 election platform will be a promise to impeach the President if they win)
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To: MJY1288
yet the words he speaks of were uttered in confidence, the same "confidence" the NYT's is willing to see their Reporters to go to jail in order to defend

What I don't understand is why he would say such things even in "confidence"? If he wanted to get national attention by bashing Pres. Bush, why bother with the "confidential" thing? And he HAD to know it wouldn't stay "confidential" - he was talking to the MSM, for goodness' sake - they HATE Republicans and like nothing better than to claim Republicans are turning against Pres. Bush. I guess I just don't understand the "nuance" (hate that word) of this.

24 posted on 07/26/2006 10:28:12 PM PDT by hsalaw
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To: Once-Ler
If Steele had been misquoted, he would have said so when Milbank first asked him about the comments. He didn't deny them, didn't say they were out of context THEN, and didn't make any effort to set things right. All he did was ask that Milbank not mention his name.

NOW, after he was found out, we are getting all these attempts to fix it up. "Oh, those comments were out of context" That didnt work, so this afternoon we got "Oh, I was just joking" and tonight, we get "Bush is my Homeboy!"

If he keeps it up, pretty soon Steele will be seen muttering: "Bitch set me up!"
25 posted on 07/26/2006 10:33:14 PM PDT by Pukin Dog (Sans Reproache)
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To: nunya bidness

Imagine that.

Someone in the MSM taking a comment out of context.

Someone in the MSM misquoting a conservative.

Someone in the MSM using what was said in an off-the-record luncheon for a story.

And the Washington Post, no less.

(They don't even call me anymore, trying to get me to subscribe to their fishwrapper. Last time they called, I told them my bird refused to even poop on their pages of crap masquerading as news)


26 posted on 07/26/2006 10:33:34 PM PDT by tgslTakoma
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To: nunya bidness

P.S. Watch your back. Shadow with a knife.


27 posted on 07/26/2006 10:36:16 PM PDT by tgslTakoma
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To: nunya bidness

Is Steele triangulating a bit here? He's going to have to get a fair amount of black voters to cross over to stand a chance. Did he make these comments to show them that he isn't the President's "house ni.." (no, I better not)?


28 posted on 07/26/2006 10:38:09 PM PDT by Skip Ripley
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To: Pukin Dog
Perhaps misquoted is the wrong word. Distorted. Taken out of context. Fake but accurate. Other Freepers have pointed out that MD is a lefty state. If said in a joking way "The Republican title is an albatross around my neck," is not an insult to the GOP or conservatives.
And an honest assessment of the benefits of Bush campaigning for Steele is not an insult to the President.

Even if the drive-by-media has honestly and factually reported this story, a laughable notion, it is not impossible that Rove advised Steele to distance himself from Dubya. There have been many ways that Dubya has taken criticism for the betterment of the GOP Congress. Deficit spending comes to mind. I have no doubt that Dubya would take a media hit if it gets Steele into office.

29 posted on 07/26/2006 10:51:00 PM PDT by Once-Ler (The rat 06 election platform will be a promise to impeach the President if they win)
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To: Once-Ler
All of you who keep trying to but a rose on this pig keep forgetting something.

If it was a publicity stunt, or if Rove had him do this, or any other spin you want to put on it for why it happened, THE MAN ASKED THAT HIS NAME NOT BE ATTACHED TO HIS OWN COMMENTS.

Now, as far as I know, 'Anonymous' isn't running for the Senate.
30 posted on 07/26/2006 11:05:25 PM PDT by Pukin Dog (Sans Reproache)
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To: Pukin Dog
If it was a publicity stunt, or if Rove had him do this, or any other spin you want to put on it for why it happened, THE MAN ASKED THAT HIS NAME NOT BE ATTACHED TO HIS OWN COMMENTS.

This many be the 7th time Steele has made these comments off record. Human behavior can be predictable. When Rather asked the Administration to explain some forged National Guard documents they looked them over and said no comment. Rather ran with the story. The White House put the documents on the web later that night. I feel certain Dubya knew those docs were fake and wanted Rather to hang himself.

It could be that I'm giving our leadership too much credit but it is certain that one can never over estimate the motives of the Democrat National Media. I will give Steele the benefit of the doubt, and in my opinion he has already rebuked the media spin and clarified his loyalty.

ymmv

31 posted on 07/27/2006 12:03:50 AM PDT by Once-Ler (The rat 06 election platform will be a promise to impeach the President if they win)
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To: Admin Moderator
Will do. But this needs to be said. JimRob has said that the mission of FR is to elect as many Republicans as possible to gain a 60+ vote Senate. Michael Steele is a candidate for one of those seats. His comments have been maligned by Dana Milbank of the Washington Post no less.

And on this thread and others certain folks have found comfort in trashing Steele. So I put it to you and Jim, is Michael Steele, a black pro-life conservative, fair game for bomb-throwers here when all that has been presented is at stake?

A little clarity would do wonders.

32 posted on 07/27/2006 1:48:05 AM PDT by nunya bidness (“Unsung, the noblest deed will die.” - Pindar)
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To: Admin Moderator; All
Thats me: "Bomb Thrower", huh? LOL. What you have here, (and I don't intend to continue the back and forth with this person) is a number of people who do not want to accept reality about Steele, and the circumstances behind what he did.

They don't want to accept that whatever 'bombs' were dropped, they were dropped by Michael Steele against the GOP and the President. I didn't come up with the term "Scarlet R", that was Michael Steele.

That some FReepers want to ignore the FACTS behind what Steele did, is their problem. But when they seek to silence what others, (primarily me and Sinkspur) are attempting to point out in their illogic, they do the GOP no favors.

What good is a majority, if half your members vote with the other side? Michael Steele gave many Conservatives reason to believe that he is of the Lincoln Chaffee style of Republicans, and then came up with THREE SEPERATE EXCUSES to deal with the fallout.

I think you moderators know what kind of Conservative I am, and those who don't, I guess will say what they will, but when a GOP candidate for office slams his own party hoping to gain favorable treatment from the media (ala-John McCain) and then insults our intelligence with his multiple attempts at damage control, while never accepting responsibility for his own deeds, are we to be silent?

That some here cant take a bit of reality without losing their bearings ought to be their own problem. I intend to call them as I see them. I have confidence that opposing points of view wont be silenced if offered in a respectable way. To FReepers who cant handle the truth when it hurts, SACK UP. Michael Steele knows what he did, and so does the GOP. I said nothing about Michael Steele that has not been factually reported, and not just by that creep Milbank.

Who needs clarity, when reality is right there in your face?

33 posted on 07/27/2006 5:41:58 AM PDT by Pukin Dog (Sans Reproache)
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To: ps
Good Morning.

GRRRRR.
34 posted on 07/27/2006 5:44:29 AM PDT by Pukin Dog (Sans Reproache)
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To: Pukin Dog

35 posted on 07/27/2006 7:21:55 AM PDT by AnnaZ (I think so, Brain, but if we give peas a chance, won't the lima beans feel left out?)
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To: AnnaZ
Replace the horse with Steele's chances, and the picture is correct. I didn't start it.
36 posted on 07/27/2006 7:27:14 AM PDT by Pukin Dog (Sans Reproache)
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To: Pukin Dog
His chances were slim to begin with, he's an R in a D state.

Regardless, I hope he wins. I like him

37 posted on 07/27/2006 7:38:35 AM PDT by AnnaZ (I think so, Brain, but if we give peas a chance, won't the lima beans feel left out?)
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To: AnnaZ
I wish he liked you and I (Conservatives) as much as you like him.
38 posted on 07/27/2006 7:40:35 AM PDT by Pukin Dog (Sans Reproache)
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To: Pukin Dog

Hannity likes McCain? I don't watch him much but haven't detected that.


39 posted on 07/27/2006 7:51:26 AM PDT by justshutupandtakeit (If you believe ANYTHING in the Treason Media you are a fool.)
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To: Pukin Dog
Actually, I'm pretty independent. Maybe that's why I like him. And if he didn't like conservatives I doubt he'd be a Republican (including being a former state party head). It's not like he has an R after his name in order to speed his path to electoral victory...
40 posted on 07/27/2006 7:54:05 AM PDT by AnnaZ (I think so, Brain, but if we give peas a chance, won't the lima beans feel left out?)
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