Posted on 08/24/2010 5:44:25 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele is putting some political distance between the national Republican Party and Arizona Republicans who enacted a tough immigration-enforcement law earlier this year.
"Let's be clear. The actions of one state's governor is not a reflection of an entire country, nor is it a reflection of an entire political party," the outspoken RNC chairman told an interviewer from Univision, the highly rated Spanish-language cable TV network.
"The governor and the people of Arizona made a decision that they thought was in their best interest. And that's the beauty of a republic. That's who we are."
The Arizona law has divided Republicans in California and around the country. Republicans in some other states already are pushing to enact similar laws.
In the Univision interview, Steele also seemed to be calling for comprehensive immigration reform, something that many Republicans say they support but have been unwilling to push on Capitol Hill. Longtime reform advocates such as Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., say tough enforcement is needed before comprehensive reform could become politically feasible.
That's not quite what Steele, who has a habit of straying from party orthodoxy, told Univision in his interview aired on Monday.
"We hope, now that this debate is in full bloom, level heads will prevail and that we'll reach a common sense solution with regards to immigration," Steele said.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Michael Steele and the GOP - not exactly a profile in courage.
The Democrats secret weapon strikes again.
Can somebody put a cork in his mouth. Maybe a long vacation to South America is in order.
Will a Republican with a scrot please fill his position.
Can we get rid of Steele now? I mean come on...it’s time for someone running the GOP to show some stones!
If anyone was wondering why the RNC donations are down...
Michael Steele - Boldly Snatching Defeat From the Jaws of Victory.
RINO National Committee is becoming irrelevent.
Can we blame Republicans for Michael Steele?
What unbelievable cowardice. Even with 70% of the public siding with Arizona, Steele still can’t find his spine. What an utterly pathetic excuse for a chairman.
I guess Steele hasn't seen any of the many polls showing what percentage of Americans support Arizona's bill, and the percentages are higher among Republicans. But the guy can't resist an opportunity to pander to a minority group.
Michael Steele - National GOP Chief
WHY in the h#*l aren't you doing what
Glenn Beck's been doing on TV?
Or don't you have the guts?
Guess who's gonna win.
I hope so.
We'll know better if that is the case after the November election.
Steele needs to go either way, however. He's an embarrassment.
He will. And let me announce that all MSM Liberal Charlie Crist backers are RACIST Bigots. You heard it here first.
Hell no, Republicans should not be “blamed” for the AZ law. They should be given credit for it.
Norge to Michael Steele...”Shut your yap...please!”
Good one, Mikey.
To the unemployment office with you.
We really shouldn’t “hope so” as that is the main GOTV apparatus of the party. That is an essential function. However...people at the top making statements like this do in fact need to go. Having him go right now would create a media firestorm which is the only reason he’s now being allowed to stick around.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.