Michael Steele: Victim of racism?

Is racism is driving negative media coverage of the Republican National Committee? Quite possibly, says its much-maligned chairman Michael Steele in an interview with "The Washingtonian": "I don’t see stories about the internal operations of the DNC that I see about this operation. Why? Is it because Michael Steele is the chairman, or is it because a black man is chairman?" Is Steele inventing a reason for his unpopularity, or does he have a point? (Watch Michael Steele charge President Obama with racism in September)

This smacks of hypocrisy: If Steele really believes the media is victimizing him as a black man, "he's got every right to make that accusation," says Jed Lewison at the Daily Kos. But don't forget Steele's repeated attacks on Democrats for playing "the race card" whenever "their backs are up against the wall. It smacks of uber-hypocrisy for him to do the same when he's also in a tight spot."

"Foot, mouth, Michael Steele"

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Republicans don't like him, but not because he's black: Our dislike of Steele has "nothing to do with race," says Erick Erickson at Red State. It's because we don't like his "management style," or how he has outsourced the RNC to "consultants" who are "bleeding [it] dry," or, most of all, the way he has never "met a shoe he didn't want to eat."

"Michael Steele plays the race card"

Is it really the media he's accusing? Think again: If you look at Steele's statement closely, says Steve Bemen in The Washington Monthly, it's unclear whether the RNC chairman is lashing out at the media for being racist," or suggesting that his fellow GOPers are leaking damaging stories about the RNC to the press because they're racist. "Indeed, if Steele believes his own RNC team is engaged in race-based leaking, he should say so."

"Steele rediscovers the 'race card'"

Steele's just trying to save his own skin: Steele's remarks aren't helpful to anyone, says Allahpundit at Hot Air. "Except him, of course." Tossing out a "bon mot" accusing his critics of racism means "no RNC members will dare try to oust him before his term is up" for fear of being accused themselves. Unfortunately, Steele is "here to stay."

"Michael Steele: My critics are racist"

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