Steele Bends Under Far-Right Pressure: ‘I Am Pro-Life, Always Have Been, Always Will Be’
Steele Bends Under Far-Right Pressure: ‘I Am Pro-Life, Always Have Been, Always Will Be’
Yesterday, GQ published an interview with Michael Steele in which the RNC chairman said that he is pro-choice:
GQ: Are you saying you think women have the right to choose abortion?
STEELE: Yeah. I mean, again, I think that’s an individual choice.
As ThinkProgress noted, these comments contradicted the pro-life image he has tried to cultivate for himself in order to win the support of far-right conservatives, who were incensed at his new pro-choice stance. Charmaine Yoest, the president and CEO of Americans United for Life Action, said it was “language straight out of Planned Parenthood’s messaging playbook.” Anti-choice activist Jill Stanek said, “You thought he was ‘embattled’ last week over his Limbaugh comment? Ha. He has now stepped both feet into it.”
Today, at 7:49 a.m. — less than 24 hours after the GQ story became public — Steele issued a new statement, completely backing down from his comments. Not only does he say now that abortion isn’t an individual or state choice, he says that he supports a constitutional ban on abortion:
I am pro-life, always have been, always will be. I tried to present why I am pro life while recognizing that my mother had a ‘choice’ before deciding to put me up for adoption. I thank her every day for supporting life. The strength of the pro life movement lies in choosing life and sharing the wisdom of that choice with those who face difficult circumstances. They did that for my mother and I am here today because they did. In my view Roe vs. Wade was wrongly decided and should be repealed.
I realize that there are good people in our party who disagree with me on this issue. But the Republican Party is and will continue to be the party of life. I support our platform and its call for a Human Life Amendment. It is important that we stand up for the defenseless and that we continue to work to change the hearts and minds of our fellow countrymen so that we can welcome all children and protect them under the law.
In the past, Steele has been more circumspect about overturning Roe v. Wade. In 2006, when asked whether it was his “desire” that the Supreme Court decision be kept “in place” at this point, Steele replied, “My desire is that we follow what stare decisis is at this point, yes.”
Steele himself said it best in February: “You have absolutely no reason, none, to trust our word or our actions at this point.”
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Classic line for this situation, Who you gonna believe, me or your lyin’ eyes?
March 12th, 2009 at 9:43 amPoor Michael Steele.
March 12th, 2009 at 9:44 amSelected as a token minority, his tenure is ending even as he speaks. He might want to cut his losses and simply resign.
spineless jellyfish!
March 12th, 2009 at 9:45 amI’m hoping he sticks around for a long time. He personifies the failures of the party.
March 12th, 2009 at 9:49 amWhat this sounds like:
“I was for pro-choice before I was against it.”
Fliiiiip, flip flooooop.
The sad thing is that I actually thought the GOP had potential with Steele. Now they’re going to have to go back to what got them into their minority status in the first place.
March 12th, 2009 at 9:49 amOK, we know Steele is getting his marching orders from somewhere. And like a boot camp new recruit, he doesn’t always wait for the orders before acting.
But is he getting them from Limbaugh? Or is there somebody else operating the strings?
March 12th, 2009 at 9:56 amI’m actually beginning to feel sorry for Steele, which has got to be the most inappropriate name he could have. What a pathetic man.
March 12th, 2009 at 9:58 amSteele really should understand adoption. He has adopted a number of positions on issues that were not his natural ones.
March 12th, 2009 at 10:00 ammisshusseinmolly:
It’s been proven any number of times in recent weeks that NOBODY dare scratch their own ass without Flush Limpdick’s expressed permission.
When he says shit, the GOP minions and rank & file say “how much and where?”
March 12th, 2009 at 10:01 amWhat, is he channeling McCain circa 2008???
March 12th, 2009 at 10:02 amIn a baseball sportscasters voice, “And Michael Steele is going, going, GONE! He’s out of here!”
March 12th, 2009 at 10:05 amHis 15mins of fame. will give him something to talk about while he is serving his time on the corruption charges. The other inmates will love it.
March 12th, 2009 at 10:11 amMichael Steele reinforces my suspicion there are no sane African Americans in the Republican Party.
March 12th, 2009 at 10:11 amI’m not sure a man and a moment have every been better suited for each other. Fail.
http://www.pufferfishblog.com/
March 12th, 2009 at 10:13 amI realize that there are good people in our party who disagree with me on this issue.
Yeah. All 6 of them.
Or maybe it’s 5.
March 12th, 2009 at 10:13 amHe’s toast.
March 12th, 2009 at 10:13 amMichael Steele is a human windsock.
March 12th, 2009 at 10:14 amSteele is in “I’ll say whatever you want me to say” mode. He’s just trying to keep his job. But I think his replacement has already been chosen.
March 12th, 2009 at 10:14 amHopefully, the man of Steele will soon be replaced by the man of copper pipes, Joe the pretend plumber. I’m beginning to feel sorry for this guy…
March 12th, 2009 at 10:18 amWe sit here and poke fun at Steele but the reality is that he perfectly projects the true Republican party and their “core” values of corruption, lies, greed and selfishness.
March 12th, 2009 at 10:20 amHe has told so many different stories he cannot sort out what is real.In addition he has so many greedy self serving members pulling at him to support their world power agenda that he does not know where to turn. He is a true blessing to the Democratic party as he displays the true inner workings of the loser party.
How pathetic…
March 12th, 2009 at 10:20 amOK, so now he’s for a constitutional amendment to ban abortion? But, yesterday, when answering about gay marriage he had this response:
“Absolutely. Just as a general principle, I don’t like mucking around with the Constitution. I’m sorry, I just don’t. I think, you know, in a pluralistic, dynamic society as the one that we have, every five years you can have a constitutional convention about something, you know? I don’t think we should be, you know, dancing around and trying to amend it every time I’ve got a social issue or a political issue or a business issue that I want to get addressed. Having said that, I think that the states are the best laboratory, the best place for those decisions to be made, because they will then reflect the majority of the community in which the issue is raised. And that’s exactly what a republic is all about.
March 12th, 2009 at 10:21 amI just love these rethug clowns. You couldn’t make this shit up if you tried. Steele, Cantor and rest of these clowns should take their show on the road and hit every comedy club in the country. They might be a huge hit on the comedy scene.
March 12th, 2009 at 10:22 amThere once was a man named Steele
March 12th, 2009 at 10:27 amWho held no views that were real
He’d flip then he’d flop
He’d abort after adopt
Begging the question, “What’s his appeal?”.
This guy is way out of his league. Who does he think he works for . . . a party that values divergent viewpoints? Please. While he and Rush are doing wonders for Democrats, this getting a little unbearable.
March 12th, 2009 at 10:29 amInnocent Bystander says:
Don’t feel sorry for him or any other Rethuglic party member. They’ve been shafting the American people and shredding the Constitution for decades.
They truly deserve every shit thing that happens to them.
March 12th, 2009 at 10:30 amSteele 1.0 – I’m anti-abortion but it is not a view I would impose on others.
Steele 2.0 – Don’t listen to Steele 1.0.
Odd thing is, I think Steele knows what the GOP needs to do to become electable again. And yet he believes it’s more important not to p!ss in Rush’s cornflakes.
Call it Stoxycontin Syndrome. Which is like Stockholm Syndrome, just a million times funnier.
March 12th, 2009 at 10:31 amInnocent Bystander Says:
Hopefully, the man of Steele will soon be replaced by the man of copper pipes, Joe the pretend plumber. I’m beginning to feel sorry for this guy…
March 12th, 2009 at 10:18 am
_____________
Please please please please PLEASE please please please please!
March 12th, 2009 at 10:31 amAnd did you see the way the Mainstream Media jumped on this to show the duplicity of the Republican leadership??
*crickets chirping*
March 12th, 2009 at 10:32 amMarie Says:
Poor Michael Steele.
Selected as a token minority, his tenure is ending even as he speaks. He might want to cut his losses and simply resign.
March 12th, 2009 at 9:44 am
____________
Yeah. Maybe then he’ll have time for his rap battle with Stephen Colbert.
March 12th, 2009 at 10:33 amAs Josh over at TPM discovered, the “pro-choice” interview with GQ took place three weeks ago, before the RushRetreat. So Steele has to have known what he said, but was too clueless to go on an active “pro-life” campaign since this slip up.
Steele also claimed to be a fan of Sinatra and the “Pack Rats” – HA!
PEACE
March 12th, 2009 at 10:35 amThis guy is a train wreck. It’s a joy to watch.
March 12th, 2009 at 10:40 amSteele has all the integrity that every other Republican does.
March 12th, 2009 at 10:42 amDr. Hussein Matt Says:
——————————————————————————–
Innocent Bystander Says:
Hopefully, the man of Steele will soon be replaced by the man of copper pipes, Joe the pretend plumber
I would financially support such a decision. Heck, I would even temporarily switch parties to support this.
And I second it.
March 12th, 2009 at 10:43 amThe Republiscum channel is forever my favorite station…….this is better than Abbott and Costello, Jack Benny, George Carlin and Richard Pryor all wrapped into one, you just can`t make this stuff up,The Steele TOKEN is the best stand up yet and the rest are to numerous to name but their all right behind him.
March 12th, 2009 at 10:48 amFascinating. Mr Steele reminds me of one of those wooden figures that artists use– you can move them into any position you want; they’ll hold that position until you’re finished, and then you can move them around into another position….
March 12th, 2009 at 10:53 amSilly Mr. Steele: the RepubliKKK Party doesn’t allow freedom of speech and thought. Never have, never will. When you finally seek treatment for your Stockholm Syndrome, this will become evident.
March 12th, 2009 at 11:05 amI certainly don’t care what Michael Steele’s thoughts on women’s reproductive freedoms are. Changing his stance on abortion would still leave 99% of the odious, bigoted, and wrong headed Republican platform intact. But, if I was an anti-abortion nut this would sure give me pause!
One thing I love about the Republican party is how every time one of their leaders makes a common sense statement they immediately have to take it back.
March 12th, 2009 at 11:10 amOn occasion Michael Steele is his own man. This is not allowed in the republic party. Original ideas and compromise are strictly forbidden.
March 12th, 2009 at 11:11 amDo Republicans not realize how recording devices work?
March 12th, 2009 at 11:22 ammike steele is
for everything
and against everything.
mike steele.
man of steele.
the new gop.
::
March 12th, 2009 at 11:26 amFrom rubberstamp to rubberband.
A short trip.
March 12th, 2009 at 11:53 amfletc3her Says:
One thing I love about the Republican party is how every time one of their leaders makes a common sense statement they immediately have to take it back.
This is like Meghan McCain. One day she’s on Rachel Maddow’s show saying that the Republican’t party needs to be more moderate and the next day she is on Fixed News towing the party line. Does she really think that young people are that stupid?
March 12th, 2009 at 12:06 pmGet this guy into a straightjacket and get him outa society please!
March 12th, 2009 at 12:06 pm“I support our platform and its call for a Human Life Amendment. It is important that we stand up for the defenseless and that we continue to work to change the hearts and minds of our fellow countrymen so that we can welcome all children and protect them under the law.”
_________________________________________________________
The next person who interviews Steele needs to press him on his support for “a Human Life Amendment”. What does Steele mean by this, exactly? Any legislation dealing with human life will need to define what human life is and when, exactly, it begins. Yes — I expect the phrase “life begins at conception” to be tossed around a great deal. But that’s not good enough, because it defines nothing. The term “conception” merely means the beginning. Life begins at the beginning? Of course it does, but at what point is that?
To some, “conception” (the beginning) means fertilization. To others, “conception” means the implanting of the fertilized egg (by now an multi-celled blastocyst) in the lining of the uterus (the point at which a woman is considered pregnant). This is an important matter that will have to be decided for ANY “human life” legislation. If lawmakers want to go with the fertilization definition, such legislation will not only ban embryonic stem cell research, but it will make illegal all in-vitro fertilization and all IUDs. Fertility clinics will bite the dust. This could be problematic, since most right-to-lifers merely want to punish sluts who have sex (which is why abortion is OK in the case of rape), not barren couples trying desperately to have a child. On the other hand, going with the “conception = implantation” idea isn’t going to do a thing to ban embryonic stem cell research.
Yes, it would be nice to pin Steele down and get his thoughts on this matter.
And as long as we’re pinning Steele down, can we find out why he champions welcoming and protecting children while his party moved heaven and earth to deny children the expansion of S-CHIP? Apparently, the for-profit private insurers deserve more protection than children do.
March 12th, 2009 at 12:09 pmI’m a man without conviction.
karma karma karma
karma chameleon
You come and go-oh
You came and go-oh-oh-oh
Let go them dreams.
March 12th, 2009 at 12:13 pmLet go them dreams.
Poor Mikey. He seems to have this nasty little truth gene (or genie) that bites him at the most inconvenient times & makes him tell the truth: “women should have a right to choose”; “gay is normal”; Rush Limbaugh is “ugly” & “incendiary.” I suspect that behind his opportunistic fake Republican image is a normal, boring Democrat itching to get out.
The Constant Weader at http://www.RealityChex.com
March 12th, 2009 at 12:24 pmfrom reader jc at tpm:
“I just wanted to pass along an observation. I think that with a lot of Michael Steele’s gaffes, he seems to say whatever he perceives to be the opinion of the person to whom he is speaking at the moment. Then later he has to backtrack because it doesn’t match the conservative orthodoxy. Take a look back at all the misstatements he has made and to whom he has made them. The man is a mirror. He just reflects back what he thinks you want him to say.”
*
when you’re everybody’s friend
you’re nobody’s friend.
::
March 12th, 2009 at 12:26 pm.
We all know that…
… In America, the right to life ends at birth!
.
March 12th, 2009 at 1:07 pmYesterday, on the topic of Steele being pro-choice, I snarked that his calendar scheduled him to be pro-life on Thursday. Lo and behold, I was dead on! Damn, I must be psychic. Waddya think? Should I go buy lottery tickets?
March 12th, 2009 at 2:31 pmThere was no right to choose when Michael Steele was born, so his birth-mother did not exercise any choice when she gave birth. Roe v. Wade was decided when he was 14.
March 12th, 2009 at 6:53 pm