Michael Steele Unplugged: ‘Don’t Know’ If There’s Moral Responsibility To Cover Uninsured, ‘I Don’t Do Policy’
Michael Steele Unplugged: ‘Don’t Know’ If There’s Moral Responsibility To Cover Uninsured, ‘I Don’t Do Policy’
In prepared remarks this morning at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, RNC Chairman Michael Steele derided President Obama’s health efforts, calling it a “risky experimentation,” a “Grand Experiment,” and the product of a “cabal.”
After reading his speech, Steele then took a few questions. It quickly became apparent that, once Steele ventured off his prepared talking points, he was uncomfortable responding to queries about his health care views. The RNC Chairman offered a host of bizarre, conflicting, and nonsensical responses. Here’s some highlights:
‘Don’t know’ if there’s a moral responsibility to cover uninsured: When asked if it’s a “moral responsibility” to cover the uninsured, Steele responded, “I don’t know if that’s a consideration for politicians versus a pastor.” But a few minutes later, Steele was asked – if the U.S. can put a man on the moon, why can’t we provide coverage for all Americans. “Bingo! That’s it,” Steele said, approving of the notion of universal coverage that he rejected moments earlier.
Republicans didn’t have ‘the will’ to reform health care: When asked why Republicans didn’t do “anything substantial” about health care when they held power, Steele said there wasn’t “the will to do it,” adding, “I just think that there’s been just a general lack of focus on this issue by many.”
We’re being ‘shut up,’ even though we have nothing to say: When posed with the fact that Republicans lost the last election, Steele called it a “silly” question. “Yeah, we lost the last election, so that means we shut up?” But in the next question, the interviewer noted that Republicans have yet to come forward with a proposal that they claim to have been drafting for months.
Stumped on individual mandate: Asked whether he supports an individual mandate — an issue that became a point of controversy in the 2008 election between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama — Steele was completely ignorant. “An individual requirement? What do you mean?” Steele could only respond that there are “differing opinions” on this.
Obama’s plan is socialism: Steele emphatically stated that Obama’s health care policy would lead to socialism. When the interviewer noted that Republicans raised similar unsubstantiated fears about Medicare, Steele suggested that he opposes Medicare. “I think that there’s a legitimate debate there about the impact that Medicare and Medicaid are having on the overall fabric of our economy.”
Health Care is more of a real cost than Iraq: Steele was asked why he wasn’t worried about a CBO score that estimated Iraq would cost $2.75 trillion, but is now worried about health care costing half as much. Steele responded that health care costs are different than Iraq because “the costs of health care is something up close and right here.”
‘I don’t do policy.’ When stumped with numerous health care policy questions, Steele said, “I don’t do policy,” acknowledging that he’s paying attention to his internal RNC polling to craft his political message. Moments later, Steele said he’s “not concerned” about the politics of health care. “I’m not looking at this through the rose-colored glasses of, oh what are our political fortunes.”
Watch a compilation of the highlights:
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who needs a teleprompter now?
:)
July 20th, 2009 at 11:29 amWhat, exactly, does he DO?
July 20th, 2009 at 11:32 amShorter Mikey: I don’t do thinking.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:32 amSteely Mike is such a dildo
July 20th, 2009 at 11:33 amYOU DON’T DO SHIT STEELE!!!!
YOUR A WASTE….ALONG WITH YOUR COUNTER PARTS….YOU HAVE NOTHING TO GIVE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE….THAT’S WHY YOUR USELESS TO AMERICA.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:33 amAs I leave the computer and get ready for a busy day of getting ready to fly this coop I leave you all with….Bob Seger’s ” Still the Same”.My life is about music and everything is related to that…These polaticians will do as they choose no matter the D or R after their name and we do not matter…..Happy posting, I’m cleaning up this pop stand and planning on leaving on a jet plane, bus or car..Blessings
July 20th, 2009 at 11:34 am… … …
easy on the caffeine and cap locks, cowboy.
:)
July 20th, 2009 at 11:34 am“I don’t do policy” I am too busy doing that stupid fresh thang…
July 20th, 2009 at 11:34 amWhat an ASS! I guess it is OK to let a uninsured young child with cancer to go untreated because YOU don’t know if it a MORAL thing to do. I love how these guys think generally about these issues. Remember Ron Christie’s statement? “It is to expensive to treat someone with a cronic illness.” Excuse me? I guess all the sick people should die in a corner somewhere because someone like Christie thinks you are not worth it. WTF?
July 20th, 2009 at 11:37 amI guess it’s a problem in the Republican’t party.
W couldn’t form a statement that made sense, or sound like he smoked a pound of weed before a policy meeting.
Palin, well SNL did a good job showing how bad she is at answering a question.
And now Steele and this garbage.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:38 am“Steele was asked why he wasn’t worried about a CBO score that estimated Iraq would cost $2.4 billion, but is now worried…”
Faiz, I beleive you mean $2.4 TRILLION
July 20th, 2009 at 11:41 amIf you don’t do “policy” then you are a welfare recipient collecting a paycheck and doing nothing in return….
July 20th, 2009 at 11:42 amOh I forgot, you’re the court jester, you just forgot that hat.
What a gutless cop-out. Guess he left his talking points crib sheet in his other pants…
One of the measuring sticks of a civilized society is the extent to which it provides basic necessities (food, shelter, critical medical care) for those unable to provide for themselves or their families.
God help you if you get laid off from your job and thus lose your health benefits, and then discover that you or a family member has a life-threatening health condition.
Can’t afford treatment? Go away and die quietly.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:43 amI know this is going to seem like a really, really, really dumb thing to say, but ….
Can this man REALLY be this stupid? Maybe it’s the nefarious “liberal bias” of the media or something but I can’t recall seeing a single instance where he has said anything that is anywhere near coherent.
I almost feel sorry for the guy.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:45 amWhy is Steele channeling Sarah Palin? Actually, Steele and Palin BOTH sound like dummies whose ventriloquist got distracted.
Perhaps this is just the “new GOP”. God help us all.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:46 amThis guy is an idiot! Is this the best the GOP can do?
July 20th, 2009 at 11:46 amRepublicans trying to kill health care.
Republicans trying to kill health.
Republicans trying to kill.
Republicans trying to kill….YOU.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:46 amHealth Care is more of a real cost than Iraq: Steele was asked why he wasn’t worried about a CBO score that estimated Iraq would cost $2.4 billion, but is now worried about health care costing half as much. Steele responded that health care costs are different than Iraq because “the costs of health care is something up close and right here”.
—————————————–
Of course killing is much more important than saving lives. Typical Republican.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:47 amEverytime you think you’ve seen the stupidest Repugnantcan, along comes another, stupider version: It’s like watching evolution in reverse.
Good thing evolution isn’t real, huh GOP?
July 20th, 2009 at 11:51 amThis is just 1993 all over again. None of what Steele says makes any sense at all. It’s all part of the Republican noise machine designed to play on fears and insecurities. Republicans are just out to defeat health care reform…it’s their only chance for a comeback in 2012. Democrats just need to fight through it and keep the momentum going.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:51 amI think it is morally corrupt to get on the House floor and spew hyperbole just to try and kill a health care reform so your rich friends in that industry do not have their profits touched.
Rep. Tiahrt should be reprimanded for his comments implying that Obama’s mother may hava had an abotion if they had been free.
HEre is the clip if you have not already seen it.
http://progressnotcongress.org/?p=2222
July 20th, 2009 at 11:54 amIt seems like this Waterloo is the new GOP talking point.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:54 am“Michael Steele Unplugged: ‘Don’t Know’ If There’s Moral Responsibility To Cover Uninsured, ‘I Don’t Do Human’”
July 20th, 2009 at 11:56 amThe “useful idiot” ploy by the Repugs to show they are inclusive is backfiring and misfiring simultaneously. Steele’s only remark that Repugs emphasize is “socialism” but he can’t define what it means, only that it is bad. The only opposition facing Dems is the money being thrown around the capital; it is certainly not this man and his obvious intellectual impairment.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:57 amWhat “highlights”?
I have an idea for the GOP. Why not run Palin-Steele in 2012? That should be good for a laugh a day.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:59 amHealth Care is more of a real cost than Iraq: Steele was asked why he wasn’t worried about a CBO score that estimated Iraq would cost $2.4 billion, but is now worried about health care costing half as much.
Typo there. Isn’t that “trillion”? It’s certainly not “$2.4 billion”.
Cheers,
July 20th, 2009 at 12:00 pmRepublicans do not feel the need to do health care reform because the people who need the health care reform are not their voters, at least those that are not consumed with fear, racism and hate are not their voters. Ignorance is the means to get those who let fear, racism and hate rule their lives to oppose the things that can make a meaningful difference in their lives, to vote against their own self interests. Ignorance is fostered by limited education, which Republicans do not want to reform because it would lead to an informed population which would not allow the best interests subverted by fear, racism and hate.
July 20th, 2009 at 12:00 pmFrom Firedoglake:
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released estimates this evening confirming for the first time that H.R. 3200, America’s Affordable Health Choices Act, is deficit neutral over the 10-year budget window – and even produces a $6 billion surplus
So Republicans are still against balancing the budget. No shock there.
July 20th, 2009 at 12:01 pmMedicaid Part D was a terrible bill, and everyone knows that.
July 20th, 2009 at 12:03 pmFAIZ: We’re being ‘shut up,’ even though we have nothing to say:
I think that should be: We won’t shut-up even though we have nothing to say.
July 20th, 2009 at 12:03 pmWhile it may be funny to listen to this idiot speak, he along with his GOP cronies ARE swaying puplic opinion about health care.
All they do is say “NO”, scare the puplic with false numbers, and offer no plan of their own…
Sometimes we can be such sheep to swallow that kind of crap.
July 20th, 2009 at 12:05 pmThe only “moral” responsibility the repiggies cherish is to show their holy roller fascist crap down our throats.
July 20th, 2009 at 12:06 pmThat’s some hip-hop shee-izzle all up in there, Mikey-Mike!!
Sorry — been listening to too much of the Steele Mike new rap album “Don’t Trust a Word We Say”…
July 20th, 2009 at 12:06 pmSteele, Jindall, Palin, McCain, Sanford, Ensign, McConnell, Boehner…wow what a field of self-serving, idealogical, fact challenged empty suits the Republican Leadership has to offer. Not a thinking person among them, just a pack of finger-pointing corporatists, cowtowing to a shrinking fundie base, spewing talking points and outdated rhetoric. Acting all self righteous and above it all while their un-ethical and often illegal antics bury any chances of regaining what they once had. The beauty of it is that what makes them leaders in their party is exactly what will keep them in the minority for a long time. They offer no solutions and have become nothing more than a concerted voice that goes against the will of a majority of Americans while stabbing eachother in the backs behind the scenes. It must be sad being a Republican when the most intelligent thinker that you have to offer America is Newt Gingrich and his old and failed ideas. A TOAST TO REGRESSIVES EVERYWHERE! Now say good night and turn the lights off on your way out, the partys over.
July 20th, 2009 at 12:07 pmMichael Steele speaks: Blibbo blabbo blibbo blabbo – Socialism!
Jeff Sessions speaks: Blibbo blabbo blibbo blabbo – Disturbing Latina and Socialism!
Sarah Palin speaks: Blibbo blabbo blibbo blabbo – He’s palin’ around with terrorists and Socialism!
John Boehner speaks: Blibbo blabbo blibbo blabbo – sloppy crying and Socialism!
The RNC speaks: Ditto
The GOP speaks: Ditto
Rush Limbaugh speaks: Ditto
well…you get the point.
July 20th, 2009 at 12:08 pmSince I don’t listen to every crazy Republican, I can’t be sure, but this seems like the first time in decades that any politician has opposed Medicare. We’ll have to keep ths swell clip for every single upcoming Floida election. Old folks vote!
The Constant Weader at http://www.RealityChex.com
July 20th, 2009 at 12:16 pmI Don’t Do Policy
Because he’s too busy working on his non-existent gangsta’/street cred thing …………
July 20th, 2009 at 12:21 pmI’m beginning to think the entire MSM is lying about everything. The so-called polls claim Americans are losing confidence in Obama’s health plan. I don’t for a minute think that is true. Repugs are terrified his health plan will work. So is Big Business. That is why every morning we are subjected to MSNBC and CNN constantly bringing on the same old tired pols to debunk everything the President has to say. This remind me of the run up to the Iraq War. The pundits and MSM constantly presented Bush’s case. This time MSM is constantly tearing down the Health Plan. This time I hope the MSM and Big Business lose.
July 20th, 2009 at 12:22 pm.. …
brother idiot brian kilmeade
apologizes this morning for comments
he made about americans not having
“pure genes”.
: O
July 20th, 2009 at 12:30 pmAfter the hands were pulled from his back and the puppet strings were cut, Steele then took a few questions. It quickly became apparent that, once Steele ventured off his prepared talking points, he was uncomfortable responding to queries about his health care views. The RNC Chairman offered a host of bizarre, conflicting, and nonsensical responses.
There fixed it.
RIP
July 20th, 2009 at 12:35 pmSGT Stephen R. Sherman
C CO 1-5 IN (STRYKER)
KIA 3 Feb 2005
Mosul, Iraq
joe@39, I read about that. Hmm… Don’t you think that his apology is a week to late? Between the Sonia Sotomoyer bashing and Pat Buchanans white-washing of American history, you would think he would have had the balls to apologize immediately.
July 20th, 2009 at 12:36 pmI would hang with the repukes for free fried chicken and potato salad but would still vote democratic.
July 20th, 2009 at 12:39 pmThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Note to Steele, morals and policy aren’t the same thing. It’s possible to have morals and not know what the policy is. It’s more likely republicans know policy but not morals.
July 20th, 2009 at 12:47 pmThe GOP never had any ideas only gimmicks and Steele, who’s black, is a perfect example of that.
July 20th, 2009 at 12:47 pmI also loved the way MC Micky Steezy said that the President has not reached out enough to the other side. If my memory serves me right, the President has lost both arms laying them out there for the Repuppetcans to chop off. This is all about hatred, and Mr. Steele is allowing himself to be put out there to help the Repuppetcans destroy any progress made by President Obama, because they are being oppressed.
This group would rather we all perished than to see a wise man of color, fix what men of privilege have ruined for years.
RIP
July 20th, 2009 at 12:56 pmSGT Stephen R. Sherman
C CO 1-5 IN (STRYKER)
KIA 3 Feb 2005
Mosul, Iraq
…
slappy,
if only these conservative
comedians were still in business…
you’d have a job!
:|
btw, season one is now out on dvd.
:)
July 20th, 2009 at 1:02 pm….
Slappy, cry me a river!!! Must be nice to have luxuries you can’t afford…
July 20th, 2009 at 1:05 pmIf Steele keeps making stupid statements, I bet Fox News starts identifying him as a Democrat.
July 20th, 2009 at 1:18 pm‘I don’t do policy.’
The current slogan of the Republican Party. He is only the mouthpiece for what every one of those obstructionists thinks and does.
July 20th, 2009 at 1:18 pmMaybe the Republicans should have had Bobby Jindal doing this instead. We all know how well he did in response to Obama’s speech in February.
Oh, never mind.
July 20th, 2009 at 2:07 pmnew soul thing until americans figure out there are old souls and new souls in america both the repub and demos will continue to wonder how the other one thinks.
repubs dont care about their fellow man
it is about wealth generation for the few and keep the others in fear
give the repubs credit where credit is due they control congress and the house
reid and nancy are mere pawns in their hands
only when over 50% of americans have problems with health care will the present system change just like the smoking laws.
this is a materialistic society not a compassionate society our war mongering should show us that fact. but it doesnt as we have learned to accept our super power status in fact it is like a badge of honor for most americans.
July 20th, 2009 at 2:10 pmMichael Steele Unplugged
JUST the name of this thread gives me the heebie jeebiez.
Plug it back up, please!
July 20th, 2009 at 2:45 pmI can’t maintain that kind of pessimism very long, researcher. The GOoPers are fracturing and it’s all but certain that there will be desertions when they get close enough to the next election to start reading the polls.
Right now they are still throwing a mass tantrum and trying to outdo each other in the rush to outright insanity. They can delay, make noise, and may even water down some legislation but they can’t stop anything and they know it. That’s why they are speaking in apocalyptic terms about the most mundane issues. They’re desperate.
July 20th, 2009 at 2:47 pmMichael Steele is blessed with the brains God gave the average houseplant. I would ask how someone this obviously stupid, ignorant, and incoherent could have possibly been elected as the Chairman of a major political party … but I’m afraid I already know. If he’s the best the GOP can muster, they may actually beat Moses’ record for wandering through the wilderness … a consumation devoutly to be wished. Now, could we get on with healthcare reform before another child dies unnecessarily?
July 20th, 2009 at 3:14 pmanother dumb republican.
July 20th, 2009 at 8:11 pmMichael Steele, is “DUMBER THAN A BOX OF ROCKS”, he is an Insult to the state of Maryland.
If he had “BRAINS”, he would be “DANGEROUS.”
My question is: Why would the Republican Party keep this “MORON”, around, other than to keep everyone “LAUGHING and DISTRACTED.”
July 21st, 2009 at 1:05 am.
LIE-CHEAT-STEELE
The “NEW” G(no)P
.
July 21st, 2009 at 1:46 am.
Steele wouldn’t know “moral responsibility” unless it wears a lapel pin!
And even then, it CHEATS on it’s wife and family.
.
July 21st, 2009 at 1:48 am