Norquist on Michael Steele: ‘Sometimes it Hurts’

ABC News’ Rick Klein reports: Anti-tax activist Grover Norquist is joining the chorus of critics who are urging RNC Chairman Michael Steele to stop trying to be a policy and political voice, and instead focus on fund-raising and party infrastructure. “I think that he thought originally that he was coming in and his job was spokesman,” Norquist said on ABC’s “Top Line” today. “Steele needs to fund-raise, organize,” Norquist said. As for TV appearances by the chairman, he said, “It's not necessary. There's no value added to that, and sometimes it's — it hurts. … It's not necessary. If you've got an extra hour, call people on the phone and raise money.” Norquist also had an interesting take on Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour’s tenure as RNC chairman, in the 1990s. “Haley Barbour — because he's not completely fluent in English — was not quite the spokesman that you might have thought, although he's a brilliant guy, wonderful strategist. I don't think you saw him going into '94 as the spokesman so much as an organizer and a fund-raiser. And he brought the Republicans and the House and Senate together and banged their heads together when necessary.” To watch our full conversation with Norquist click HERE.