By Kevin Chupka

Apr 4, 2010 7:49pm

This Just In…

Embattled RNC Chairman Michael Steele does his first
interview amid mounting calls for his resignation.  George
Stephanopoulos talks to Steele live on "Good Morning America" on Monday.

If you have questions for Chairman Steele leave them in the comments below.

User Comments

Why was no one paying attention to expenditures before paying back money at a club like that? This is FEC reports 101! Seems like amature hour at the RNC!

Posted by: Kier Matthews | April 4, 2010, 7:56 pm 7:56 pm

Why did you just hire someone (Neil Alpert) who is under his own ethical cloud to hold such an important position in fundraising for you?

Posted by: Philip Hartley | April 4, 2010, 8:20 pm 8:20 pm

You have to admit that you are in a very awkward as figure head at such a crucial time. What does the GOP gain by having an embattled chairman at the helm?

Posted by: Lisa | April 4, 2010, 8:22 pm 8:22 pm

Aside from a miracle, you cannot possible think that you are going to be elected for another term as chairman. Why are you staying on?

Posted by: Michael Harris | April 4, 2010, 8:23 pm 8:23 pm

You are unser such a huge negative cloud and have personally become the issue, instead of the message of the GOP. Why are you staying in your job?

Posted by: Richard Tumilty | April 4, 2010, 8:26 pm 8:26 pm

Chairman Steele, you’re the Man. Don’t let the lame stream media get you down. Keep on keeping on and down let go.

Posted by: Go GOP | April 4, 2010, 8:40 pm 8:40 pm

You go Mr. Chairman. People got to understand that if you don’t wine and dine your biggest supporters, they won’t give you lots of money. Everybody needs to get their piece of the action and Mr. Steele has that right too.

Posted by: Go GOP | April 4, 2010, 8:43 pm 8:43 pm

He’s the best chairman for the best party.
He knows how to take care of the donors.
He knows how to lead the g.o.p. back to power.
And the donors know that if we get power back, we will take good care of them.
Go, Mr. Chairman, go.

Posted by: Go GOP | April 4, 2010, 8:45 pm 8:45 pm

How can you be an effective leader if you are the story and not the work of the Party?

Posted by: Herbert | April 4, 2010, 8:58 pm 8:58 pm

Have you considered hiring your brother in law, Mike Tyson, as security at the RNC?

Posted by: Arnold | April 4, 2010, 8:59 pm 8:59 pm

“RNC Chairman Michael Steele, do you think you’ve been unfairly treated by the media and some in your own party including NRCC leader Kevin McCarthy who are looking to capitalize off the strip club controversy?”
“After all do you think it’s fair that you have taken all the heat considering that you weren’t even at the strip club, and the NRCC’s own Chairman Pete Sessions himself has repeatedly raised money at seedy strip clubs including at the sexually-charged Tao nightclub on the Vegas strip and at the famous Las Vegas Strip Club, Forty Deuce. [Republican Pete Sessions Held Fundraiser at Burlesque Club, US News, 3/31/10]
http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/washington-whispers/2010/03/31/republican-pete-sessions-held-fundraisers-at-burlesque-clubs.html
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/sleuth/2009/05/_democrats_are_waving_the.html

Posted by: Keeping them honest | April 4, 2010, 9:11 pm 9:11 pm

While you’re at it why not ask if Oreo’s were ever thrown at him while he was Lt. Gov. Staff at the building said no, but Steele’s supporters said “the air was thick with them.” To this day he’s never given a full accounting of that incident. Oh but I guess it would take a journalist to ask about such a thing.

Posted by: Cookie | April 4, 2010, 9:12 pm 9:12 pm

Sir, I know you will put the good of the Republican Party first.
What will that require you to do?

Posted by: Frank Mullen III | April 4, 2010, 9:15 pm 9:15 pm

Mr. Steele Do you feel as though you are being undermined by certain faction of the RNC who may want you to step down in the hopes of capturing some of the Tea Party monies that seem to be going elsewhere?

Posted by: Dan Mitchell | April 4, 2010, 9:18 pm 9:18 pm

Speaking as a Democrat I would have to say that these past weeks have been a blessing for our party , however, given the eventuality of your demise as party chairman in November can you see any benefit to stepping down for the good of the party?

Posted by: Dan Mitchell | April 4, 2010, 9:22 pm 9:22 pm

As a reluctant Democrat (see it as being the lesser of two evils) I’m certainly not going to gloat at this latest travail of the Republican party. I know next week it will be same story but a Democrat. And back and forth it will continue until the end of time . . . .

Posted by: xtch3 | April 4, 2010, 10:03 pm 10:03 pm

Mr.Steele: What do you think of the decision by Tony Perkins and the Family Research Council to tell their members not to donate to the RNC? Is there a rift developing between social conservatives and the committee?

Posted by: Myron | April 4, 2010, 11:36 pm 11:36 pm

Mr. Steele: Does the RNC share in any of the credit for the Republican victories in New Jersey, Virginia and Massachusetts? What role did the RNC play in these races?

Posted by: Myron | April 4, 2010, 11:37 pm 11:37 pm

Mr. Steele: Do you feel that, as an African-American, you have a slimmer margin for error than another chairman would? Do you feel you have the full support of people within the RNC?

Posted by: Myron | April 4, 2010, 11:38 pm 11:38 pm

Mr. Steele: Why was Allison Meyers, who headed up the Young Eagles program, the only person fired? Weren’t there others who knew about the bondage club expense?
Also, reports state that upcoming events for the Young Eagles have been canceled. What is the status of the program and will this incident hurt GOP efforts to recruit more young people?

Posted by: Myron | April 4, 2010, 11:42 pm 11:42 pm

George,
You are suppose to be a reporter, but you act like a kid in a candy store who dosn’t know what to pick. I still can’t understand how you have gotten so far in the news media, except for the fact that you worked in the Clinton administration, and we know what mutts came out of it. No wonder the major tv news media is in such poor shape. Talking heads, with big liberal biases, who’s best ability is to be able to READ FROM A TELAPROMPTOR.

Posted by: Ken WALSH | April 5, 2010, 7:47 am 7:47 am

How does the Republican party get away with protesting the deficit and portraying themselves as fiscal conservatives when it was Reagan, Bush and Bush who piled up a greater massive deficit than any other presidents?

Posted by: Madeline Michel | April 5, 2010, 7:51 am 7:51 am

Conservatism is a myth.
Myth: Tax cuts for the rich create jobs.
Reality: Bush lost 10 million jobs.
Myth: Free Markets work.
Reality: Tarp
Myth: Strong Defense.
Reality: Stupid on Defense. Ignored warnings before 9/11,started the Afghanistan war and forgot about it. Invaded Iraq on lies. 8 years at war.
Myth: We are for Smaller Govt and Privacy.
Reality: Patriot Act, Illegal Wiretapping of American Citizens, Department of Homeland Security.
Conservatism is a myth.

Posted by: sharksbreath | April 5, 2010, 8:44 am 8:44 am

Best RNC Chair the Democrats ever had!
I especially enjoy the way he plays the race card to cover up his own failures.
I hope he remains as Chairman of the Republicans for a long, long time. They deserve him.

Posted by: Independent Thinker | April 5, 2010, 10:23 am 10:23 am

Mr Steele, I’m with you 100%. People have understand that there are republicans like us that enjoy S&M clubs and the public needs to respect our private lives be that what it may. I know I’m not the only loyal republican that enjoys being dominated and spanked in my private sex life. It’s a relaxing change of pace from a demanding workplace environment where I’m expected to be dominate and punish as the the acting CEO of my company. It’s refreshing to know that the public fetishes of nationally known republicans like David Vitter have come to light without hurting his electoral prospects. I can only hope that future RNC expenditures are spent in a similar fashion, as it will no doubt open the wallets of donors like myself who will give generously in such hospitable environments. Again, I thank you for the direction you’re providing to a rudderless organization and hope for your future success.

Posted by: Hardcore Republican | April 5, 2010, 12:57 pm 12:57 pm

Today’s political activity is a constant reminder that most of these folks were elected by the same people who read the National Enquirer.

Posted by: Upstart | April 5, 2010, 8:56 pm 8:56 pm

I like a lot of things about Mr. Steele, and I don’t even recognize race unless it is a specific issue of discussion so I was a little put back to be vollied in that discussion by just being American; however, the part that made me roll my eyes was the discussion about grass-roots verse good-ole-boy politics. Mr. Steele wasn’t sitting at a strip club with me and the boys talking politics, it was a financed private bondage show… I guess I am embroiled with a great looking woman, but bondage is a form of self-inflating by degrading someone else at a sub-conscious level. I am sure he has some buried issues from beating the political system and being black, and I have no problem with adult performers or watching them, but this is a dark side that means somethig bad for all of us who put our trust in him.

Posted by: Bryan | April 6, 2010, 12:33 pm 12:33 pm

the tragidy at coal mine ,any found to have violations should be shut donw until remendyed, and the workers to be paid in full till they are fixes.

Posted by: Ronald Simmons | April 7, 2010, 12:21 pm 12:21 pm

Mr. Steele take a clue from all these comments. You really have messed up values! You do not reflect the kind of fortitude and life that a winsome wholesome person COULD in the position that you have been blessed with.
WAKE UP! this is real life and you cannot expect to recover a good reputation by playing Obama type of games (i.e. Deem and Pass) Meaning deem yourself what you are not and pass what ever you please as a dictator not a leader.
I’m sure you get the point!
Resign
Sell shoes
and get straightened out, your not a victim!!! Stop being that kind of example to those who are so color oriented that they can’t see anything else, your dragging them down.

Posted by: Joseph David | April 20, 2010, 11:42 am 11:42 am

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