Michael Steele, RNC Chief, Says Abortion "is An Individual Choice," Will Unnerve GOP Establishment

For once I agree with something Republican National Committee leader Michael Steele has said. In an interview with GQ’s Lisa DePaulo, he stated that abortion is an “individual choice. The problem for him is that isn’t likely to go over very well with the GOP. Of course, Steele is on the verge of a no-confidence vote, so some may wave it off as further ignorance on his part of his new role.

The key passage:

L: How much of your pro-life stance, for you, is informed not just by your catholic faith, but by the fact that you were adopted?

M: Oh, a lot. Absolutely. I see the power of life in that. I mean, and the power of choice! The thing to keep in mind about it, uh, you know, I think as a country we get off on these misguided conversations that throw around terms that really misrepresent truth.

L: Explain that.

M: The choice issue cuts two ways. You can choose life or you can choose abortion. You know, my mother chose life. So, you know, I think the power of the argument of choice boils down to stating a case for one or the other.

L: Are you saying you think women have the right to choose abortion?

M: Yeah. I mean, again, I think that’s an individual choice.

L: You do?

M: Yeah. Absolutely.

L: Are you saying you don’t want to overturn Roe v. Wade?

M: I think Roe v. Wade–as a legal matter, Roe v. Wade was a wrongly decided matter.

L: Okay, but if you overturn Roe v. Wade, how do women have the choice you just said they should have?

M: The states should make that choice: that’s what the choice is. The individual choice rests in the states. Let them decide.

Hmmm. I have one question, since he considers abortion an “individual choice,” specifically who counts as an individual in his mind? Goodness, you thought President Bush could mince words or completely befuddle one with his sentences. Eureka, we have found a the heir apparent to Bushisms — Michael Steele. I believe abortion is a personal issue that the government has no business trying to legislate. Though I share some views of the Republican Party on the matter, it is an individual choice and should be treated by all as such.

Filed under: Abortion, GOP, Individual Choice, Michael Steele, Republican National Committe, Roe vs. Wade

Michael Steele, Newly Appointed Republican National Committe Chairman, Mired in Campaign Funds Mishandling Scandal

What do you know? Michael S. Steele, the newly elected chairman of the Republican National Committee is not so clean after all. Are you surprised? The Washington Post is reporting that Steele arranged for his 2006 Senate campaign to pay a defunct company, Brown Sugar Unlimited, run by his sister, Monica Turner, for services that were never performed. Wow. That’s low and dirty. Steele has been a pretty vocal critic against President Obama and attacked him relentlessly on his association with Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Bill Ayers, his economic and foreign policies, including the stimulus plan. Funny, Barack Obama has never been accused of paying money to a defunct organization for services not rendered. There’s a word for that — theft.

The claim about the payment, one of several allegations by Alan B. Fabian, is outlined in a confidential court document. Fabian offered the information last March as he was seeking leniency for himself during plea negotiations on unrelated fraud charges. It is unclear how extensively his claims have been pursued. Prosecutors gave him no credit for cooperation when he was sentenced in October.

Steele spokesman Curt Anderson said he did not know what information the federal agents were seeking, but he dismissed Fabian’s allegations as patently false. “It’s from, what, a convicted felon? And it has no substantiation in fact,” he said. Source: Washington Post

Here’s the ironic part. Steele will be overseeing the raising and spending of millions in party money. Can you really trust him with this, since he has been fingered in funneling money to a defunct company? This begs the question of why he was elected as the chairman when he has faced allegations of mishandling of campaign money in prior elections and was twice fined for missing filing deadlines. They selected him because they wanted to make a statement — a black man is the chairman of the RNC to match President Obama’s historic ascent to the presidency. So what? This clearly isn’t the right person for the position and with that dark cloud over his head, he should be the last person to criticize President Obama.

The recent allegations outlined four specific transactions. In addition to the payment to Steele’s sister, Fabian said that the candidate used money from his state campaign improperly; that Steele paid $75,000 from the state campaign to a law firm for work that was never performed; and that he or an aide transferred more than $500,000 in campaign cash from one bank to another without authorization.

In one of his allegations, Fabian points to a February 2007 payment by Steele’s Senate campaign of more than $37,000 to Brown Sugar Unlimited, the company run by Steele’s sister, Monica Turner. Campaign finance records list the expense as having been for “catering/web services.” Turner filed papers to dissolve the company 11 months before the payment was received. Source: Washington Post

Here’s an interesting revelation — Monica Turner, a doctor, is the former wife of boxer Mike Tyson. Yes, she said that her brother is being sabotaged. Wait, he didn’t have a problem repeatedly denigrating President Obama. Imagine if this was revealed about President Obama or VP Joe Biden? The Republicans would have a field day. So now, Mr. Chairman, how does it feel when the shoe is on the other foot? Not comfy, I am sure.

To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.

Filed under: Brown Sugar Unlimited, Defunct Company, Federal Agents, Michael S. Steele, Mike Tyson, Mishandling of Campaign Funds, Monica Turner, NY's Finest, Republican National Committe