In an interview with Michael Steele, NPR’s Steve Inskeep repeatedly asked the RNC chairman to explain why Republicans keep defending Medicare at the same time they claim that the government is incompetent at running anything.
Steele grew frustrated with the questioning, telling Inskeep to stop being “cute” and “doing a wonderful little dance.” But even while admitting that people “like Medicare” and it’s “a valuable program” that’s “the last line of opportunity to receive health care for a lot of our seniors,” he continued to attack it as “bloated” and inefficient. “I’m not saying I like or dislike Medicare,” an exasperated Steele finally said. “It is what it is.”
At one point, Steele tied himself into knots trying to explain his view on the proper role of government after saying that “there are issues in the insurance market that we can regulate a little bit better”:
INSKEEP: Wait, wait — You would trust the government to look into that?
STEELE: No, I’m talking about the private — I’m talking about citizens. I’m talking about — (CROSSTALK)
INSKEEP: Who is it you — You said it is something that should be looked into. Who is it that you think should look into that?
STEELE: Well, who regulates the insurance markets?
INSKEEP: That would be the government, I believe.
STEELE: Well, and so what. Now wait a minute. Hold up. You’re doing a wonderful little dance here and you’re trying to be cute. But the reality of this is very simple. I’m not saying the government doesn’t have a role to play. I’ve never said that. The government does have a role to play; it has a very limited role to play.
INSKEEP: Mr. Chairman, I respect that you think I’m doing a dance here. I just want you to know that as a citizen, I’m a little confused by the positions you take because you’re giving me a very nice nuanced position here —
STEELE: It’s not nice and nuanced. I’m being very clear.
Steele grew frustrated with the questioning, telling Inskeep to stop being “cute” and “doing a wonderful little dance.” But even while admitting that people “like Medicare” and it’s “a valuable program” that’s “the last line of opportunity to receive health care for a lot of our seniors,” he continued to attack it as “bloated” and inefficient. “I’m not saying I like or dislike Medicare,” an exasperated Steele finally said. “It is what it is.”
At one point, Steele tied himself into knots trying to explain his view on the proper role of government after saying that “there are issues in the insurance market that we can regulate a little bit better”:
INSKEEP: Wait, wait — You would trust the government to look into that?
STEELE: No, I’m talking about the private — I’m talking about citizens. I’m talking about — (CROSSTALK)
INSKEEP: Who is it you — You said it is something that should be looked into. Who is it that you think should look into that?
STEELE: Well, who regulates the insurance markets?
INSKEEP: That would be the government, I believe.
STEELE: Well, and so what. Now wait a minute. Hold up. You’re doing a wonderful little dance here and you’re trying to be cute. But the reality of this is very simple. I’m not saying the government doesn’t have a role to play. I’ve never said that. The government does have a role to play; it has a very limited role to play.
INSKEEP: Mr. Chairman, I respect that you think I’m doing a dance here. I just want you to know that as a citizen, I’m a little confused by the positions you take because you’re giving me a very nice nuanced position here —
STEELE: It’s not nice and nuanced. I’m being very clear.
6 comments:
I love to see Steele bring the GOP down even further with his ineptitude. If he wasn't their token Negro, he would've been replaced a long time ago. They keep searching for another black person to take his place but so far nobody is willing to humiliate himself.
BTW, I assume you've been to Helen Wheels' blog. Apparently some wingnut has been impersonating her and going around leaving retarded comments, using her screen name. She has a post about it.
I went to Helen Wheels' blog once (and complimented her on it). I never went back, because she posted some rather caustic (and unprovoked) commentary on my blog.
Helen's blog is a pretty good site.
I heard most of this interview on NPR and couldn't believe my ears. Inskeep just kept nailing Steele, nailing him, and nailing him some more. Steele had no way to respond other than to complain about Inskeep's tactics... it was a thing of beauty.
The shame of it is, that interview won't get much notice. But it might if Dems keep dragging it out from time to time... heh...
Thanks for blogging about the interview... it was a true gem!
Hi, Carlos, I didn't know about your blog until today, and trust me, I don't leave derrogatory comments, especially on such a great blog as yours (I'm glad I found you now even if it had to be this way).
There is a guy named Carl Johnson who - because he is a severely crazed rightwing fundie and hates my 'liberal' message - has stalked me since 2005. I can't even tell you all the stuff he's done (some of it patently illegal) but this is his new diabolical "plan" to sabotage my reputation. He announced it to me a week or so ago by commenting on my blog (I moderate so it wasn't published) that he'd be posting as me at all my "liberal watering holes" and "outing" me as a GOP operative.
The man is in his 50's and has nothing better to do than play juvenile games, I guess.
So. If you got any comments that said they were from me, they weren't.
And I'd love to add you to my blogroll if you don't mind!
Best,
HW (the real one)
Helen W: Well that is certainly a relief. The comments really cut at my ego. I have a pretty thick skin, and don't take my blog too seriously or personally, so I must've been in a crappy state the day I read your imposter's first comment.
Ol' Carl really needs to look into getting a life.
It never ceases to amaze me that disinformation is the Right's only weapon in their quest for political and religious autonomy!
I'd be happy to have you blogroll me. I'll add you as well. I'm glad we cleared things up.
Thanks for dropping by.
Carlos
Thanks, Carlos, sorry to hear that it got at you. That's all Carl Johnson cares to do is hurt people.
I never care when Carl Johnson insults me (considering the source) but yeah, it can hurt if it's from a fellow liberal-leaning blogger.
And you're on my blogroll now! I love the title of your blog as well. Talk about cutting to the chase! :)
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