Is Michael Steele Out at RNC?

In an interview yesterday, RNC Chairman Michael Steele, telling his critics to STFU, argued that there are some folks "outside the party in Washington" who have "no idea what's going on in America."

The background is at the Los Angeles Times, "RNC Chairman Michael Steele Throws Cold Water on GOP Hopes":

It seemed like a banner week for Republicans. Two veteran Senate Democrats announced their retirements. Hopes grew for major GOP gains in November's congressional elections. And polls showed the president's popularity at a low ebb.

But for Michael Steele, the flamboyant chairman of the Republican National Committee, that was the perfect moment to throw cold water on his party.

Just as Sens. Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut and Byron L. Dorgan of North Dakota declared that they would not stand for reelection, Steele said in a TV interview that he didn't believe Republicans could win enough seats to take control of the House in 2010.

What's more, he said, he wasn't sure his party was ready to be in charge.

When other Republicans howled that Steele was undercutting their efforts, he had a response ready: "Get a life," he said Thursday in a radio interview with ABC News.

"If you don't want me in the job, fire me. But until then, shut up," he said. "Get with the program, or get out of the way."

More at the link. At the Washington Post as well, "Steele Comments Have GOP Aides Pleading, 'Get Him to Stop'." (Via Memeorandum.)

And at Congressional Quarterly:

According to multiple sources, Republican congressional aides bristled at Steele’s decision to use his book tour to question Republicans’ political chances. They pressed RNC staff to keep Steele quiet and cancel any more media appearances.

Although RNC Research Director Jeff Berkowitz originally defended the campaign committee and Steele, aides ultimately acknowledged that they have little control over the former Maryland lieutenant governor and that they are not in charge of lining up his media appearances while he is promoting his book.

“Their response was, ‘We’re not booking the book stuff,’ ” a second GOP Senate aide said. And while RNC staff said they would try to get Steele “back on message,” this Senate aide said the frustration goes well beyond Steele’s latest statement, charging that he is using his position at the RNC to line his own pockets rather than raise much-needed campaign cash.

“Republicans at all levels have been working day and night to build a wave, and every time we turn around the guy standing on the surfboard is busy trying to collect admission to watch him ride,” the aide said, arguing that “he has an agenda of his own that isn’t reflected by the goals of the party as a whole.”

Republicans said there’s a growing concern that Steele is catering to conservative activists and others who may not have the party’s best interests at heart. Steele mounted an unsuccessful bid for Senate in 2006, running as a moderate.

“He’s talking like he’s some kind of tea partier ... when [in 2006] he was THE most moderate candidate we had in the field. That was his whole thing, and he had no problem trashing [former President George W.] Bush and others for being too conservative,” one GOP aide said.

The fresh demands that the RNC find a way to control its chairman comes as top GOP donors have also started turning their backs on Steele’s operation in favor of other campaign committees. Christine Toretti, a Pennsylvania RNC member and longtime GOP donor, told the Washington Times this week, “I don’t plan to give to the Republican National Committee this cycle, and no other major donor I know is planning to either.”

Steele has also come under harsh criticism for accepting paid speaking engagements while he is working as the RNC’s chairman — a job that includes giving numerous speeches to set the national message for the party. “I mean, your job is to give speeches. That’s what you got elected to do,” one Republican said.

Now it turns out that Steele's cancelled an appearance today with ABC News' "Top Line" webcast. AOSHQ has the details, "Steele Cancels TV Appearance As He's Summoned to 'Emergency Meeting' at RNC HQ."

I'll update if there's any big breaking news. Meanwhile, here's en extremely related post, from An American Weasel, "You might be a RINO":

Here we go! It’s the run-up to the 2010 election — time for the foamy political ideologues and squishy middle-of-the-roaders in both parties to go after each other like hungover weasels in a rabbit hutch.

Fuck it. Civility is for afternoon tea with the Queen. Politics is a blood sport. Here goes:

If you’d rather be in power and actively steering the country in the wrong direction than out of power and pointing in the right direction you might be a RINO ....

If you think the Tea Partiers are a muddled, ignorant rabble likely to flare out of control or give the party a bad name you might be a RINO ....

RTWT at the link. Plus, Memeorandum.