WASHINGTON (CNN) – Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele defended Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's decision to step down from her post, saying Thursday that he admired her decision to "focus on her family," adding that the "brain trust here in Washington" should "wait to see what she does."
Steele also said that Palin is not a quitter and called that notion a "wonderful Democrat talking point."
"You have to take her at face value, why she made that decision when she did and then, let's wait to see what Sarah does next," Steele said in an interview with Wolf Blitzer on the Situation Room. "Then, that will begin to give you some idea of how that story will unfold. All the pontificating, stop it. Wait to see what she does."
Earlier in the month, the Republican National Committee Chairman suggested Palin's decision to leave the governor's mansion early was a sign she did not intend to run in 2012.
"Not having talked to the governor, I take 2012 off the table right now simply because given everything she's going through personally, dealing with the financial mess that all these ludicrous investigations have put her and Todd in, at the moment, I think she's trying to focus on getting her house in order, her personal house in order," he said.
Also in the interview Thursday, Steele said fixing the health care system is the first priority for Republicans, but continued his heavy criticism of President Obama's plan - declaring all Americans shouldn't get taxed more to pay for health care reform, but that the overall costs need to be lowered. Earlier in the day, the RNC launched a Web site also criticizing Obama's plan.
"We do not have to tax and spend our way to deal with the costs," Steele said. "With where in American history or anywhere have you saved money by spending more money?"
From CNN Politics
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Even when we see it we can't understand it. She is not disciplined enough nor is she trained to be in public office. NEXT.
Explain to me how quitting doesn't qualify you as being a quitter...it's the same verb! A person that quits is called a quitter, that's grammer, not politics.
now Shaft, if you have to have a press conference to tell us that she is not a quitter, doesn't that mean her behavior is in question
Everyday the GOP makes me certain that it is going down in flames, Palin who I doubt finished college english has the GOP "Waiting to see what she does."
A very deparate GOP is "Not having talked to the governor, I take 2012 off the table right now"
The GOP has time to look for canidates, I suggest that they do, but I would really enjoy it if you ran Palin
Well, if the Republicans had a plan to fix healthcare, they should have fixed it years ago while they were still on top of the heap.
But of course they didn't want to do that – it was more important to keep gays in line and bow down to the Religious Wrong.
Michael Steele is talking about "brain trust" in the same speech where he mentions Sarah Palin isn't a quitter. This is rich.
I'm not even going to bother to comment on Steele's assessment of Palin.
I can't believe Steele said she's not a quitter and then talks about her resigning from the governorship before her terms ends. I consider anyone who resigns from an elected position a quitter unless they resign for medical problems or are convicted of either a morality charge or a crime. When the going gets tough, Sarah gets going (literally)! She quit in Wasilla and now she quits in the capital....and for those illiterate people who say she's more popular than Obama, you need to get a clue. Politics is not about who's more popular, it's about the substance of the person and poor Sarah has no substance evidenced by her trailer park like life.
If you can't get that ignorant megan mccain to shut up and her dad decide which party he belongs to then Gov. Palin needs to start a new party!
Websters dictionary defines:
Main Entry:quit·ter
Pronunciation:\ˈkwi-tər\
Function:noun
Date:1611
: one that quits ; especially : one that gives up too easily : defeatist
nuff said !!!!
Quitter (noun) – one who quits; doesn't finish a task; leaves before then end of their expected time
Palin is a quitter, by any definition.
And Steele, I'd like to place a bet with you: According to you, Palin made the decision to quit so she could spend more time with her family. Would that be the same family she's spent so much time away from ever since she was tapped for GOP VP candidate? Or the one she's spent even more time away from since she lost said VP candidacy?
The same family that includes her special needs son, whom she left to go back to work – within less than one week of his birth?
Some family values .... NOT!
Yes, without a doubt Palin is a quitter. What else can you possibly call some who quit. I love the Republican spin.
If you are to believe what they say then you must believe that McCain or any other Republican who held an elected office while running for another one sucked off the system as Palin put it.
Remember Steele, she's after your job.
Wait to see what she does? She did it. She quit. That's not a talking point, it's a fact. Give me a break. I am neither R or D, and I do not understand how or why this woman has any support.
That is funny... (and telling) The Republicans have to wait and see what Sister Sarah is going to do before they know how to proceed. (maybe God told them wait) I thought Rush Limbaugh is the leader of the GOP?
What a joke the Republican party has turned in to. A sick, dangerous joke...
She is a QUITTER!!!!!!!! I'm not that dumb or stupid to see it...why can't you????????????????
Actually, Mr. Steele, we don't really care.
Don't be surprised if she quits before she ever gives you an answer.
When the going gets tough....Sarah simply quits and goes fishing. If she is having a bad day....oh well, it's time to leave in her mind.
Thank goodness a job like the President of the USA would never entail having a tough day at the office. It's the perfect fit for this "quit any time I don't like how my day is going' politician. I mean, we are attacked on our soil...Sarah's response: "Oh, it's really tough to balance this decision while keeping my family from having sex at a really young age...I quit".
She quit her job as Governor of Alaska, what does Steele think she did, isn't that being a quitter, and I doubt if she is going to take better care of her family, instead she will campaign for right-wing candidates and raise money.
Steele,
You're right on track again, the track to Nowheresville.
Get lost; Alaska would be ok with us!
"You have to take her at face value, why she made that decision when she did and then, let's wait to see what Sarah does next,"
----------------------
Mr. Steele. We did watch what she would do next. She ran for Governor, got elected, and then quit before she served her full term, and most of it was taken up trying to run for the VP of the USA.
So, her track record, going all the way back to college states one thing indisputably She quits when it gets tough.
Say it's a democratic talking point all you want. Because yes, it is a democratic quality to call it like it is, and to not be tolerant of "QUITTERS" and not make pathetic excuses for someone that is unable to do the really tough thing of working and taking care of their family. Nobody else in this nation has EVER had to do that...right Mr. Steele? You know, work and have a family: Sarah is the first and only lady to EVER have to handle doing both.
Sarah Palin has made clear that she is the Paris Hilton of American politics (no offense Paris!).
It appears that Steele agrees with Conservative ideology as does Sarah Palin, but there is a chance he is facing a task of not promoting Palin in a presidential primary. The odds against her winning are huge. We can probably say the same about Romney and Huckabee.
"wait and see what she does" – who cares what she does – as long as she stays away from the republican ticket for any office – good riddance!
i think palin is more concerned with retaking control of congress in order to save the country from total bankruptcy than she is with making a run on the presidency in 2012. i admire and trust her values and instincts, and courage to do what's right for the country.
i think if congress, both repub. and dem, really wanted to cut the cost of health care, they'd set a cap on malpractice and liability claims. i know obama has said he wouldn't help do it, but they could override his veto if they had the courage to do it. in my little city here, the lowest malpractice insurance premium for a single practitioner is more than $85,000 per year.
dennisintn
Go away michael stooge.