WASHINGTON (CNN) – Like other GOP leaders, Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele took a harsh tone toward ACORN last month after several of the group's employees were caught on tape offering financial advice to activists posing undercover as a pimp and prostitute.
On September 15, after the Senate voted to defund the community organizing group, Steele released a statement accusing ACORN of "nefarious activities," saying it uses "illegal means to achieve its ends." A few days later, on September 24, Steele called for congressional Democrats to investigate the "corrupt organization" and said damage control efforts by ACORN officials were "insulting."
But during a speaking appearance in the days between issuing those two statements, Steele had kind words for ACORN and its CEO, Bertha Lewis, who happened to be guiding that so-called damage control.
Appearing September 21 at Philander Smith College, a historically black college in Arkansas, the RNC chairman spoke diplomatically of the group and its history of organizing in low-income communities.
"The organization has a problem that it needs to deal with," Steele told the audience in remarks that were recorded and posted on YouTube over the weekend. "I will say that current head of the organization, she has done a phenomenal job of getting out in front of it. I applaud her. I take her at her word that she wants to make sure that the bad apples are thrown out."
Steele reminded the crowd that ACORN has "been around a long time."
"Now, I'm not a big fan of ACORN for a whole lot of reasons because of my own dealings with some of their folks over the years," he continued. "But I do respect that it has a history of working the community and helping the poor. That unfortunately has been tainted in such a way that it now casts doubt on the entire organization."
Steele said he hopes ACORN's problems "can get rectified" but said the group will have to live with "the stigma of the bad acts" that have grabbed headlines.
"So we'll see how this plays out," he said.
But three days later, in his statement calling on Democrats to investigate the group, Steele seemed to have made up his mind about the group's future. ACORN, he said, "should never be allowed near another voter registration effort again."
RNC spokeswoman Gail Gitcho denied any disconnect between Steele's statements and his remarks in Arkansas.
"Chairman Steele has been consistent in his profound disappointment with ACORN and believes that until ACORN eliminates their deep and undeniable corruption, the organization shouldn't be allowed near a ballot box or voter registration effort," she said in an e-mail to CNN.
From CNN Politics
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Ohh the hypocrisy...it smells so bad.
Two words for Steele..........IDIOT and HYPOCRITE
What's insulting is Michael Steele himself. The man is a complete tool...usually of the far right (ahem Limbaugh) persuasion.
He is a moron, a hypocrite, and he completely lacks any real spine or integrity. What in the world has happend to the GOP???
It's the most disgusting freakshow I've ever seen.
Get it together Steele! The American people want and deserve a two-party system. As it sits now, you are sinking yourself and your party!!!
Is English still taught at journalism school?
The GOP is totally bankrupt from top to bottom, lacking any constructive ideas whatsoever. All they have to offer is vicious political games and hate speech.
like all republicans, the ting they oppose the loudest are the things they are fans of. They are the FIRST to denounce health care reform, yet are the ones getting moeny from the insurance companies. They are the ones against gay marriage, yet they are the ones having sex in bathrooms, they are the ones preaching family values, yet they are the ones cheating..YES Dems do it to, but at least they are not out there preaching against stuff and then doing it. They are not hypocryts like the loons on the right
Wow, this is an amazing instance of CNN trying to make a story to make the GOP look bad. This is pretty pathetic.
All Steele said is that he appreciated that the CEO is taking a lead approach to cleaning up her organization.
What do you know , CNN has figured out Steele is a MORON
Looks like Mr. Steele wants to have it both ways. What a piece of work this guy is. The Republicans did a bang up job when they put him in this position.
This loser Steele will lean whatever way the wind blows. He's a typiclal republician, a liar who will say and do whatever to get what they want. Everytime he comes out of his hole he has nothing but negagtive things to say, especially about President Obama, what a piece of crap he is.
So somebody from the GOP rostrum has a soft corner for ACORN chief, but given the powerful polemics surroundin' it, its CEO should see to it that its ways are constantly monitored w/ CCTV.
Oh come on, give Steele a break! You caught him in one of those rare moments when he WASN'T being the RNC token negro. The truth looks funny on someone who rarely speaks it that's all.
To late Steele.
You've already tipped your hand that you're nothing more than a run-of-the-mill, closet GOP bigot towards ALL people of color.
Nobody that's even casually watching politics in America is buyin' your party's version of a "Big Tent". They can see the sign at the door that says "White Southerners Only" alot better than you can...
Nothing surprises me any longer with Republicans. They have clearly shown their dubiousness, right from Newt Gingrich calling on president Clinton to resign while having his own affairs. They really need help at this point. They have made politics look really like a very dirty game, indeed. Lies, distortions, deception, cheating, nothing seems to matter again to this party.
This man has such a dearth of credibilty. It is unfortunate he is not astute enough to lead the Republican Party to a higher level. Is there a chance
the GOP chose him to suggest they are not prejudicial of AA leaders, just Obama because he diluted their power.
Mr. Steele has a long history of talking out of both sides of his mouth.
Perhaps if he would actually lead the the GOP into a new era of helping, instead of hindering, people trying to get out of poverty, his words would be of value. But that idea's been a non-starter for the GOP since the Reagan years. They still think people are in poverty and out of work because they deserve to be.
The GOP is a sad, sad comment on our once-great society.
What a Crock! Steele might try directing himself to all of the many improprieties within the Republican Party which is his JOB! This call by him woulld be in the best interests of the republicans if no one ever bothers to try to assist so-called "minority" voters with this nutty process we call elections. Long ago it became well-known just how little Republicans respect or even want voters at all. Could someone besides Greg Palast (gregpalast.com), Brad Freeman (bradblog.com), and others, Please direct yourselves to fixing the election Frauds of these same Republicaans Screaming so loudly over little ACORN! Many of us, who know, Are NOT fooled with all of this Blustering you all are doing now! Peace
Another example that there is no difference between the DNC and the RNC, both of these parties are owed by the same elitist mega wealthy, accepting money, gifts and favors from the lobbyists, PACs, Wall Street, Banks, global Corporations, auto industry and unions. The last thing on their mind is “We the People”.
LOL. Republicans should remind Michael Steele to stick to the script.
ACORN BAD... Healthcare BAD... Stimulus money to create jobs BAD... Olympics in Rio GOOD
Steele, the epitome of Republican doublespeak.
Spoken like the COMPLETE idiot Steele and his party is/are! Hypocritical and always sounding as if they contradict themselves! Him and his party is a complete insult to our country!
Mushmouth strikes again...
I suppose we should apply the same logic as the GOP is applying here to both parties and every other organizational structure we can find? Personally, I might not mind disallowing the GOP and Dems "near another ballot box or voter registration effort" based on the few bad apples we've found in both parties. I mean, isn't that the whole point the GOP is making here? Apparently, the presence of a couple idiots "proves" that the entire organizational structure is completely rotten to its core? Might be akin to using a 2×4 instead of a chest cracker for heart surgery, but that's the GOP nowadays...blunt instruments.
Get real, listen to how they phrase this article. Steele only said he applauds the head of ACORN for getting out in front of the problem with the organization, what is he supposed to say, he is angry that she would try and correct problems with ACORN?
That is Steele angling for a microphone. He can't keep his trap shut. He may be African American but he is no Barack Obama.
I guess it depends on which face he is wearing, the white face or the black face.
Hypocrisy is never a concern for the GOP
To bad she would be the only one left. Now that is grassroots.
Ah, Republicans trying to pander to the black vote. It's not going to happen guys. Just give up.
Michael Steele isn't respected in the black community and it has nothing to do with Acorn. Michael Steele is damaged goods to minorities.
As a proud progressive, my two biggest disappointments are ACORN and the current president of this country. Both, so full of promise, yet devoid of execution. Time for a third party. And a rooting out of all PAC.
just blame bush
that is all we liberial babies can do
until things get worse, then i dont know what to do
Steele should go to one of the tea parties, hello?????
No! A Republican as a proven hypocrite! This has to be a conspiracy by the Liberal Media, or ACORN, or the Socialists, or Terrorists, or Lions, Tigers and Bears, OH MY!
2 faced politician..
"Nefarious activities"! "Uses illegal means to acheive its ends"! Sounds like the Republican Party and the Bush Administration to me...
All this proves is what we already know: Most Republicans are hypocrites who are more interested in making noise, opposing President Obama, and scoring cheap points than doing anything good for America.
Nothing new here.
This is pretty disgusting. First he says the damage control efforts were insulting and a lot of other bad things about ACORN, but then changes his tune at a predominantly black college speaking event. Then he changes back to evil republican after that. Sounds like he is counting on those college students to not find out about this so as not to loose any more republican votes. The level of puppetry at work here is astounding and I hope the American people figure this out.
I think he was referring to a squirrel.
what do you expect.
show me a politician and I show you a liar and a hypocrite.
Wanna see a honest politician? Don't look towards Washington.
Is this the calm before the storm?
As usual,Steele talks out of both sides of his mouth.His right hand dosen't know what his left hand is doing. A perfect idiot.
I bet Fox won't cover this ACORN story. Though, he is black, so they just may.
This article assumes an inconsistency of Steele's comments that may not be there. The current ACORN CEO is not a bad person but she is in denile about the corruption and poor training throughout her organization. ACORN needs to have an independent accounting firm do a full audit of their books. They need to introduce a full training and cultural development program. They should not be supporting Democratic politicians or canvassing Democratic districts if they are accepting tax payer money of any kind. They should focus only on helping poor people with housing and other social care issues. Until they clean up their act they should not get federal, state or local tax money and companies should seriously consider withholding funding as well. The organization smells like a corrupt pro-Democrat political organization that is using taxpayer money to advance an extreme social an political adgenda. I don't think that was it's original purpose, was it?
Just another example of Steele talking out of both sides of his mouth.
He is such an uncle Tom who has been put out front to counter Obama because he is black. Michael, you are making yourself look do stupid. As soon as the status quo of "Old wrinkled up white men" are done with you, you are history. And honestly, I can't wait. Do like Colin Powell, just take your place in the stupid republican party and be quiet.
Isn't there a law under debate to pull all funding from any organization (that receives funding) that files any form of fraudulent government document? I'm curious about this one. Seems silly to enact rules for one high-profile case, while allowing the others to slip. I wonder how many defense contractors will be out in the cold – and how much this will impact war efforts.
lol....Do I smell reporters getting to some truth? lol
Imeshed through all parties, ehy?
While I am not stupid enough to think Acorn does not have it's problems, the fact remains that they have done a tremendous job in helping the people of Louisiana after the flooding. They have been there for other things but like most organizations that got too big, some members did not have the service in mind when they broke the rules. They were the ones who were in it for their own purposes and I hope they will be weeded out. This country needs organizations like Acorn which were formed to help the needy and take care of the indigent. Unfortunately, the bad stuff gets all the press and the good deeds go un-noticed. Much needs to be done to get this organization back to business but we need not condemn them as a whole.
pandering to the audience
What an incredibly misleading headline!
GOP leaders, Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele should be checking into all the 300 or 400 company that have headquarter else where to keep from paying taxes or financial advice. to United States. CNN why everytime you show Michael Steele he got his mouth open like he got something to say is this the same picture all the time.
I have been consistent in my profound disappointment with the GOP and believe that until the GOP eliminates their deep and undeniable corruption, the organization shouldn't be allowed near a ballot box or voter registration effort.
Corrected!
Steele is a puppet: "a Marionette"
Cue the rightwingnut cranial explosions....
POPPOPPOP!!
Will the real Michael Steele, please stand up?
Is this supposed to be controversial or hypocritical? Steele simply said he admires the way that the leader of the organization has handled the crisis, and he takes her at her word that she wants to clean it up. He did not "applaud ACORN" the way CNN suggests. This is trashy "reporting," if you can even call it that. And I'm not even a Republican!
Lets hope they keep the language in the bill to shut down ACORN that can be used to do the same thing to Boeing and Blackwater. I would be fine with cutting off money to ALL cheating contractors, not just the one that is a political hot potato at the moment. But I am willing to bet they will reword the final bill to make sure it doesn't affect the other crooks that steal even more from us.
Ahhh, interesting.
This site never posts my comment.. No matter how good or bad. I wonder why is that?
This is not unusual. Blacks are going to support blacks no matter what. It was evident with the OJ trial and with Colin Powell supporting Obama. You can count on it.
Another sad story from the Republican party. A true embarrassment to the USA.
Steele is the individual selected by the Republican Party to be its national leader.
Steele praises ACORN.
Ergo, the Republican Party praises ACORN.
Flip-floppin' Steele, the gift that keeps on giving (to Democrats).
I have one word for him: idiot.
When in Rome..
You say what makes the room happy, but you forgot about the media.
Hard to believe you are looking dumber.
Now, if we could only link President Obama to ACORN in some manner, then mistconstrue the link to make it seem more solid. We could then suggest, although it's impossible, that ACORN soley got him elected by registering "Mickey Mouse," whether or not "Mickey" voted.
Then Americans will see that it's an "urban" grassroots organization, urban then links to African American and then...Ta'da! Concrete Link to Obama.
Let's celebrate over at Glenn Beck's 5 million dollar double-wide trailer!
Which goes to show Blacks have racism at their core. So sad.
This is exactly why we need to get rid of all of them and start over. This time we keep the Constitution.
As a Republican, I am disgusted with both parties. The Democrats want to sell the country out by bankrupting it. The Republicans cannot seem to keep the story straight.
Wow. I wonder what throwing out the bad apples in the republican party would consist of. Would there be anyone left who wasn't building an ark in their garage?
this is news?
Good for him! He was right to do that.
ACORN is just a lousy group period. They would do better to focus their efforts on strenghtening the family in blighted areas (no more welfare babies with no dads around), working on ridding the same areas of drugs and gangs, and working on ridding this country of a victimization mentality.
I applaud too....so we can rebuild a bigger and better Organization for ensuring ALL have a voice in voting during elections. this time.....specific rules and protocol will be followed.
Wait... situational messaging. Isn't that a liberal disease?
Steele and Acorn just need to go away.
Welcome to your epiphany GOP Chairman Steele...Yes, your harsh criticism and those of other GOP and Dems may come back to bite...in the form of votes. ACORN is far from perfect, however, there are many white collar corporate criminals guilty of equal or worse activities that cost the U.S. taxpayers billions of dollars more than ACORN..."cooked books", closed corporate/ government meetings/ deals (Cheney, energy meetings) , and "creative" tax shields, for example...need I say more?
First, Steele gets taken to the woodshed by republicans, because he wrote a patient's bill of rights that no republican would support. Now he is out catering to whatever group he is speaking to, knowing full well that at his next meeting, he will say the opposite.
What the????? Ugh and they wonder why no one has any faith in our leadership. What a crock!
They are thieves taking money away from legitimate organizations who try to help good people not people trying to get one on the system!
They should be shut down!!
Just tune into tomorrow he will be saying something totally different.......Republicans talk out of both sides of their mouths.......and most of the time they are telling lies........so I can't tell what he means by this comment.....he is such a puppet on a string.......
Boss Limbaugh isn't going to like this...
Its BERTHA LEWIS. In your rush to make Steele and Republicans look bad, you obviously forgot how to use Google.
Michael Steele... going rogue.
GOP Talking Points for Q3 2009:
1. Keep saying over and over that "The majority of Americans don't want the public option" (even though that is not true)
2. Keep attacking ACORN over and over (even though no one really cares)
So, they can keep "working the community and helping the poor", but they "are too corrupt to be allowed near a ballot box or voter registration effort"?
Why is it that Mr. Steele believes that voter registration is somehow a more noble cause than helping the poor?
~David
One word... hypocrite.
Michael Steele, The biggest hyprocite ever. He said that
Pres. Obama was leading the ACORN, now he is saying
that ACORN is under great leadership.
Michael Steele, the consumate politician. He'll say whatever is neccessary in any manner neccessary to appease his targeted audience.... Michael Steele for U.S. Senate-Maryland 2012
Hypocrisy? It's called politics.
It's like Barack Obama bashing Bush in the elections, then keeping several of his policies in place after he gains office.
Like Obama appealling to the gay vote by saying he wants to get rid of Don't Ask Don't Tell. Then when he gains office, he tells them he'll get around to it...at the right time.
Politics. Like Nancy Pelosi crucifying Bush in her comments, then this year telling us watch the rhetoric, since it can lead to hatred.
Politics.
Like Obama supporters looking the other way at all the donations Obama got from the investment and banking industry.
If ACORN has broken the law than they should be punished. Because a team egged on by Fox News sneaked into one of the offices and found something questionable that does not mean the whole organization is.
Look at Dyncorp in Iraq. The outfit there bought children as sex slaves for their employees. Did they mean everybody that worked for Dyncorp was crooked and a sex offender. How come the bush administration did not investigate them. It was shown, and the papers were shown where this happened.
I think all the republicans want is to get in power so they can go back to raiding the treasury of this country and pass laws to benefit big business so they can rake in more money from them. They don't care about America and the American people they have dollar signs in their eyes. Kick em out don't let anymore in.
Not surprising... he plays to the crowd he's facing at the moment.... like Nick says, "Ohh the hypocrisy... it smells so bad."
Yes the hypocrisy does smell so bad – from the leaders all the leader, rush, beck, etal
What an opportunist. The RNC has becaome a party of anything goes.
I believe there are bad apples within ACORN just like many large organizations. Are there good people too? YES.
Do we disband the police force or the Army just because there a some bad eggs? Ofcourse NOT.
Michael Steele is a bad apple that needs to be thrown out. Can't Republicans do better than this guy?
Could this be pay back because the congressional GOP told Steele to stop making policy and stick to fund rasing???????
How does he look at himself in the mirror? How 2 faced can you be?
Neither the RNC or America takes him seriously. He is just a distraction for either party. What an idiot!!!!!
d'oh token did it again
Do these people have a drinking problem? I just don't understand...
Talking about wishy-washy, flip-flopping politicians. We should get rid of both parties and start over.
repubs wont like this
Got to stick up for the brothers and sisters.
Unbelievable comment by Mr. Steele in regards to CEO Acorn.
Twenty states investigating their activities – As a taxpaper we
are all sick of this and must demand an end to this. Acorn is
already diverting monies to other hidden subdivisions of Acorn.
This women is not to be praised, but should be ashamed and
out of work and possible jail time.
Oh my God!!! Steele having two faces? Inconceivable! Oh well, I guess he needed some qualifications to be the head of the Republican party. I only now realized the qualification most needed to obtain the post.
someone else someone got to ... what part of ACORN is corrupt do you not understand ... i guess any part...
The Republicans, in their infinite wisdom and zeal, got together to get ACORN and one up the Senate they decided to cancel all ACORN funding. They wanted to write that any company that had been convicted of fraud..could not get fed money....but since ACORN has never been convicted of fraud they had to open it to any company that had ever been "charged" in order for ACORN to be "defunded".
In other words, we've gone back to Witchunt times, before the impartial jury system now, and have taken a step back to "Guilty before innocent" or "prove your innocence."
The republicans, in the meantime, inadvertently just took out every defense contractor from Black Water to Halliburton. Haha.
The fall back is the bill will have to read "Convicted."
LOL! You can't make this up! What a hypocrit!
Michael "I don't do policy" Steele is a joke and has zero credibility. Republicans need a new chairman and a platform to become a real party again.
The solution is, defund just acorn in this instance... you don't need to make all sorts of bogus rules "anyone charged with fraud is defunded." Why can't they just directly defund this organization.
Steele is the most EMBARRASING example of what it is to be a black man in America. He is supposed to be the leader of the Republican Party, so long as he doesn't speak his mind and continues to echo the banterings of the crazies. He doesn't stand up for anything. My thought is that he spoke his mind to the black collegiate crowd and was rebuked within the party as such an act was impermissible b/c it was sympathetic to ACORN and lended credibility to the majority of the organization's efforts in poor communities. He then comes back with the normal right-wing crazy rhetoric against ACORN. Just like when Rush basically told him to sit his butt down, and like a good boy, HE DID! What a J-O-K-E!!!!
If he wasn't a republican ... the GOP would be screaming "flip-flop!"
Acorn stepped in it's own pile of do-do. Now it has bring itself back to credibility. May not be possible.
ACORN is finally being found out what they truly represent.
Two (or more) faces. Typical.
I agree....HYPOCRISY
, THY NAME IS STEELE
So he waited until he was speaking at an African-American college to say this, after saying the opposite to help get his party base riled up. This reminds me of when John McCain got caught in last year's campaign saying one thing about immigration in English but broadcasting the opposite message in Spanish-language radio ads.
ACORN has a long history of working in communities and helping people find housing, employment, affordable treatment and other kinds of help they would not be able to find otherwise. Voter registration is only a very small part of the whole picture.
Michael Steele is just the same as any other Republican: "A person of little or no consequence."
Change your speech to target your audience but by all means get the inflamatory stuff out there first. You can always apologize later when no one is listening.
What a pandering hypocrite. Now it will be fun to see him backpedal when Rush blasts him for saying something positive about an organization that does a lot of good work.
Rush & Glenn will have his head for saying that...
I have never met a Republican that didnt speak out of both sides of thier mouth!
Michael Steele is the PERFECT representative for his Party. He talks out of both sides of his mouth so effortlessly.
Why is this news? Obama said he did not know anything about ACORN,when he was their Lawyer for years. He was also an associate of Bill Ayers. And Obama could not be an FBI Agent due to his past affiliations.
Why do we treat hypocrisy like it's the worst thing possible? Clearly the best thing for ACORN is that it should step up, fix its mistakes, and keep trying to do good for communities. Just b/c someone like Steele is a hypocrite in his statements, can't we just pay attention to the good ones?
I'm tired of politics and the people outside politics that make it worse. Stop acting like every word they say is the end all, be all, and start accepting that it takes a while to get where we are going. And NEWS FLASH: sometimes you have to tell multiple groups of people different things in order to get enough of them to like you enough to vote for you.
Don't be so naive and ignorant.
Give me a break – Bertha is part of the corruption!!! Get rid of ACORN!!!!!
Steele is the GOP token black man. He talks out of both sides of his mouth. Typical, pathetic GOP. Nobody cares what he says anyway. He is irrelevant.
Did anyone from CNN even read this article? Michael Steele didn't applaud ACORN. Only a leftist demo-fool could read that article and come up with that ridiculous headline. If you want to drag Michael Steele's name through the mud you better come big or don't come at all. This is HILARIOUS!
It's too late for Michael Steele to try to act like he has any sort of principles, morals or compassion for anyone. He is the worse kind of African-American man. He is disgusting and total useless. Now that his Republican "buddies" have no use for him...he's trying to show fake compassion for community workers in hope to cover his bets in the African-American community. W R O N G !!!! Steele no one needs or wants your opinion or apologies on anything. Just "stay on the porch".
Just like any other Rethuglican, say one thing in private, but say something else when in front of the rabid crowd of the conservative base!!
Steele has long been known for his concern for the poor. Wait, no, no he hasn't.
Rush is gonna be so mad at him!
republicans love to talk a good game to get what ever votes they can
I wonder if he recieved any applause at the "Historically Black" college? He is such an uncle tom, I am surprised he even showed up to speak.
Gee, Steele. Could it be you opened your mouth and inserted your foot?
What people don't seem to get is that the origins of ACORN were noble, just like a lot of organizations. You are going to have some bad apples - maybe a lot of them - the larger you get. The aims of the organization are still noble, they've just been tarnished by the less than stellar performance of some of their folks.
Both President Bush and Senator McCain were supporters of ACORN, and toured and spoke at their headquarters while they were courting minority voters. Those rabid right better cool down before someone takes a closer look at some of THEIR organizations!
Sad,sad comment coming from this ?...
A Republican hypocrite? I can't believe it. Next they'll be rooting for America to fail. Oh, wait. They already are.
I guess Rush must have called Michael out to the woodshed. "But I do respect that it has a history of working the community and helping the poor." How can Mr. Steele be the Chairman of the Republican Party and not know that the GOP has nothing but scorn for community, the poor, and anyone who would try to help either? Except when courting fundamentalist Christians, of course, but those folks don't have the sense to check on whether words ever become actions; just say the right thing and smile a lot and you're good to go as far as they're concerned.
Steele, like most Republicans, changes his stripes according to his surroundings.
Stop talking about dumb squirrel nuts called ACORN. The stuff that the last administration was worst!!!!!!
Phenominal job! Hillarious!! ACORN another poor example of the undeserving getting ahead at the expense of the poor...
How two faced can you get. Say one thing in front of one crowd and the exact opposite in front of another. Typical politics.
I really wish we could replace him with someone who's conservative convictions are real and not politically expedient. Pandering FTL.
Steele is almost as useless as Glenn Beck if you are looking for the facts. Why anyone would listen to him is beyond me. His entire position as the head of the GOP is to generate controversy and act as head rumormonger for the Right Wing. Fairness and the facts are the first things that he tosses under the bus.
All he is interested in is making the GOP "appear" good and anyone else looking guilty or evil. That style of politics is no longer viable in today's world.
A hypocritical republican. Is anyone surprised?
You better watchout Micheal Steele, your masta is listening time for the woodshed.
I can say this with assurance, ACORN has broken fewer laws than Congress has. Bunch of hypocrits and thieves, all of them.
What a hypocrite! this guy is a double faced sword! but he has to do just that least he makes his boss Rush Limbaugh angry.
Hypocrisy from the GnOP? I'm shocked, simply shocked!
Michael can you spell the words token and used? That's what you are to the Republican party.
Major difference between liberals and conservatives.... Liberals HATE, no matter what. Conservatives see fault, but recognize honest effort to correct problems when it happens. Your choice...HATE? Or honest open dialogue?
I won’t believe a word from him till he quit his party
Only thing i'm seeing right now is that these crackers are tryna discredit AA's and we need jessie and al to step up, and the Naacp.
I'm trying to understand from all of these democrats on here why it matters that Mr. Steele is black.
Why do you keep bringing it up?
What a nerd.
Michael Steele is neither an idiot or hipocrite. He just said that he applauds the efforts of the director of Acorn for trying to weed out the bad apples within their organization. Whats wrong with that ? Of course the right wing idealogues within the Republican party are going to disagree with him. And many within the Democratic party are going to call him confused. But there is absolutely nothing wrong with what he said. The problem with Steele is that he is caught up within the contradictions of his ( Republican ) party. He can't win for losing.
In 2009 the Republican party is becoming more and more archaic.
Their chances of re-taking the White House in 2012 are slim to none.
I'm trying to understand from all of these democrats on here why it matters that Mr. Steele is black.
Why do you keep bringing it up?
Steele is a moron.
Ok it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that Michael Steele, just like everyone else, will say things to fit the need at any given time. When he is talking to a historically black college with low income surrounding neighborhoods, he has nothing but kind words, when he is in front of Fox News, he says something else. Consistency is the key people. I'm sure if Rush knocks him down again, he will recant. Just give him time.
Who cares what this fool says...about anything?
There he goes again – trying to STEELE the show!! This time, he's in an audience that resembles him!!! Like I said before – he is put on the FRONTLINE by the REPUBLI-CAN'Ts and like a PUPPET, he is told what to say – when to say it – and how to say it
We're smarter than that STEELE – let's see you praise ACORN in front of your white constituents!!!
Nice. I can't wait to hear the drumbeat from Fox News demanding his resignation! I won't hold my breath.
While you're worrying about ACORN Mr. Steele, please don't forget that the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico cannot be left out of the health care debate. We have Republicans here too
I like Michael, but, he seems to be a bit off his game. I don't know if there was a question from a college student (he should have expected one) about ACORN, or he brought it up himself (which would have been foolish). However, he did say that ACORN had done some good stuff, but, basically, the deep-rooted corruption had so tainted it that there would be little confidence or trust in it in the future. Bertha is a big part of the problem, and I haven't seen that she has done anything but try to gloss over the corruption and failings, but, maybe I missed it. He probably should have tried to find a way to refuse the college's invitation, because he was addressing a predominantly black audience and talking about a group which has predominantly "helped" blacks, about a very nasty problem within the group. The problem is that he is the chairman of the RNC, which, for reasons I don't understand, means that he was from the "enemy" party. Very tricky.
I can understand the outrage directed at ACORN, and its employees, but c'mon now! In a matter of days our "do nothing" representatives are able to cut off all federal funds to this organization. Meanwhile the fat cats on Wall Street lead us to the brink of an economic collapse with their "nefarious activities," and they get a bailout, little investigation, and they're right back to business as usual! Now ask yourself, honestly, which of these crimes demands a quicker, heavy-handed response from our representatives in Congress?
Every Company or organization has a few crooks, you can start with the Banks and Insurance companies. If you want to get rid of ACORN, why not get rid of all of them.
Give the guy a little break, he's just pandering to the hicks and hacks that make up what was the republican party.
Hey we won get over it, It is the democrats who have been raiding the treasury to give to every person who helps them on the road to being a Politician just like OBONO has done. Open your eyes and get a clue.
They could have at least acknowledged that the name of the historicaly black college in Arkansas is Univ of Arkansas, Pine Bluff.
Uncle Mike Steele is a spineless buffoon.
I don't see how this makes him a hypocrite. Circumstances simply changed when those videotapes came out. Even Bertha Lewis herself seems to have changed. I think a lot of people who supported Acorn became critics once those tapes came out.
Think of it like this. You love your kids and stand by them. You praise the good that they do, but when they do wrong (break a law, for example), you let them know they did wrong. That doesn't mean you love them any less. You don't suddenly change your tune and say that child is corrupt because they broke a law.
Of course Acorn has done some good for the poor. That's not the question. The question is: Does the good outweigh the bad, especially now that we've seen the video tapes?
steele speaks out of both sides of his mouth. he is not to be trusted. acorn is a fraud and everyone in it should be tainted as a fraud.
in typical Republican style, he is speaking from both sides of his mouth..what a snake.
Little does he know, the black community isn't falling for his political games. He is only insulting their intelligence and they know it.
Steele... Why must you stoop to the all low levels of the democratic party? I have admired you in the past but you screwed that up with this democratic approach. What, when you are talking to your cousins you are afraid to stand for what got you elected to your position. You should cross party lines because you are not wanted on the Republican Team. I'm not sure if this is where I should be anymore.
Yep, that's just like a snake. Steele, you are a SNAKE. No one trust you and no one believes you. Just go a way, I have no respect for you. You stand for nothing and fall for every thing. Sit down, be quiet, just go a way!!!!!
Steele is correct, ACORN is bad and it is good. It is incompetent and led by good people. I like how the republicans are saying how Rush Limbaugh is a voice for many people, and that he is a clown. The type of leadership that Steele is showing is present throughout the republican party.
I guess you all heard that in the Republicans push to take down an organization that registers DEMOCRATIC voters, they also made a lot of trouble to all the the war profiteering contractors. They can't take the federal money away from Acorn, who by the way has not been convicted of anything illegal, without taking it from them.
Enough about ACORN for goodness sake. Yes, Steele spoke highly of the group. McCain spoke highly of the group. The group has done good things as well as bad. It is not a partisan issue and in my mind a non issue altogether.
Is Micheal Steele talking in circles again?.......Yawn.
Steele is a dumb, dumb.
At least his pandering is transparent...
People are so stupid about ACORN. What organization, company, branch of government or even a family doesn't have at least one screw up involved? Get over it. Every organization, even Congress, has bad apples and losers who do not think clearly. It does not mean the entire group is bad.
ACORN organization needs to change their name to ACORRUPT organization. lol. Full complete independent audit of their accounting books.
The quotes don't exactly sound like an endorsement. More like measured words to show some bipartisanship. But as far as I an concerned Steele should have demanded a resignation.