Washington (CNN) – North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Tom Fetzer called on Michael Steele Thursday to resign as chairman of the Republican National Committee.
Fetzer made the request in an early afternoon letter sent to Steele.
Fetzer told CNN in a telephone interview that he felt that “the party needed new leadership to move forward.”
“This is a conclusion that I reached only recently and somewhat reluctantly,” Fetzer said. “I have been supportive of him during my entire tenure as chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party. In the last few days, I have reached the conclusion that if we are going to be the party of reform we have to start with our own party.”
Fetzer was referring to allegations that Steele is misusing donor funds as Republicans prepare for the midterm elections.
Earlier this week, New Hampshire RNC member Sean Mahoney resigned his post in protest of Steele and GOP operative Alex Castellanos said that Steele should step down.
In addition, prominent RNC fundraiser Sam Fox also parted ways with the national committee.
But Steele has his supporters including the GOP chairmen representing California, Delaware and Illinois as well as former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, among others.
Update 5:55 p.m.: RNC Deputy Communications Director Katie Wright responded Thursday evening to Fetzer's request for Steele to step down:
"Chairman Steele has maintained broad support from RNC committee members, who have been pleased with the proactive measures put in place for greater accountability. Most importantly, the RNC remains focused on raising money and winning elections in North Carolina and across the country this fall," Wright said.
From CNN Politics
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Once again, I feel bad for Michael Steele. He is being used and will be disgarded when the GOP is through with him, which seems to be right about now. I wonder if he will learn a lesson. Probably not. Hope he got all he could from the position, and then some.
The governor should ask all the members of the Party of No to resign. They are getting paid for doing nothing, but saying NO!
Bow down, Steele, before you cause the Republicans anymore embarassment and shame. You just weren't the right choice (and, btw, color has nothing to do with it). You were really good on Fox News in that capacity but not as head of the RNC. Please, do the right thing and step back.
He needs to go and let Palin take over.
Rats abandoning a sinking ship?
Please don't resign Michael. You are working wonders for the DNC and we thank you.
He should resign, we want bottom up party. The top down approach gives us people like McCain, Lindsay Graham Romney and Pawlenty,none of which is a real Conservative.
I think Ron Paul is the voice of the new republican party anyway
Steele is no longer relevent for the RNC. He was there token black guy when the GOP needed an answer to Obama being elected the first black president. The RNC is itching to get a white Tea Party type conservative because that is what's in right now.
Oh I say keep him right where he is. It's fun watching the GOP implode!
Maybe the entire GOP should resign for being the party of NO and not having a brain to sit on.
If Tom Fetzer is indeed correct and Steele should step down in order to facilitate the much needed reform of the GOP, surely he must realize his seat is just as exposed. Though his idea of change probably isn't so noble and would not include his own resignation. Food for thought..
Steele -- pronounce the name!! What do you infer??? Sounds just about right for just another crook
It's about time somebody stood up and told Mr. Token it's time to go, why would anybody want to stay where they are not wanted, once he played the race card he should of none the southern part of the GOP was going to rake him thru the coal, I love it.
Steele does not seem to realize that the South switch from Democrat to Republican as a result of the slavery and civil rights. As a black man, I was happy for his position although part of me thinks that he is serving the bigots from the South. The Conservative talk shows like to point out that it was the Democrats who fought against the Blacks, but they conveniently forget about the name switch. That the South is now Republican.
For a party so sure about their chances in the coming elections there sure seems to be a lot of bickering and back stabbing going on. Keep up the good work.
Michael Steele, while a bit of a buffoon, will probably weather this minor storm. The greater problem for the GOP as a whole is how it chooses to handle the Tea Party lunacy. They can't just call them out as the marginal wingnuts they are, because the GOP can't afford to have any of its support siphoned off, no matter how crazy (i.e., a vote is a vote is a vote...) But the rational-thinking Republicans in the party would surely be turned off if the GOP embraced these morons as affectionately as, say, FOX News does.
It certainly is reassuring to know that there is at least one GOP maintaining his sense of reasoning. Mr. Steele needs to find a new job where he spends his own money.
Tom Fetzer is the biggest clown in the GOP. Steele ought to take it as a compliment.
Isn't that nice to have some standup as a showcase in support of Steele, that way it won't look so bad when they give him the boot. LOL
Time to get tough Mr Steele. Show them what you are made of Mister.
Please, please don't go. Don't listen to them, they are wrong. you have all the support you need... Giuliani, Gingrich, Palin ... we need you Michael Steal, I mean Steele.
I agree. Mr. Steele should resign. He is detrimental to the RNC and quite honestly he cannot be an effective leader in this current environment.
Love this in-fighting! Very entertaining.
So do the rest of us!
Listen up, republicans voters. If the GOP is wasting their donor's money this way, image how they will be spending your tax dollars on sex, child-support, and other self-serving things.