Washington (CNN) - Another prominent conservative is asking Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele to resign, calling his comments on the war in Afghanistan "deeply disappointing and wrong."
Liz Cheney, a former State Department official and daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, said in a statement released Saturday that Steele must go.
"RNC Chairman Michael Steele's comments about the war in Afghanistan were deeply disappointing and wrong," Cheney said. "The chairman of the Republican party must be unwavering in his support for American victory in the war on terror – a victory that cannot be accomplished if we do not prevail in Afghanistan. I endorse fully Bill Kristol's letter to Chairman Steele. It is time for Chairman Steele to step down."
Cheney, a founding member of Keep America Safe, a conservative advocacy group focused on national security and foreign policy issues, is not the first to call for Steele's resignation. On Friday, influential conservative and editor of the Weekly Standard William Kristol called on Steele to step down.
Kristol was joined by former South Carolina GOP chairman Katon Dawson, who finished second to Michael Steele in the Republican National Committee chairman's race last year, and also called on the committee to oust their embattled chairman.
The controversy was sparked by Steele's comments made at a Republican fundraiser in Connecticut Thursday. A YouTube video shows the RNC chairman declaring of the war in Afghanistan, "This was a war of Obama's choosing."
"This is not something the United States actively prosecuted or wanted to engage in," he added.
That statement is at odds with the fact the United States led a NATO coalition with overwhelming public support to invade Afghanistan in the wake of the September 11 attacks.
Steele also appeared to suggest any conflict in Afghanistan may be unwinnable.
On Friday, the RNC defended Steele.
"The Chairman clearly supports our troops but believes that success of the war effort in Afghanistan requires the ongoing support of the American people," RNC Communications Director Doug Heye said.
And late Friday afternoon, Steele issued his own statement on the matter, saying that "During the 2008 Presidential campaign, Barack Obama made clear his belief that we should not fight in Iraq, but instead concentrate on Afghanistan. Now, as President, he has indeed shifted his focus to this region. That means this is his strategy. And, for the sake of the security of the free world, our country must give our troops the support necessary to win this war," Steele said.
"As we have learned throughout history, winning a war in Afghanistan is a difficult task. We must also remember that after the tragedy of September 11, 2001, it is also a necessary one. That is why I supported the decision to increase our troop force and, like the entire United States Senate, I support General Petraeus' confirmation. The stakes are too high for us to accept anything but success in Afghanistan."
-CNN's Alexander Mooney, Peter Hamby and Sarah Baker contributed to this report
From CNN Politics
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Generals gathered in their masses
Just like witches at black masses
Evil minds that plot destruction
Sorcerers of death's construction
In the fields the bodies burning
As the war machine keeps turning
Death and hatred to mankind
Poisoning their brainwashed minds
Oh lord yeah!
Why is a democrat leading the RNC?
And exactly why should Liz Cheeney's opinion warrant reporting. I mean who's she? Just because she's the big, old Cheeney's daughter doesn't mean anything. She's never done anything to qualify her for such attention.
Let him be. We need the Republican Party to remain headless and mindless!
WHy do we still give credence to what she says. She is the dogmatic product of nepatism and undeserved respect and public notoriety. Her opinions do not amount to a hill of beans in Boston.
I call for all Cheney's to shut their pie holes forever more.
liz cheney should call her father out for being a hypocrite, biggot, liar, and hater. she's an open lesbian. her father should openly support her sexuality. instead, he denounces it and cannot face an open forum to accept those in the lgbt community.
Oh, man, I can'tr believe this. I agree with Liz Cheney!
a chip of the old lieing block
This guy is such an ass.I'm starting to think that He is a plant put there by the Dems,either that or he is just a moron! Please stay till November!
who cares what this women thinks? she looks and sounds like her big mouth blowhard mother. remember her from the CROSS FIRE days? the only family with any gray matter is the gay daughter. she is smart and she is lovely. she is also not evil as is her father.
cheney's heart trouble is something i wish him no bad happenings , but he is someone the country will be better off without. we can breathe a sigh of relief when we hear from the whole tribe no more.
Wow. I agree w/Liz- to a point. The Pubs are tearing themselves apart.
I do not care what Republicans do to their chairman, the party's ideology and philosophy are obsolete. Now they are opposing Steele for party compliance. The other day, it was Senator Barton who was apologizing to BP. The truth is that they are all guilty of lying against Obama's presidency without even able to suggest nor support any lofty view. Give me a break!
Liz has zero credibility in matters like this. Why do continue to listen
to that daddy's girl.
Finally... a statement made about Obama that was so utterly ridiculous that his own party even thinks he's nuts. I guess he forgot about 911.
Finaly a Cheney that talks sence.... at least regarding this issue.
SInce when is Liz Cheney a prominent Rep?? How about telling your daddy those same words when he was destroying our nation and the world with his false invasion of Iraq? How about when your daddy and Bush were doing their mass killing and committing crime wars against the Iraqi people?
Steele was a EEO pick and he proves this doesn;t work.
Who Cares what Darth Vader's EVIL daughter thinks...
Plus, her endorsing Kristal is laughable because they are both founding members of the Right wing Racists Group known as Keep America Safe, which they should rename to "Keep America and the World Safe from The Cheney Family"...
How about Ms Cheney resigning from the human race and taking her Father and the rest of the brood with her!
Instead of asking him to resign, can't they just fire him for being an idiot.
Mr. Steele is correct. I have had two nephews in Afghanistan; one a captain in the Army and the other with the Marines and both have said that this is a waste of American youth and resources. We need to pull out and support our other allies in the area.
The only way we can be sure to "Keep America Safe" is if she quits. She and her father have done more than their share of damage to our country.
"That statement is at odds with the fact the United States led a NATO coalition with overwhelming public support to invade Afghanistan in the wake of the September 11 attacks."
there was no "overwhelming public support to invade any country, much less Afghanistan"... the govt. did this on their own.
her like sarah stupid palin have no proven knowledge on anything, what the hell, why do think think anyone with a 1st grade education would listen to them, a dike and and idiot, and senile chaney, I suppose there are fools out there in the world that listen, tea beggers maybe,