RNC's Steele to Reid: Step Down

Romer on Wall Street bonuses: 'For heaven's sake, people'
By Polly Davis Doig,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 10, 2010 10:09 AM CST
RNC's Steele to Reid: Step Down
Senate Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid is in a wee spot of trouble, and Michael Steele would like him to quit.   (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Harry Reid has put his foot squarely in his mouth with quotes about President Obama's lack of "Negro dialect," and Michael Steele would like him to take it out long enough to say, "I quit." "Remember this is a leader who only a few weeks ago was using the context of slavery to talk about health care," the RNC chair told Fox News Sunday, adding that Mitch McConnell would be ousted in a heartbeat had he uttered the offending quotes. DNC chair Tim Kaine defended Reid's apology, and said, "I don’t think this will affect Senator Reid’s leadership at all." Elsewhere on the Sunday dial:

  • Himself battered over taking time to promote a book while his party lies in shambles, Steele said he's "absolutely not" going anywhere. "I’m very passionate about what I do. I’m very passionate about winning." Steele also did a little racial backpedaling himself, over his use of "honest injun" last week.
  • Dianne Feinstein stood by her majority leader, saying, "Clearly, the leader misspoke and the leader has apologized. It seems to me the matter should be closed."
  • Jon Kyl was having none of it, decrying a "double standard" in Dems' treatment of Trent Lott. "If he should resign, then Harry Reid should."
  • Christina Romer had words for bailed-out banks looking to lavish fat bonuses on execs: "For heaven's sake, people, it does seem really ridiculous," she told State of the Union.
(More Sunday morning talk shows stories.)

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