Where does Michael Steele stand within the Republican Party?

[LiberalFighter]

Did he lose his RNC chair position because he wasn't a teabagger?

It seems like Steele would listen.

[Still Sensible]

1. I think he was not well thought of, even by

republicans when he was in that chair. He was generally seen as ineffective, partly because he was representing the party's mainstream (Romney types) interests in the face of the tea party wackos... don't know that he has any measurable influence over the current mess.

[1StrongBlackMan]

2. Steele ...

is that kid standing outside the candy store with no money in his pocket looking in the window.

[Mr.Bill]

3. To them, he's last weeks trash that has been taken out.

I doubt he could get a dime's worth of support from the RNC if he ran for any office.

[tularetom]

4. He still mouths the party line

but it doesn't seem that his heart is really in it anymore.

He was treated like crap by the republican party. Everybody is aware of it but he won't say it.

I wonder if there is some sort of clause in his severance package that says he forfeits his right to a lot of money if he goes on TV and bad mouths the party.

[CTyankee]

5. He was thrown out of the party. He now owes his livelihood to his job at MSNBC as a

commentator. I guess he just got the shaft when the Tea Party took over...

[butterflygirl]

17. What I can't understand is

They threw him under the bus, so to speak, but yet he defends their positions. He just doesn't get it, they can't stand him.

[ancianita]

6. He was put on the Token Black Guy Pedestal, knocked off after he asserted an idea or two,

and now can't bring himself to leave.

[union_maid]

7. That sounds right

First of all, Allen West is a much more conservative (crazier) token brown person, so that makes Steele redundant. Also, he didn't deliver the minority vote for the GOP. Neither, of course, did Allen West, but he's so crazy they'll probably keep him around a little longer.

[Jamaal510]

8. They chewed him up and spit him out.

And him joining MSNBC pretty much put a fork in whatever remained of his GOP street cred.

[NewJeffCT]

18. True - working at MSNBC has killed his chances

of having a major role in the GOP in the future. His best shot would be a cabinet position in a future GOP administration - HUD, Transportation, or similar, if a Romney/McCain type wins in the future. If a Teabagger type wins, Steele has no shot.

[Recursion]

9. He doesn't

he is persona non grata

[flamingdem]

10. Too bad he still sticks up for them obnoxiously on msnbc

It seems dishonest, one doesn't know who he is and who he "works" for

[mythology]

11. The hardcore of the Republican party never liked him

And the party committee did come out of the 2010 election heavily in debt, in large part because so much Republican party money went through superPACs.

But part of the problem is that he was pragmatic for a Republican. He's come out against all the voter id laws and the lack of a viable get out the vote campaign by Romney.

As for where he stands, he wasn't invited to the Republican convention this year, which I think means he's been tossed out on his ear.

[Zoeisright]

12. A token.

A seat on the fringes because he's black but loves him some repukes. He's marginally useful to them. That's all.

[leftynyc]

13. That hate him

and it really doesn't make sense. Under Steele, the pubs kicked our asses in the 2010 election. Under Reince, they blew the election so badly, they lost seats in both houses as well as the white house. But Steele gets fired and Reince doesn't. Can't imagine why (there isn't a smilie that conveys the amount of sarcasm I feel over this).

[onenote]

14. At the back of the bus?

[apnu]

15. He stands off to the side holding a silver platter with mint julips waiting to be summoned. (Nt)

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

16. I thought the last straw was "Pole Dancer-gate". His mismanagement of RNC funds, embarrassment to

the party may have been his undoing. He had spoken out against the Teaparty (*somewhat*) before, but that wasn't the only thing that brought him down.

The hate that he has spewed against liberals in the past should shame him. It is the liberals who are responsible for giving him a job. Oh, the irony!!