MCCAIN, DEMINT ADD TO STEELE’S TROUBLES…. If RNC Chairman Michael Steele was hoping Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) would make the controversy over his Afghanistan remarks less problematic, the beleaguered party chief was likely disappointed this morning.
“I think those statements are wildly inaccurate and there is no excuse for them,” McCain told host Jake Tapper from Kabul, Afghanistan.
“Chairman Steele sent me an email saying that his remarks were misconstrued,” he said. “I think that Mr. Steele is going to have to assess as to whether he can still lead the Republican Party as chairman of the Republican National Committee.”
Around the same time, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), an influential far-right senator, told “Fox News Sunday” that Steele needs to “apologize to our military” for his “unacceptable” and “careless” comments. As for whether the RNC chief should be removed, DeMint added, “[W]hether he resigns is up to people other than me, but I need to see him focused on this November’s election.”
An RNC spokesperson told CNN yesterday that Steele “has gotten strong support from Republican leaders.” I’m finding that very hard to believe.
