Another Day, Another "Michael Steele Said What?" Post

Today's moment of awesomeness...abortion with GQ.

How much of your pro-life stance, for you, is informed not just by your Catholic faith but by the fact that you were adopted?

Oh, a lot. Absolutely. I see the power of life in that—I mean, and the power of choice! The thing to keep in mind about it… Uh, you know, I think as a country we get off on these misguided conversations that throw around terms that really misrepresent truth.

Explain that.

The choice issue cuts two ways. You can choose life, or you can choose abortion. You know, my mother chose life. So, you know, I think the power of the argument of choice boils down to stating a case for one or the other.

Are you saying you think women have the right to choose abortion?

Yeah. I mean, again, I think that’s an individual choice.

You do?

Yeah. Absolutely.

Are you saying you don’t want to overturn Roe v. Wade?

I think Roe v. Wade—as a legal matter, Roe v. Wade was a wrongly decided matter.

Okay, but if you overturn Roe v. Wade, how do women have the choice you just said they should have?

The states should make that choice. That’s what the choice is. The individual choice rests in the states.Let them decide.

Steele has released a statement about his statement.

I am pro-life, always have been, always will be.

I tried to present why I am pro life while recognizing that my mother had a "choice" before deciding to put me up for adoption. I thank her every day for supporting life. The strength of the pro life movement lies in choosing life and sharing the wisdom of that choice with those who face difficult circumstances. They did that for my mother and I am here today because they did. In my view Roe vs. Wade was wrongly decided and should be repealed. I realize that there are good people in our party who disagree with me on this issue.

But the Republican Party is and will continue to be the party of life. I support our platform and its call for a Human Life Amendment. It is important that we stand up for the defenseless and that we continue to work to change the hearts and minds of our fellow countrymen so that we can welcome all children and protect them under the law.

The issue here seems to be his statement that, "Yeah. I mean, again, I think that’s an individual choice."

In his um, clarification, he seems to be saying that he was simply stating a fact based on the law at the moment. Okay, but that's not what he was being asked, was it? I mean, everyone knows under current law women have a choice of whether or not to have an abortion. Is Steele really maintaining the reporter from GQ was giving him a pop quiz on the state of abortion law in America or that he was answering some sort of metaphysical question about free will?

Again the question was specifically, "Are you saying you think women have the right to choose abortion?" He says, "Yeah. I mean, again, I think that’s an individual choice."

How is that not Steele saying he thinks there is a right to abortion? Did he not recognize that question for what it was? I mean, it wasn't a trick, it was pretty straight forward and yet that's his answer?

You know what would be fun? If the new chairman of the RNC could get through an interview without saying something he has to explain or clarify later. Is that asking too much?

posted by DrewM. at 08:38 AM

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