RNC Chairman Michael Steele Injects Race Into President Obama's Request that David Paterson Not Run for Governor Again

Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele has injected race into the New York gubernatorial race. He appeared on "Face the Nation" yesterday and though he told host Bob Schieffer that opposition to President Obama and health care reform had nothing to do with race, he seemed to accuse the President of letting race play a factor in his decision to urge Governor David Paterson (D-NY) not to run in the 2010 Democratic primary. Steele said:

"I found that to be stunning that the White House would send word to one of only two black governors in the country not to run for reelection."

As you can see, Schieffer looked somewhat stunned and asked the Steele, "Well you don't think he's asked him not to run 'cuz he's black?"

I guess Steele, realizing that his foot was in his mouth, tried to backtrack. Stumbling over his words, in his classic moronic style, he questioned why Obama wasn't asking other Democrats with poor poll numbers -- like Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ) -- not to run, calling it "a curiosity." Steele also said it "will be very interesting to see" how Obama's request to Paterson will play with black leaders across the country.

Newsflash Mr. Steele, even Rev. Al Sharpton sees the writing on the wall for Governor Paterson. When your own constituents are turning against you, you have a serious problem. That is the case in New York and if Gov. Paterson doesn't step out of the way, then New York state will have a Republican governor. I scarcely believe black leaders in this country will come to Paterson's defense. His poll numbers are abysmal.

I would have agreed with Michael Steele had he not injected race into the equation. This is the third time President Obama has meddled in local politics in New York state. You will recall the mess that ensued in the search of a replacement for Hillary Clinton's seat. It was clear that the president had initially preferred Caroline Kennedy for the seat, but he later cleared the field for Paterson's handpicked U.S. senator, Kirsten Gillibrand, asking her toughest potential primary challenger, Long Island Rep. Steve Israel, not to run.
Next he tapped John McHugh, one of just three remaining Republicans in New York's congressional delegation, to serve as secretary of the Army, which led to a special election in McHugh's upstate district. Now Paterson is in the president's cross hairs. What will prove to be an uncomfortable encounter, the president will spend three days in New York, including an upstate stop, where he will be greeted at Albany International Airport by none other than David Paterson. Ouch. So, there was plenty for Michael Steele to hit President Obama on, rather than taking the easy way out to cite race as a factor.