Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele had just finished telling Face the Nation‘s Bob Schieffer this morning that opposition to President Obama and health care reform had nothing to do with race when he seemed to accuse the President of letting race play a factor in another decision.
Asked about this morning’s New York Times story that reports Obama has asked unpopular and struggling Gov. 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.
Looking somewhat stunned himself, Schieffer asked Steele, “Well you don’t think he’s asked him not to run ‘cuz he’s black?”
Perhaps sensing that he’d once again said something he shouldn’t have, Steele backtracked. Stumbling over his words, 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.
Late Update: Here’s the video.
