Michael Steele yesterday called for Sen. Harry Reid to step down as majority leader, in the wake of controversy over a racially-tinged remark Reid made during the 2008 campaign.
On Meet The Press, Steele demanded consequence for Reid’s remark, saying that “the standard was the one that was set in 2002 with Trent Lott.” Steele was referring to the controversy over the former the majority leader’s comment that if segregationist presidential candidate Strom Thurmond had been elected in 1948, the U.S. would have avoided a lot of its problems, a remark which eventually helped lead to Lott’s downfall in the Senate.
David Gregory asked if the consequence of Reid’s remark should be that he steps down as majority leader. Steele responded: “I believe it is. And from my perspective whether he steps down today, or I retire him in November, either way he will not be the leader in 2011.”
Steele joins some other Republicans who are calling for Reid’s resignation. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) has also said he thinks Reid should step down, but today took it one step further and opined that Reid’s comment was actually worse than that of Trent Lott.
Rev. Isaac Hayes, Republican candidate for the House in Illinois, has also called for Reid to step down.
