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RNC Chairman Steele Slams Roy Blunt; Only Lobbyist/Former Employee Comes to His Defense
For Immediate Release: August 24, 2009 Contact: Ryan Hobart (573) 636-5241 Ext. 125 RNC Chairman Steele Slams Roy Blunt; Only Lobbyist/Former Employee Comes to His Defense Is Roy Blunt too out of touch even for his party Chairman? Jefferson City, Mo – RNC Chairmen Michael Steele had an interesting response last Friday to a conservative radio host’s criticisms of the Republican Party and Congressman Roy Blunt. During the course of the interview with KSGF’s Vincent David Jericho, there was a lively exchange about the flaws of the Republican Party and Congressman Blunt in particular. In response to the criticism about Congressman Blunt’s ties to lobbyists and the direction he took the party as a Republican leader in the House of Representatives, Steele said: “Look, now don’t, don’t – I mean, I agree with you. Look, when, when, when stuff gets in the crapper, you gotta clean it out.” (http://ksgf.com/DesktopModules/Orizonti_NukeNews/getLink.aspx?pid=67&tid=3508&newsid=49914) In response to Steele’s comments about his party’s leading candidate for U.S. Senate in Missouri, Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Brian Zuzenak released the following statement: “It sends a strong message when the RNC Chairman condemns Congressman Roy Blunt’s record. It seems that his status as a Washington-insider, and his close ties to special interests and lobbyists, has become too much even for the leaders of his own party. In fact, the only person who has criticized Chairman Steele’s comments is a lobbyist and a former Blunt employee.” Only Gregg Hartley, a Washington-based lobbyist and former Blunt Chief of Staff, has defended Blunt after Steele’s comments: “RNC Chair Michael Steele is an idiot. Past time for him to go. Party suffers every day he remains. I will contribute to the effort to oust.” Hartley later added: “RNC Chair Michael Steele should be preparing an apology to Congressman Blunt and submit his resignation.” (http://twitter.com/gregglhartley) --30--
