Michael Steele Vs. Everyone

Michael Steele is not having a good month. Yesterday, Steele had some words about the American Medical Association:

Eric Zimmermann reports that the Republican National Committee has decided it no longer likes the American Medical Association.

Michael Steele took a shot at the American Medical Association (AMA) today, saying the organization doesn’t have “credibility” on healthcare reform.

“The AMA is — does not have the credibility on this health care issue, as they would like to project,” Steele said on Fox and Friends this morning.

Traditionally, the AMA has been very conservative on reform. Opposition by the AMA has helped sink past reform efforts. This time, though, the AMA is supporting the health care reform efforts.

Congressional Republicans are also tired of Steele’s pronouncements.

Apparently, leading Republican officials, who actually have policy responsibilities, are getting a little tired of Steele’s antics.

GOP leaders, in a private meeting last month, delivered a blunt and at times heated message to RNC Chairman Michael Steele: quit meddling in policy.

The plea was made during what was supposed to be a routine discussion about polling matters and other priorities in House Minority Leader John Boehner’s office. But the session devolved into a heated discussion about the roles of congressional leadership and Steele, according to multiple people familiar with the meeting.

The congressional leaders were particularly miffed that Steele had in late August unveiled a seniors’ “health care bill of rights” without consulting with them. The statement of health care principles, outlined in a Washington Post op-ed, began with a robust defense of Medicare that puzzled some in a party not known for its attachment to entitlements.

I actually feel for Steele here. With the huge leadership vacuum in the Republican party how is Steele supposed to sell the party of no?