Anonymous critics to Steele: 'No, you shut up'

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele had strong words for his Republican critics in an ABC News interview yesterday, erupting into what reporter Aaron Katersky described as a petulant frenzy. "I’ve had enough of it. If you don’t want me in the job, fire me. But until then, shut up. Get with the program or get out of the way." "Well, that was incredibly rude," said one Congressional Republican who declined to be identified. "I guess I'd like to reply by saying 'No, you shut up'. But I won't. Because he controls the purse strings, and there's this election coming up in November... It's kind of like being an actor with a lousy agent, but the agent is more famous than you are, and... ah, never mind. Fuck it. I just wish he'd go away." Steele was reacting to a report in the conservative Washington Times which claimed that some wealthy Republican contributors were not donating this year because of his erratic leadership. Lawrence Bathgate, former RNC Finance Chairman under Reagan and Bush Sr. said he hadn't donated to the RNC this year, although he did have big checks for practically every other GOP organization in existence. "Oh, so the great Larry Bathgate is not gonna help me out this year," Steele said in mock amazement. "Let me tell you a little bit about this no-account loser - he probably doesn't have a pot to piss in anyway. He ran his own company into the ground, rang up 100 million in debt buying everything from private jets to Thomas Jefferson's dining room table, and then his bankruptcy sent his hometown piggy-bank into insolvency. Hold onto your pennies, Mr Barthgate, and save up for some breath mints." "Goddammit," said a mortified Bathgate. "I told the Washington Times not to use my name." Many GOP House and Senate aides are up in arms, saying that he's setting them back with his erratic comments and behavior. "You really need to have him be quiet," said one anonymous aide, expressing his embarrassment with Steele's chairmanship. “They have no idea of what's going on in America," said the man who has a real good idea of what's going on in America, "So here comes this six foot four bald guy who's talking about hip hop Republicans..." "Ah, there he goes again with the hip hop Republicans," muttered another unidentified congressman. "I don't even know what he means with that crap he keeps spouting. I think maybe it's about time for us to..." "That sounds like Joe Wilson," interrupted Steele. "Hey, Wilson, President Obama was right about one thing - you are one unruly obnoxious son of a bitch. And it seems that you particularly like shooting your mouth off to African Americans. I wonder how that's going to play in your 26% black district?"