Steele: Obama maxing out U.S. credit card

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael S. Steele said Wednesday the Obama administration is handling the recession no better than millions of helpless Americans.

“I’m unemployed and running up my credit card,” said Mr. Steele, referring to Mr. Obama’s plan to spend more federal money to create jobs.

In February, Congress passed a $787 billion economic-stimulus package. Now Mr. Obama wants to spend $200 billion left from the Troubled Asset Relief Program largely to help small businesses, amid a growing federal deficit.

“Then to say, ‘I’m now going to get another credit card to pay off the other one?’ ” said Mr. Steele, questioning Mr. Obama’s plan. “You’re talking about spending money at a time when people don’t have jobs.”

Mr. Steele also continued his reproach of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat who on Monday compared opponents of health-care reform to those once wary of ending slavery.

He said Mr. Reid made the “stupid comment” because he cannot control the divide now among Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

Mr. Steele also called on Democrats to remove Mr. Reid from his leadership position.

“These liberals who live in their little ivory towers think that when they get into trouble they can just start playing the race card and every one is going to fall in line or back off and say, ‘OK, I’m sorry. I didn’t know this was like slavery. And I don’t want to be called racist so you get you way,’ ” Mr. Steele said on The Washington Times’ “America’s Morning News” radio show. “So bunk that. We’re not doing that. Those days are gone.”