Stephanopoulos, whose previous profession involved working for the sex scandal-plagued Bill Clinton, hyped, "Now, to the latest on the upheaval at the Republican National Committee, in the wake of a notorious visit to a strip club." CBS's Early Show skipped the controversy on Tuesday. NBC's Today hit the subject only within a larger interview with Newt Gingrich.
GMA's Stephanopoulos on Monday highlighted a "poll of [GOP] insiders" who thought Michael Steele should resign as chairman of the RNC. On March 31, the ABC program actually touted journalists on other networks mocking Steele.
GMA even extolled the impact that Stephanopoulos had in keeping the story alive. Citing his interview with Steele on Monday, the show's April 6 graphic read, "Fallout from Michael Steele Interview: RNC Chairman Under Pressure."
A transcript of the April 6 segment, which aired at 7:17am EDT, follows:
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Now, to the latest on the upheaval at the Republican National Committee, in the wake of a notorious visit to a strip club. Party Chair Michael Steele drew fire from the White House and others yesterday, after he told me on GMA that his race gave him a small margin for error. Steele also said yesterday that he's not going anywhere. But, late yesterday, he pushed out his chief of staff. And, Jon, there may be more to come.
JON KARL: Yeah, that's right. And fired chief of staff Ken McKay is the first high profile victim of this scandal. But Steele's comments to you about race are generating new controversy. Republican Chairman Michael Steele compared himself to Barack Obama, suggesting he has been under fire, in part, because he is black.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Do you feel that, as an African-American, you have a slimmer margin for error that another chairman would?
MICHAEL STEELE: The honest answer is yes.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Why is that?
STEELE: It just is. Barack Obama has a slimmer margin. We all- A lot of folks do. It means a different role for, for you know, for me, to play and others to play. And that's just a reality of it.
KARL: White House press secretary Robert Gibbs called Steele's comments silly. Saying, "Michael Steele's problem isn't the race card. It's the credit card." Ken Blackwell, who lost to Steele to be RNC chairman, agreed.
KEN BLACKWELL (Vice Chairman, Republican National Committee): To interject race here is nonsense. There is a pattern of missteps, miscues and misstatements. And as a consequence, we now can't fall back on the issue of race.
KARL: Blackwell said the pattern of missteps includes lavish spending at Steele's RNC on private jets, expensive hotels, and, most recently, the nearly $2,000 the RNC spent entertaining donors at a Hollywood sex club. The RNC has spent more money than it has raised so far this election cycle, just as the party is supposed to be raising money for the fall campaign. In an effort to move beyond the scandal, Steele has sent a letter to the entire leadership of the Republican National Committee, promising tighter controls. And, George and Robin, saying, the buck stops with me.
STEPHANOPOULOS: And he did repeat again yesterday, he is not going anywhere. He is going to stay.
