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Steele was the first [[African American]] elected to statewide office in Maryland when he was elected Lieutenant Governor in 2002, and is the first black GOP national chairman.  

Steele was the first [[African American]] elected to statewide office in Maryland when he was elected Lieutenant Governor in 2002, and is the first black GOP national chairman.  

Steele claimed to welcome conservatives and [[Tea Party Movement|Tea Partiers]] to the Republican Party, more than some [[RINO]]s and others would like.  In his book, Steele compares the GOP under Bush to an alcoholic, and argues that grass-roots activism will return the party to its core conservative values of limited government, fiscal restraint and a strong national defense. He said he had encouraged the heated Tea Party protests, but in reality the Tea Party protests were organic and were not organized by the Republican Party at that time.

Steele welcomes conservatives and [[Tea Party Movement|Tea Partiers]] to the Republican Party, more than some [[RINO]]s and others would like.  In his book, Steele compares the GOP under Bush to an alcoholic, and argues that grass-roots activism will return the party to its core conservative values of limited government, fiscal restraint and a strong national defense. He has encouraged the heated Tea Party protests that [[RINO]]s worry could lead to their own defeat.

Many of the criticisms of Steele involve him playing the race card with crude and vulgar profanities when defending black liberals, like [[Barack Hussein Obama]] against conservatives, like [[Mitch McConnell]].  Additionally, rather than fundraising, Steele was giving paid speeches, which sparked criticism by three former RNC chairmen.  Others complained about crude and vulgar talk by Steele in his new book.<ref>Philip Rucker and Chris Cillizza, "Steele's book release, fiery rhetoric fuel dissatisfaction within GOP,"  [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/07/AR2010010703699.html ''Washington Post'' Jan. 9, 2010]</ref>  

Many of the criticisms of Steele are insubstantial and unjustified.  For example, Steele was giving paid speeches, which sparked criticism by three former RNC chairmen.  Others complained about blunt talk by Steele in his new book.<ref>Philip Rucker and Chris Cillizza, "Steele's book release, fiery rhetoric fuel dissatisfaction within GOP,"  [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/07/AR2010010703699.html ''Washington Post'' Jan. 9, 2010]</ref>  

==Early life, education, and business career==

==Early life, education, and business career==

In late 2000, Steele was elected Chair of the Maryland Republican Party and in 2002, he was elected as Maryland's Lieutenant Governor. He ran for Senate in 2006 against Democrat [[Ben Cardin]] but lost with 44% of the vote compared to Cardin's  54%.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/elections/2006/maryland/Maryland_US_Senator.html Washington Post, "Election Profile - U.S. Senate, Maryland"]</ref><ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/08/AR2006110801368.html Washington Post, Matthew Mosk and Ann E. Marimow, November 9, 2006, "Governor and U.S. Senate Losses Just the Tip of State GOP Collapse"]</ref> After his loss, he was thought to be a leading candidate for chairman of the [[Republican National Committee]],<ref>[http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2006/11/steele_for_rnc.html Washingtonpost.com's Politics Blog, Chris Cillizza,  November 8, 2006, "Michael Steele for Republican NationalChairman?"]</ref> but [[Florida]] Senator [[Mel Martinez]] was picked instead.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/13/AR2006111300636.html Washington Post, Jim VandeHei, November 14, 2006, "Florida Senator Will Be a Top RNC Officer"]</ref>

In late 2000, Steele was elected Chair of the Maryland Republican Party and in 2002, he was elected as Maryland's Lieutenant Governor. He ran for Senate in 2006 against Democrat [[Ben Cardin]] but lost with 44% of the vote compared to Cardin's  54%.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/elections/2006/maryland/Maryland_US_Senator.html Washington Post, "Election Profile - U.S. Senate, Maryland"]</ref><ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/08/AR2006110801368.html Washington Post, Matthew Mosk and Ann E. Marimow, November 9, 2006, "Governor and U.S. Senate Losses Just the Tip of State GOP Collapse"]</ref> After his loss, he was thought to be a leading candidate for chairman of the [[Republican National Committee]],<ref>[http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2006/11/steele_for_rnc.html Washingtonpost.com's Politics Blog, Chris Cillizza,  November 8, 2006, "Michael Steele for Republican NationalChairman?"]</ref> but [[Florida]] Senator [[Mel Martinez]] was picked instead.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/13/AR2006111300636.html Washington Post, Jim VandeHei, November 14, 2006, "Florida Senator Will Be a Top RNC Officer"]</ref>

In Feb. 2009, in the wake of Barack Hussein Obama's election, Steele was selected as the new Republican National Committee chairman over then-current Chairman, Mike Duncan.<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/30/republicans-pick-new-party-chief</ref><ref>http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/</ref>

In Feb. 2009, in the wake of Barack Obama's election, Steele was selected as the new Republican National Committee chairman over then-current Chairman, Mike Duncan.<ref>https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/30/republicans-pick-new-party-chief</ref><ref>http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/</ref>

According to one recent report, under Steele's leadership, the Republican Party had serious trouble raising funds for the [[2010 Midterm Elections|2010 midterm elections]]: "When Steele was elected, the RNC had $22 million and no debt. At the end of November (2009), it had less than $9 million, which is a pittance of what the RNC possessed going into the midterms of 2002 and 2006."<ref>https://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-01-10/the-michael-steele-debacle/</ref>

According to one recent report, under Steele's leadership, the Republican Party had serious trouble raising funds for the [[2010 Midterm Elections|2010 midterm elections]]: "When Steele was elected, the RNC had $22 million and no debt. At the end of November (2009), it had less than $9 million, which is a pittance of what the RNC possessed going into the midterms of 2002 and 2006."<ref>https://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-01-10/the-michael-steele-debacle/</ref>

===Opposition to Donald Trump===

===Opposition to Donald Trump===

Despite saying he holds [[conservative]] views, Steele has opposed [[Donald Trump]] since the latter's 2016 presidential campaign,<ref>[https://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/michael-steele-no-support-trump-230138 Former RNC Chairman Michael Steele won't back Trump]</ref> announcing then that he wouldn't vote for Trump nor [[Hillary Clinton]] in the [[2016 U.S. presidential election]]. Steele has also expressed disdain for [[evangelicals]] who support Trump, telling them to “shut the hell up”.<ref>[https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jan/24/michael-steele-former-rnc-chair-blasts-evangelical/ Former RNC chair blasts Evangelical Trump supporters: 'Shut the hell up']</ref>

Despite holding [[conservative]] views, Steele has opposed [[Donald Trump]] since the latter's 2016 presidential campaign,<ref>[https://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/michael-steele-no-support-trump-230138 Former RNC Chairman Michael Steele won't back Trump]</ref> announcing then that he wouldn't vote for Trump nor [[Hillary Clinton]] in the [[2016 U.S. presidential election]]. Steele has also expressed disdain for [[evangelicals]] who support Trump, telling them to “shut the hell up”.<ref>[https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jan/24/michael-steele-former-rnc-chair-blasts-evangelical/ Former RNC chair blasts Evangelical Trump supporters: 'Shut the hell up']</ref>

In February 2019, Steele has absurdly claimed that [[Donald Trump]] was “probably not happy” that the [[FBI]] arrested a white supremacist who plotted to attack liberal [[Democrats]].<ref>[https://townhall.com/tipsheet/bethbaumann/2019/02/23/watch-michael-steele-thinks-trump-is-probably-not-happy-the-fbi-stopped-a-terrorist-attack-against-dems-n2542104 WATCH: Michael Steele Thinks Trump Is 'Probably Not Happy' The FBI Stopped a Terrorist Attack Against Dems]</ref>

In February 2019, Steele has absurdly claimed that [[Donald Trump]] was “probably not happy” that the [[FBI]] arrested a white supremacist who plotted to attack liberal [[Democrats]].<ref>[https://townhall.com/tipsheet/bethbaumann/2019/02/23/watch-michael-steele-thinks-trump-is-probably-not-happy-the-fbi-stopped-a-terrorist-attack-against-dems-n2542104 WATCH: Michael Steele Thinks Trump Is 'Probably Not Happy' The FBI Stopped a Terrorist Attack Against Dems]</ref>