Michael Steele Distances GOP From Tea Party Slurs: “Idiots Saying Stupid Things”

Michael Steele was on MSNBC's Meet The Press this morning, talking to David Gregory about health care reform. The conversation eventually turned to yesterday's anti-health care rally at the capitol, when members of the conservative Tea Party movement allegedly verbally assaulted John Lewis and Barney Frank, using racial and gay slurs. And unlike Sarah Palin, Michael Steele doesn't self-identify with the Tea Party movement.

This Week: Karl Rove and David Plouffe Spar Over ‘Mission Accomplished’

In an extended "This Week" segment in which Obama adviser David Plouffe and Fox News contributor Karl Rove traded talking points, there were a few fireworks right at the end. After Rove spent most of his time attacking the CBO (a sport of political convenience), and Plouffe pushed back against the idea that Democrats would be better off letting healthcare reform die, the pair revisited a Bush-era battle over the "Mission: Accomplished" banner.

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»David Shuster Defends Brett Baier Interview, Talks Twitter Absence »8

»CNN: Protesters Shout Racial And Gay Slurs At Lewis And Frank (Update) »243

»Obama’s Final Push On Health Care To Democratic Caucus On Capitol Hill »16