Republican Party's (Chair)Man of Steele - Did He Let Slip He's Pro-Choice?

Is the GOP's new top dog really pro-choice underneath it all? And did he reveal himself during his interview with GQ? Michael Steele is the first African American Republican Party Chair and - like the Obamas - all eyes are on him.

As the New York Times reports:

[In] a lively interview with GQ...he seemed to suggest, among other things, that women should have the right to decide whether to have an abortion. “I think that’s an individual choice,” he said.

A moment later, he appeared to clarify his remarks, saying that abortion policy should be decided by the states “The states should make that choice,” he said. “That’s what the choice is. The individual choice rests in the states. Let them decide.”

After the interview appeared online on Thursday, he issued a statement seeking to make clear that he is an opponent of abortion rights.

Steele is fairly new at this and doesn't hesitate to say things that put him at odds with the more conservative element of the Republican Party, as evidenced by his views on gays highlighted by the Times:

[In] Mr. Steele’s interview...[h]e veered away from the views of many Christian conservatives in declaring that homosexuality was a matter of nature, not a choice.

“I think that there’s a whole lot that goes into the makeup of an individual that you just can’t simply say, oh, like, ‘Tomorrow morning I’m going to stop being gay,’ ” Mr. Steele said. “It’s like saying, ‘Tomorrow morning I’m going to stop being black.’ ”

So is Republican Party Chair Michael Steele a closeted believer in choice who hides his true beliefs out of political necessity? Or did he just misspeak?

Steele's background may hold clues. He was adopted at 8 months from an infant home in Maryland run by Catholic Charities. His father, who was an abusive alcoholic, passed away when he was 4 and he was raised by his working-class mother. For three years, he studied for the priesthood.

With that in mind, take a look at an excerpt from Michael Steele's interview with GQ:

How much of your pro-life stance, for you, is informed not just by your Catholic faith but by the fact that you were adopted?
Oh, a lot. Absolutely. I see the power of life in that—I mean, and the power of choice! The thing to keep in mind about it… Uh, you know, I think as a country we get off on these misguided conversations that throw around terms that really misrepresent truth.

Explain that.
The choice issue cuts two ways. You can choose life, or you can choose abortion. You know, my mother chose life. So, you know, I think the power of the argument of choice boils down to stating a case for one or the other.

Are you saying you think women have the right to choose abortion?
Yeah. I mean, again, I think that’s an individual choice.

You do?
Yeah. Absolutely.

Are you saying you don’t want to overturn Roe v. Wade?
I think Roe v. Wade—as a legal matter, Roe v. Wade was a wrongly decided matter.

Okay, but if you overturn Roe v. Wade, how do women have the choice you just said they should have?
The states should make that choice. That’s what the choice is. The individual choice rests in the states. Let them decide.

Do pro-choicers have a place in the Republican Party?
Absolutely!

Also during the interview - Steele said that during his time in college, although he didn't date a lot, "I had a lot of girl friends, and I loved—I love hanging out with women, sometimes more than men. You know, sit back and let your hair down type thing?" If he loves hanging out with women and letting his hair down, consider this - the interview was done by a woman, Lisa DePaulo. Maybe he let his guard down long enough to let this little insight into his mindset slip through.

Does it matter? Absolutely, if follows through with his intent to build a new GOP that is more inclusive, more 'big-tent' and more accepting of a range of views.

As he noted during the conversation, he's moving in that direction: "We’ve had many a pro-choicer speak at ours—long before Rudy Giuliani. So yeah, that’s something I’ve been trying to get our party to appreciate."

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