GOP boss Michael Steele says he and Barack Obama have one thing in common: It's tough being black (New York Daily News)

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BY Michael Mcauliff AND Corky Siemaszko
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS

April 5th 2010

Beleaguered GOP boss Michael Steele misplayed "the race card" by claiming he and President Obama are held to a higher standard because they're black, a White House spokesman said Monday.

Steele has been under merciless criticism after revelations his Republican National Committee squandered thousands on jets, limos and questionable fund-raisers, including a $2,000 bash at a West Hollywood, Calif., club featuring lesbian bondage acts.

Steele drew the White House's attention after he claimed he's being treated unfairly because he's black, like Obama.

"The honest answer is, 'Yes,'" said Steele, answering the question on ABC's "Good Morning America."

"Barack Obama has a slimmer margin [of error]. A lot of folks do," he said. "It's a different role for me to play and others to play and that's just the reality of it."

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VIDEO: Steele On Nightclub Charges: 'I Was Very Angry' (Talking Points Memo)

RNC boss Michael Steele, image via Wikipedia

By Rachel Slajda
April 5, 2010

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, in his first interview since the committee was caught spending $2,000 at a bondage-themed nightclub in L.A., told Good Morning America that he was "very angry" when he found out about the charges.

"I was very angry, and we dealt with it. We got to the bottom of it, the employee was summarily dismissed for going against our internal policies in finance," Steele said. He added that the committee was limiting what kind of events its finance department could host.

"When you have the White House and you have both houses of Congress, that's no longer the standard that we've been trying to get them to adjust to. A lot of our donors, our major donors, are used to a particular type of an event. We've been scaling those back," he said.

He made no signal that he would resign.

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Everybody Sing! "Chip Saltsman, the Stupid Honky, Lived in Tennessee..."

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The party that gave us Sarah Palin for vice president now offers America Chip Saltsman as nominee for the next Republican National Chairman. Chip, why don't you sing a few bars of your Christmas ditty, "Barack the Magic Negro?"
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From Rebecca Sinderbrand

(CNN) -- The chairman of the Republican National Committee said he was "appalled" by a song called "Barack the Magic Negro" on a CD distributed by one of his political rivals.

Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan is the first person to speak out against "Barack the Magic Negro."

"The 2008 election was a wake-up call for Republicans to reach out and bring more people into our party," RNC Chairman Mike Duncan said in a statement reported Saturday afternoon by Politico.

"I am shocked and appalled that anyone would think this is appropriate, as it clearly does not move us in the right direction."

Chip Saltsman sent RNC members the parody CD "We Hate the USA" for Christmas, which includes the controversial tune. He defended his decision Friday, telling CNN the song was clearly intended as a joke.

"I think most people recognize political satire when they see it," Saltsman told CNN. "I think RNC members understand that."

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