Soon after the not-ready-for-primetime video surfaced of RNC Chairman Michael Steele calling the war in Afghanistan unwinnable, the calls for his resignation began. And in the days since?
Perennial talk show guest John McCain (R-AZ) said that:
Steele "is going to have to assess as to whether he can still lead the Republican Party as chairman of the Republican National Committee and make an appropriate decision."
Since Steele sent McCain an email explaining that he was "misconstrued," it's safe to say what Steele's assessment will be.
Lindsey Graham, another talk show circuit regular said he was "dismayed, angry, upset" at
Steele's words, and that they were "uninformed, unnecessary, unwise, untimely comment."
Joe Lieberman (I-CT), speaking as the official member of the Democratic caucus that is "with us on everything but the war," since there are apparently no actual Democrats ever available to make a comment, called Steele's remarks "unfortunate."
And hawkish in all things, Liz Cheney, joined with William Kristol and demanded that Steele step down:
The chairman of the Republican Party must be unwavering in his support for American victory in the war on terror — a victory that cannot be accomplished if we do not prevail in Afghanistan ... It is time for Chairman Steele to step down.
What no one seems to want to address is what Steele actually said ... that:
... the one thing you don't do, is engage in a land war in Afghanistan? All right, because everyone who has tried, over a thousand years of history, has failed.
Which is true.