CLEVELAND, OHIO — Michael Steele knows what it’s like to attempt to organize the Republican Party during an election year and he feels for the guy who’s doing it now.
The former Republican National Committee chairman said in an interview Monday that the current chairman, Reince Priebus, has done the best he can with the often unpredictable Donald Trump as the party’s nominee.
“Well, look, I think he’s done as good a job as he can do,” Steele told the Washington Examiner at the party’s convention. “It’s tough because you don’t control who gets in the race, you don’t control who gets out of the race and you certainly don’t control how individual members of the party vote around the country. So you’re working with what you get.”
Priebus was often criticized by party members throughout the election for his handling of Trump’s candidacy, which many saw as an unwelcome disruption to the GOP’s order and orthodoxy.
By the time Trump had officially locked up the required number of delegates, Priebus began firing back at the so-called “Never Trump” Republican, calling them a distraction to the nomination process.
“Yeah, there may be some heavy-handedness,” said Steele. “People don’t like it. But there are always ways … in which you can demonstrate and express your disapproval. The bottom line is it’s a tough position to be in to try and maintain order so you can get through and have a good convention. You want to send your nominee out strong.”
As for Trump, who is scheduled to deliver his major speech on Thursday, Steele said he wants the billionaire businessman to reveal himself as a serious candidate who can address real problems.
“I want Donald Trump to show us Donald Trump,” he said. “I want to see the guy who wants to be president. And I want to hear a sense of vision while addressing our concerns. That’s the piece I think we’re missing right now.”
