Michael Steele calls his critics racist

But when Stephanopoulos pressed him, Steele rejected the notion that the RNC has spent more money than taken in. “No, I had more money left over at the end of the— I had a budget, I inherited a budget that had zero dollars left at the end of 2009.”

FEC filings show that Steele began his tenure in January 2009 with $22.8 million, and has since raised $96.2 million. During the same period, however, the RNC has spent $109.6 million, for a deficit of $13.4 million. A March 20 FEC filing shows the RNC has $9.5 million cash on hand.

Steele defended the RNC’s finances, pointing to money spent on Republican wins in New Jersey, Virginia, Massachusetts and 37 other races other state legislature and mayor races around the country. “We have managed the money in a way that has allowed us to compete in some races that we otherwise wouldn’t be able to compete in”

Steele also claimed he raised more money than the Democrats did in 12 months and that the RNC carried over same amount of money the DNC did from last year to this year.

Despite dismissing those “unnamed Republicans” who don’t like him and who speak to the press anonymously, Steele said, “I hear my donors. I hear my base out there. I hear the leadership.”

“And we’re taking steps to make sure that we’re even more — how should I say it — fiscally conservative in our spending and certainly making sure that the dollars are there when its time to run our campaigns,” he said.

UPDATE: White House spokesman Robert Gibbs weighed in on Steele’s race claim today during a gaggle with reporters. “That is a fairly silly comment to make. I think Michael Steele’s problem isn’t the race card, it’s the credit card.”

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