Media

Former RNC Chairman Michael Steele Says Gas Prices Don’t Matter Because Republicans Will Destroy Democracy

[Screenshot Youtube The 11th Hour]

Brianna Lyman News and Commentary Writer
Font Size:

Former chairman for the Republican National Committee Michael Steele argued Tuesday on MSNBC that voters need to put aside concerns about inflation and rising gas prices because Republicans will allegedly destroy democracy if they win in November.

Steele joined “The 11th Hour” and claimed democracy will be on the line in November. Host Stephanie Ruhle said voters are most concerned about the economy and inflation based off recent polling data, but then claimed Democrats have a lot to “hang their hat” on in terms of the economy, such as President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act.

Steele criticized the “anti-democratic insurrectionist Republican Party” before arguing Democrats need to “do the politics of this thing” by connecting the economy and democracy.

“Let’s just go back to January, when the president gave the first State of the Union. He should’ve linked the economy and destiny, democracy, together.” (RELATED: Buttigieg Says Democrats Are Having A Hard Time Campaigning Because They’ve Been Too Successful)

“[Democrats must] help people understand that without an underlying, functioning democracy, it doesn’t matter what your gas prices are, baby. It won’t matter whether or not you’re paying $5 for a gallon of gas or $2 for a loaf of bread, what will matter is you won’t be able to afford anything because you can’t vote, you can’t freely assemble, you’re on hit lists, our Congress is dysfunctional. All these things are linked together.”

“What will matter is when your autocratic government takes over the banking system and your accounts get locked,” Ruhle chimed in.

Inflation increased 0.4% in September from August, while “core” inflation, which measures the price of goods excluding food and energy, hit a 40-year high. The cost of food at home rose 13% year-over-year.

Polling indicates voters generally favor the Republican Party over the Democratic Party, according to an October Gallup poll. While neither party was favorable by a majority of voters, the poll found 44% had positive views of the Republican Party compared to 39% for Democrats. Among the 812 adults polled, 51% thought Republicans would do a better job at keeping the country prosperous, compared to 47% who thought Democrats would handle things better.

A September poll conducted by WPA Intelligence on behalf of the Club for Growth found more than 40% of voters view inflation and other economic concerns as the primary issues they want politicians to address. 42% of voters trust Republicans the most to handle issues surrounding the economy and inflation, while 34% trust Democrats.

A New York Times/Siena College poll released Oct. 17 found 49% of likely voters said they plan to vote for Republican candidates for the House and Senate, compared to 45% who said they plan to vote Democrat. The poll also found voters care far more about the economy than abortion, with 5% of voters surveyed naming abortion as their top issue.