is Michael Steele 10 years old?

Michael Steele ducks a debate with Donny Deutsch: ‘Whatever, whatever. Next question.’

Speaking on the Senate floor earlier this week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said the GOP obstruction to health care reform reminds him of similar obstruction that played out during the civil rights debate. The GOP has used Reid’s comments to manufacture a faux media controversy. On MSNBC’s Morning Joe, co-host Mike Brzezinski called Reid’s remarks “unfortunate.” Her guest, RNC Chairman Michael Steele, said Reid needs to “check himself” and ripped him for being “out of touch,” “clueless,” and “ignorant.” But when MSNBC’s Donny Duetsch challenged Steele to defend his criticisms, Steele offered this weak and childish response:

DEUTSCH: I’m still trying to understand why the analogies he’s made are wrong. Obviously, the issue here is that any great change throughout history has the naysayers saying “it’s not time, it’s not time.” So why was that an irrelevant analogy?

STEELE: I won’t even dignify that with a response.

DEUTSCH: What do you mean, dignify? It’s a question, it’s a genuine question.

STEELE: Next question.

DEUTSCH: It’s a genuine question.

STEELE: Next question. Come on. I’m sorry, sir. I’m not going to sit here and say it’s an appropriate comparison to slavery.

DEUTSCH: He’s not. He’s comparing it to dramatic change, and the naysayers to change.

STEELE: Whatever, whatever. Next question.

DEUTSCH: That’s a great response. Very, very intelligent, brave response.

STEELE: It is. As was your question.

(Think Progress)