Phil Klein at the AmSpec blog digs up the transcript from that Michael Steele Meet The Press appearance that I mentioned in my post last night. Here's the relevant bit:

MR. RUSSERT: Would, would you encourage — would you hope the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe vs. Wade?

LT. GOV. STEELE: I think that that’s a matter that’s going to rightly belong to the courts to decide ultimately whether or not that, that issue should be addressed. The, the Court has taken a position, which I agree, stare decisis, which means that the law is as it is and, and so this is a matter that’s ultimately going to be adjudicated at the states. We’re seeing that. The states are beginning to decide for themselves on, on this and a host of other issues. And the Supreme Court would ultimately decide that.

MR. RUSSERT: But you hope that the Court keeps Roe v. Wade in place?

LT. GOV. STEELE: I think the Court will evaluate the law as society progresses, as the Court is supposed to do.

MR. RUSSERT: But what’s your position? Do you want them to sustain it or overturn it?

LT. GOV. STEELE: Well, I think, I think, I think Roe vs. Wade, Roe vs. Wade is a, is a matter that should’ve been left to the states to decide, ultimately. But it, it is where it is today, and the courts will ultimately decide whether or not this, this gets addressed by the states, goes back to the states in some form or they overturn it outright.

MR. RUSSERT: Is is your desire to keep it in place?

LT. GOV. STEELE: My desire is that we follow what stare decisis is at this point, yes.

Phil responds to this with a "Huh?" with which I am inclined to agree....

Uh-oh. Newly installed RNC Chairman Michael Steele went and gave an interview to GQ in which he said some stuff that's likely piss off social conservatives, in particular.

Now, everyone's going nuts about it, meaning another case of moderate-friendly Steele being chastized by some conservative voices online and becoming topic of the night on cable news channels. Teh awesome!

Seriously, though, what did Steele say? Well, for starters, re: homosexuality, he said these things:

"It’s your nature. You can’t—I can’t deny you your nature."

"you just can’t simply say, oh, like, 'Tomorrow morning I’m gonna stop being gay.' It’s like saying, 'Tomorrow morning I’m gonna stop being black.'”

Oh, and also, this might bother some social conservatives still angling for a Federal Marriage Amendment of some variety:

"Just as a general principle, I don’t like mucking around with the Constitution."

Also, though, Steele said the below on abortion (the topic where his comments seem to be garnering the most attention):

"I think that’s an individual choice."

"I think Roe v. Wade—as a legal matter, Roe v. Wade was a wrongly decided matter."

and:

"The states should make that choice. That’s what the choice is. The individual choice rests in the states. Let them decide."

I have some thoughts on all this. [intro]...

8 Republicans voted for cloture on this, which apparently ultimately passed on a voice vote.  3 Democrats voted against cloture: Bayh, Feingold and McCaskill.  Interesting stuff. [intro]