Reince Priebus: One Step Forward, Two Steps Backward (Update: Correction)

Update: Business Insider has corrected their original story on this as follows:

Correction, 12:26 p.m. ET: An original version of this story said that Reince Priebus referred to Mitt Romney’s comments as “racist.” He said it “hurts us.” Business Insider regrets the error.

That’s an awful misquote, BI. It is worth noting, though, that similar language on deportation is in the RNC’s 2012 platform. Not similar to any of Rep. King’s edgier remarks, but similar to Romney’s. Is Priebus advocating changing that language, or did BI just nuke a fridge here?

Original story:

So RNC Chairman Reince Preibus’ stand against CNN and NBC for running Hillary infomercials has led to the committee voting unanimously to keep both networks out of the 2016 Republican presidential primary debates. Good move. One step forwards. Hopefully the rest of the media get the message that the RNC won’t be pushovers for biased media hackery anymore.

Now let’s throw that gain away by calling Mitt Romney a racist.

In condemning Rep. Steve King’s incendiary comments on immigration, RNC chairman Reince Priebus swept in his party’s presidential nominee, saying that talk of “self-deportation” was “horrific” and even “racist.”

Mitt Romney repeatedly used the term during the Republican primary campaign to talk about how his immigration enforcement policies would lead to unauthorized immigrants leaving the U.S. of their own accord, rather than needing to be deported.

“Using the word ‘self-deportation’ — it’s a horrific comment to make,” Priebus said, in a forceful rebuke. “I don’t think it has anything to do with our party. When someone makes those comments, obviously, it’s racist.”

Really? So what word should we use to avoid Priebus’ precious condemnation? Why bother having any laws governing immigration and our borders at all? He just called the party’s moderate presidential nominee a racist. What does he think of conservatives? Hey, I hear that the DNC is hiring…MSNBC always has openings for any Republican who’s ready to slam other Republicans.

Not only will Priebus’ grand pander not work to woo the voters Priebus wants, it stands a good chance of alienating many of the voters the GOP already has. Lose, and then lose some more.

If Priebus wants to lose the House in 2014, he should go on talking this way.