Michael Steele also works with special needs young adultsMichael Steele, the Don Cornelius of the Republican Soul Train, has taken a part-time job portraying himself in a one man show What Up, ‘Murica? and people are paying him American dollars for it:

Michael S. Steele, Republican National Committee chairman, is using his title to market himself for paid appearances nationwide, personally profiting from speeches with fees of up to $20,000 at colleges, trade associations and other groups – an unusual practice criticized by a string of past party chairmen.

Mr. Steele, elected in January to the $223,500-a-year RNC post, is working with at least four outside agencies in Washington, New York, Boston and Nashville that book the speaking engagements. He charges between $8,000 and $20,000 for an address, plus first-class travel and lodging expenses.

Needless to say, not all Republicans are “jiggy” with this.

“Holy mackerel, I never heard of a chairman of either party ever taking money for speeches,” said Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr., RNC chairman under President Reagan and CEO of the American Gaming Association.

“The job of a national chairman is to give speeches. That’s what the national party pays him for. We didn’t have a rule book back then, but being national chairman was and is a full-time job,” Mr. Fahrenkopf said.

But Michael Steele’s posse people are all “gotcher back, Michael”:

Mr. Steele’s office dismissed the criticism, saying the chairman was a highly sought-after speaker before being elected to lead the RNC, he’s following all RNC rules, and is committed full time to growing the Republican Party.

“This is silly. Many Democrat and Republican national chairmen have regularly received outside income,” said RNC spokeswoman Gail Gitcho.

“Michael Steele has been giving inspirational speeches based on his personal story long before he was elected RNC chairman and will long after,” Ms. Gitcho said.

Which means dramatic recreations of the Oreo Fusillade of 2002 (linky fixed), so, really it like going to a midnight showing of The Rocky Horror Show but with cookies instead of toast.