STEELE HEATED BY 'YOU PEOPLE' REMARK ON 'MORNING JOE': RNC chairman was invited on to discuss Sen. Reid's slavery comment.

      Steele appeared on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" on Wednesday to discuss his criticism of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who had compared opponents of health care reform to those who tried to slow down the abolition of slavery. 

      As previously reported, Steele said "it was an ignorant moment for Harry Reid." He said that when Democrats get in a fix, "they play that race card, that slavery card, that civil rights card."

      CNBC commentator Donny Deutsch challenged Steele's reaction Wednesday, asking him, "Any great change throughout history, the naysayers say ‘it’s not time, it’s not time.’ So why is that not a relevant analogy?”

      “I won’t even dignify that with a response,” Steele answered curtly . “Next question.”

      A contentious back and forth took place briefly between the two before MSNBC's Mike Barnicle jumped in to discuss the root of Senator Reid's original accusation – that the GOP seems opposed to any attempt at health care reform. Barnicle asked, “What are you people for?

      Steele chuckled, then responded: “You people? Who are you people?”

      “The Republicans, what are you for?” Barnicle responded.

      Steele laughed, “Okay… I just wanted you to define the pronoun baby, that’s all.”

      “Oh, come on,” Barnicle groaned, along with co-host Mika Brzezinski and others on the panel.

      Watch the comments in context of the entire interview below. (The Donnie Deutch exchange is at 5:47. The Mike Barnicle exchange is at 6:35.) Also below, Senator Harry Reid's original Dec. 7 comment on the Senate floor comparing the GOP's health care opposition to opponents of the emancipation and suffrage movements.