Steele: Public option is socialism

The health reform proposals including a public (or "government-run") option for consumers are "socialism," Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Michael Steele alleged Wednesday.

"Yes, I do," Steele said in an interview on CBS news when asked if he believes the public option is socialism. "And, quite frankly, I think a lot more people believing that there's more to this than meets the eye."

Previewing President Obama's speech before a joint session of Congress this evening, Steele asserted that the address would bring nothing new to the debate over healthcare reform in the U.S.

Republicans have expressed skepticism in the run-up to the speech that Obama would be able to persuade them, perhaps Steele most of all, who helped lead a monthlong campaign against healthcare reforms during the August congressional recess.

"You're going to hear a very moderate speech with conservative undertones to continue that imagine," Steele said on Fox News last night, arguing that the president is trying to come off in his plan as more centrist than he is.