Background on Steele, his various policy positions and controversies through his career are detailed on his wikipedia page.
This is one of my favorites, a story from Steele's failed senate campaign in 2006;
Steele lost the general election to Cardin on November 7, 2006, getting 44% of the vote to Cardin's 55%. The Washington Post reported that on election day the Steele campaign arranged for buses of low income people from Philadelphia to distribute fliers at polls. The flyers contained incorrect information, including a statement that Michael Steele was endorsed by prominent state Democrats and African American leaders who had not, in fact, endorsed him. The homeless people were falsely identified as volunteers although they were paid, and the campaign funds used for this purpose of hiring the homeless were not timely or properly reported or attributed to the campaign.
He is/was a Rove Cheney favorite. And our own Beloved Steve Gilliard (RIP) knew what Steele was when he posted the famous black-face picture. I learned all I needed to know about Steele from Steve. And you know what people, Steve was right. When you have the right, the centrists and the corporate media howling-- you know you are doing something right. I miss Steve today and wonder what he would say to this RNC choice.
