Critics say Dean crossed the line when he told the CBC, "You think the Republicans could get this many people of color in a single room? Only if they had the hotel staff in here."

Addressing the comment directly, the Harlem Democrat said, "I think Dean may not have used the right language, which he has had problems with before."

Rangel went on to explain that what the DNC chief meant to say was that "the Republican Party finds it very, very difficult to attract blacks to become public officials."

Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, who is Maryland's first black to hold that office, joined with former Rep. J.C. Watts yesterday to demand that Dean apologize, and expanded on his complaint last night.

"I think it is rather presumptive [for Dean] to presume that the staff in the hotel is African-American," Steele told Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes." Steele said the DNC chairman's remark was further evidence that the Democratic Party takes the black vote for granted.

"If I or another Republican had made a statement like that, it would be all over the place," Steele added. "And so the reality is for me, when I read that and hear it, it's offensive, because what it says is you don't see me in any other role."

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