Embattled GOP leader Michael Steele steered clear of controversy yesterday while making nice with one of the Republicans’ harshest critics — the Rev. Al Sharpton.

Steele gave a keynote speech at Sharpton’s annual National Action Network convention, urging the mostly black and Democratic crowd to be open-minded about solutions to political problems.

“One thing I’ve learned is that you can’t please everyone,” Steele, who is black, told the crowd at the Sheraton New York in Midtown. “But you can certainly make them all mad at you at the same time.”