Michael Steele sure does a nice song-and-dance. He also has the patter down. His pearly whites take him a long way. So much so that some pundits, especially those residing in the FAUXie television universe, have declared he has a great future in politics. Forget Maryland senator, he’s on to bigger and better things.
Now, employing his personal and peculiar brand of Steele-ized subterfuge, including distributing a bumpersticker with the words ‘STEELE – Democrat’ on it, did not seem to disturb and/or produce ridicule from some in the press. Tim Russert held the bumpersticker up on “Meet The Press” but let the subject go after one brief question. Sean Insaniity and Wolf Ditzer labeled Steele spectacular and principled. Can you imagine a Democrat found guilty of such an act? Jeez, that would be good for 8 or 9 news cycles on FAUX and, of course, the other networks would have to follow suit.
An October 26 Steele editorial endorsement in The Washington Times actually and ironically contained these words:
“…Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, who we enthusiastically endorse for the Senate today, is anything but a conventional politician…”
Yep, I guess having Don King and Mike Tyson campaign for you easily qualifies as out-of-the-box (and this close to out-of-your-mind).
Before James Carville becomes the next troll to join the Steele bandwagon (remember, Carville’s Al Gore should choose Zell Miller episode is soooo yesterday that he needs a new schtick) consider this:
This was contained in a Marc Fisher-written article in The Washington Post on October 22, 2006:
“…No, Steele declares the question (should Donald Rumsfeld resign?) to be “irrelevant. It’s more political Washington stuff. Demagoguing. If I call for his resignation, what does that do? ‘Oooh, Michael Steele says I should resign?’ “
and
“…Similarly, when Steele is asked whether the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade ruling on abortion was properly decided, he says, “I’m a Senate candidate. My opinion on that is moot.”
That’s our Steele–so unconventional that he won’t take a stand on anything–he’s the anti-anti-politician.
This was contained in a Matthew Mosk-written article in The Washington Post on November 7, 2006:
“Prince George’s County Democrats decried an election-eve mailer from the campaigns of Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. and Michael S. Steele that they say is designed to mislead voters by suggesting that three African American leaders support the Republicans in today’s election.
The green-and-red mailer, declaring itself an “official voter guide,” arrived yesterday in Prince George’s mailboxes, sporting pictures of County Executive Jack B. Johnson, his predecessor, Wayne K. Curry, and former NAACP president Kweisi Mfume.
Above the three pictures the flier reads, “Ehrlich-Steele Democrats,” and underneath it announces: “These are OUR Choices.”
Johnson said the mailer’s overall look suggests that he, Curry and Mfume — all Democrats — are backing Ehrlich and Steele, a U.S. Senate candidate. None of them has endorsed the governor, and only Curry has declared his support for Steele…”
Michael’s the man! This seems to be the Steele of if-you-can’t-beat-’em, join-’em.
Finally, there this from Justin Rood, TPM Muckraker on November 9, 2006:
“A Philadelphia Daily News columnist tracked down one of the unfortunate locals who had been tricked by the Michael Steele for Senate campaign to hand out deceptive pamphlets outside Maryland voting places. The result: a refreshingly candid indictment of the failed GOP candidate Steele, who now hopes to head up the Republican National Committee.
“I might not have a home,” an outraged Yusuf El-Bedawi told the Daily News’ Ronnie Polaneczky, “but that doesn’t mean I don’t care about right and wrong. No one has the right to use me that way.”
The Steele campaign recruited six busloads of poor and homeless Philadelphians to hand out flyers to Maryland voters portraying Steele and his ticketmate, governor Bob Ehrlich, as Democrats. Steele is currently Maryland’s lieutenant governor; Ehrlich is governor.”
Ah yes, refreshing, invigorating. out-of-the-box, counter-intuitive. That’s Michael Steele for you. Unfortunately, he’s also pathetic, dishonest, feeble and contemptible. Now THAT’S a resume qualifying him for a run at the presidency.
