A day after Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele announced that he was bound and determined, as a black Republican, to
erode black support for Democrats, Steele makes a surprise announcement, welcoming George Bush to come to the Free State to
hold a fundraiser for the likely Republican candidate to the Senate race in 2006.
Seeing as Bush just garnered a 2 percent approval rating among blacks, this doesn't seem like the best play that Steele could make. Of course, the byline to the article on the Bush fundraiser shouts "Appearance Expected to Give Major Boost to Senate Campaign", despite the fact that Dems are later quoted as saying:
Democrats said the event will bolster their contention that Steele's politics are out of touch with Maryland voters, a majority of whom are Democrats who oppose Bush administration policies.
Steele faced a similar line of attack after his only other publicly announced fundraiser, a smaller affair at the National Republican Committee headquarters hosted by Bush strategist Karl Rove.
More below the fold.
In the article on Steele's attempt to garner more black votes in Maryland, we get the following insight:
Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele spent a warm fall evening last week knocking on doors in an Annapolis townhouse community, lending support to one of the few other African American Republicans seeking higher office in Maryland, mayoral candidate George O. Kelley.
Together, the two slapped backs, shook hands and passed out a flier that not only promoted Kelley's campaign but in many respects also captured the essence of Steele's fledgling bid for U.S. Senate, as well. It urged: "VOTE for the MAN, NOT the PARTY."
Let's just reflect for a moment on the fact that Kelley finished
THIRD, a pretty remarkable feat in a two-party system.
Next, let's think about that slogan. How often do you think this conversation will be held?
"Hey, Jim! Who are you gonna vote for this year?"
"Well, I'm thinking about voting for the MAN."
...
Yeah.
Of course the Post is going to put some stupid crap in its headlines, that's its job. But it's remarkable that it puts this crap up the day after Kilgore took so much heat next door for being seen with Bush, and indeed the day after Bush was portrayed as a liability for Republicans around the country.
Vote for the MAN, indeed.