Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich is defending the state's Lt. Governor, Michael Steele, against accusations of being a sambo. The governor says Steele is "... a powerful candidate that some people fear."
A blogger has depicted Steele in minstrel makeup, an image that has brought to the surface racial issues that are an undercurrent in the 2006 campaign as the Republican seeks to become Maryland's first black US senator.The blogger in question is Steve Gilliard, proprieter of The News Blog. The Gilliard post which caused so much indigestion for Steele and black Republicans everywhere is here.
Steele officially announced his candidacy this week. Ehrlich says Steele has faced a lot of unfair criticism because he is a black Republican.
The article quoting Ehrlich does not contain a response from the governor to the substance of Gilliard's criticism of Steele. Gilliard contends that Steele has no credibility among black voters, and deserves none, for a variety of reasons, one of which is his defense of Ehrlich for hosting a fund-raiser at an all-white country club. It would be good to know in what way Ehrlich considers this criticism to be unfair.
The article fails also to elaborate as to what, exactly, is so powerful and frightening about Michael Steele. I don't know the man. He might very well be ominpotent and terrifying. I am just not willing to take Ehrlich's word for it. Some specifics, please, governor. Otherwise, don't be offended if we dismiss your defense of Steele as so much partisan blather.
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