Steele Race Baiting--Still no Apology from Anyone

Democratic Senate Candidate (and frontrunner) Ben Cardin, finally weighed in with comments regarding the racial insults that have been hurled against Michael Steele. To say that his statement is underwhelming is a minor understatment:

“As I said five days ago, there is no place in this campaign for attacks or characterizations based on race. I share the Lieutenant Governor’s disgust and agree with him that this election must be about the critical issues facing our state and nation. There are major policy differences between the Democrats and Republicans and that’s what my campaign will be all about.”

Cardin needs to blast these racial comments, without such he and his party are losing the confidence of swing voters.

The Washington Times continues its coverage:

Even as Mr. Cardin declined to criticize fellow Democrats, members of the Congressional Black Caucus said Baltimore lawmakers in the General Assembly should "cease and desist" from making racial comments about Mr. Steele -- the first black man to win a statewide election in Maryland.

"My plan is to meet with them and ask them to stop this at once," said U.S. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Baltimore Democrat and former Black Caucus chairman.

Rep. Albert R. Wynn, a black Prince George's County Democrat, admonished Baltimore lawmakers and even described Mr. Steele as "a likable guy."

"I think the comments and the attacks were outrageous and reprehensible. It does a disservice to the African-American community, and it creates a herd mentality that whatever the Democrats say we should repeat," Mr. Wynn said.

Interstingly, Cummings and Wynn are Maryland's two black Congressmen and seem to be the only members of Maryland's 6 Democratic Congressmen to chastise their party for their actions. Reps. Steny Hoyer (the House Minority whip), Dutch Ruppersberger, and Chris Van Hollen have mde no comment even denouncing the actions. Still no word from state Democratic leaders.

The Baltimore Sun is quoting RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman, who spoke at a fundraiser in Baltimore:

Maryland Republican Party leaders denounced state Democratic lawmakers last night for racially tinged criticism made this week of Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele.

"Bigoted attacks like these ought to be an affront to any American who agrees with Dr. [Martin Luther] King's goal of a nation where people are judged according to the content of their character, not the color of their skin," said Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman, keynote speaker at a state GOP fundraiser at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore. "It seems to me it's time for the Democratic leadership to put a stop to these despicable acts."

The Washington Post has the best response from Steele I have seen quoted:

"When people say you can't be black and be a Republican, I look at them and tell them, `History proves you are wrong and your family probably proves you wrong,'" he said. "I just think that when we set up this monolithic test for individuals like myself to pass, it diminishes us."

Snip

"They don't call me Steele for nothing," the lieutenant governor said at a fundraiser Thursday night. "The tone of this campaign ... embarrasses us all."

If Michael Steele had been white and his opponent black and Steele and the GOP made comments like these, he and the party would have been, rightly, run out of the state on a rail. But Democrats and Democratic leaders are giving this racial bigotry a free pass.

More coverage:
Steele Race Baiting Update (today)
Leading Dems Don't Apologize to Steele (Nov. 3)
Race Baiting In Maryland (Nov. 2)

Linked to: Cao's Blog, The Political Teen, Jo's Cafe, Basil's Breakfast, bRight & Early, Don Surber