Michael Steele and Ben Cardin Debate

On Meet the Press, Tim Russert moderated a debate between the candiates for Maryland's open U.S. Senate seat, Rep. Ben Cardin (D) and Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (R).

Actually, that's not true.

Russert debated with Steele. Russert shilled for the Democratic Party.

Transcript

It's clear to me why Russert was so aggressive with Steele. He was an attack dog because Cardin is such a terribly weak candidate.

The first twenty minutes of the program was spent on Iraq.

Steele's position was measured and intelligent. He said that when we leave Iraq we must make sure that we leave behind "an ally, not an enemy."

Cardin kept contradicting himself and looking absolutely ridiculous.

Cardin is demanding that troops be redeployed from Iraq by the end of 2007; but then he said that he's against timetables.

It really was laughable.

Did Russert point out how silly Cardin was being?

Just barely.

Basically, Russert gave Cardin a free pass with very few challenges.

Steele said that Cardin needed to consider what Iraq would look like on the last day when the last soldiers withdraw.

Cardin blathered on and on about Steele's website. He said that Steele had buried "168 words" on his Iraq position.

Repeatedly, Cardin talked about the inadequacy of Steele's website. He said that Steele had only 168 words and no plan for Iraq. He charged that Steele had made no major speeches and held no major events on Iraq.

Steele kept asking for Cardin's Iraq plan. Cardin responded with the same "168 words" mantra.

It was embarrassing.

Then, Russert questioned Steele about being a Republican.

Russert adopted the tactics that so many Dems have disgracefully used against the African-American candidate. Although he didn't come right out and say it, Russert attempted to use Steele's race to turn other African-Americans against him.

Steele said jokingly, "I've been outed. I'm a Republican."

That's right, Russert. No one knows that Steele is a Republican.

Russert tried to attack Steele by showing a clip of Steele speaking positively about President Bush at the 2004 Republican National Convention. Russert put up a passage quoting Steele speaking favorably about Karl Rove.

Ooooooooh! Scary!!!

REAL African-Americans wouldn't say that stuff; only an Uncle Tom like Steele would. At least Russert didn't pelt Steele with oreos, like other "tolerant" libs have done.

Russert asked Steele, "Are you running as a proud Bush Republican?"

Steele responded to Russert's idiocy, "I'm running as a proud Republican."

Score one for Steele.

Steel went on to say that he considers himself to be a "Lincoln Republican."

Score another for Steele.

The increasingly desperate Russert then held up a bumper sticker -- "Steele Democrat."

He claimed that's false advertising.

How utterly lame!

Steele challenged Russert, "Have you heard of "Reagan Democrat"?

The impotent Russert then complained that Steele doesn't have a "Steele Republican" bumper sticker.

Steele laughed it off and said that would be a good idea. He thanked Russert for the suggestion.

Steele asked why he seems to be the only candidate who's expected to constantly label himself as a Republican.

The racial component of Russert's questioning was very apparent.

Russert asked Steele, "Would you be a reliable vote for President Bush?"

He said, "I would be a reliable vote for the people of Maryland."

Very good. Point for Steele.

If Russert was fair and balanced, he would have focused on Cardin's allegiance to radical Dems.

Why didn't Russert ask whether or not Cardin would be a reliable "weak on terror," "higher taxes," liberal vote in the Senate?

***Bias alert***

Russert took a break from his ineffective pounding on Steele and turned to Cardin.

Cardin has made it clear that he wants to "investigate the President."

Russert wondered, "Investigate about what?"

Cardin blustered for a while about the NSA wiretapping program. You know, the one that allows our government to monitor international calls to terrorists, the one that has no doubt played a role in preventing another massive terrorist attack on our soil in the five years since 9/11.

Of course, Russert didn't say a word about the misrepresentation of that program as domestic eavesdropping and how those opposing it are aiding and abetting our enemies, the terrorists.

Russert asked Cardin if he would consider impeachment? Cardin answered that he'd "consider an investigation."

Very lame.

Next issue: Stem cell research

Russert showed Cardin's repulsive Michael J. Fox ad.

Then, he showed Steele's terrific ad on stem cell research that features his own sister. She happens to be afflicted with MS.

Of course, he loves his sister. Clearly, Steele wants to find treatments and cures for diseases, to help her and all others who are suffering. He wants to follow the most promising medical research in the most ethical manner.

In short, Steele made clear that he DOES support stem cell research.

Steele said there's "only one person at this table who's voted against stem cell research, and that's Ben Cardin."

Steele was referring to a bill in the House that Dems refused to back.

The pasty Cardin blew a gasket, but his face didn't redden. (I didn't think he had any gaskets left to blow.)

The discussion drifted off into a debate about the bills in the House and the Senate and was a waste of time.

Still on stem cell research, Russert went after Steele, trying to make the case that his position was morally inconsistent.

Russert questioned Steele, "Should you close down fertility clinics?"

They routinely discard embryos.

Steele said that it isn't necessary at all to close down clinics. However, he would recommend looking into ways to deal with embryos that aren't used, such as setting up adoptions for those embryos (Snowflake babies) and other options.

Russert wouldn't let up. "How can you tolerate or allow embryos being discarded by clinics?"

Steele had already answered that.

Again, Russert pushed, "Would you forbid fertility clinics from destroying embryos?"

What an idiotic question! It's so extreme!

(I wonder where Russert stands on the issue. He's a big time lib, but he also claims to be a big time Catholic. How does he deal with his support of the destruction of embryos? I'm curious.)

Momentarily, Russert turned to Cardin and asked him about cloning.

Cardin said, "Human cloning is not acceptable."

(Allow me to digress and point out that my current governor, Jim Doyle, wants Wisconsin to lead the nation in human cloning. Republican Mark Green is against creating human life for the sole purpose of harvest and destruction.)

Cardin repeated this campaign season's BIG LIE -- that Dems support stem cell research and Republicans are against it.

He sounded like a fool, as all the Dem LIARS on stem cell research do, including Michael J. Fox.

Russert turned the debate to abortion.

He tried to sink his teeth into Steele again.

"Would you vote for a constitutional amendment that would outlaw abortion?"

"Would you 'HOPE' that the Supreme Court would overturn Roe v. Wade?"

Steele said that he believed in stare decisis and declared, "It's a matter for the states."

Russert got a little tough on Cardin by pointing out that he voted AGAINST parental consent for minors seeking abortions.

Cardin babbled incoherently. He said that parents should be involved in making decisions for their children and then he turned around and argued that they shouldn't be notified if their children want abortions.

He referred to abortion as medical care.

I'd put the procedure in a different category.

Russert brought up Cardin's support of partial birth abortion. Russert didn't make a big deal out of it because it's consistent with the position of his allies, the Dem party leadership (Nancy Pelosi) and Dem presidential wannabes (Russ Feingold).

Next issue: The Supreme Court

To Steele: "Is there anyone on the Supreme Court that you would have voted against?"

HAHAHAHA

Unbelievable!!!

Why didn't Russert ask if there has ever been an American president that Steele would have voted against?

It's a silly hypothetical.

Steele said it was a "gotcha" question. He remarked, "That's living in the past."

He said it's a "Woulda, shoulda, coulda" and laughed at Russert's nonsense.

Russert was obviously setting up an opportunity for Cardin to appeal to Dems. He said he would have voted against Samuel Alito and he would have voted against Clarence Thomas.

Russert asked Steele if he still considers Clarence Thomas a hero?

Can you hear the whispers, "Uncle Tom, Uncle Tom"?

Steele said that although he has some disagreements with Thomas, he admires him as the only African-American on the Supreme Court.

(That reminds me. Did Bill Clinton nominate any African-Americans to the Supreme Court? Did he? NO. The "first black president" didn't seize that opportunity.)

In a transparent effort to discredit Steele with African-American voters, Russert tried to say that Steele didn’t support affirmative action.

Steele corrected Russert and clarified his position. He DOES support affirmative action but with improvements to the system. Steele noted that NBC and other networks do not have African-Americans in upper management.

That had to hit Russert right between the eyes. Score another one for Steele.

When Russert questioned Cardin, he said simply, "Affirmative action?" Wow. What tough, probing questioning!

Cardin rambled a bit and then it was back to Steele.

On "runaway spending" in government, Russert demanded that Steele specify which programs he would cut?

Steele didn't hesitate to say that everything was on the table. Programs need to be judged on their merits and cuts made accordingly.

Naturally, Cardin babbled in a noncommittal fashion.

Much to Cardin's relief, Russert said, "We're out of time."

In sum, Steele was poised, confident, and intelligent. Cardin was the mirror opposite of Steele, fumbling and floundering.

Russert tried to crack Steele, but he failed miserably.

There is no question that the debate highlighted that Steele is the superior candidate, much to Russert's chagrin, I'm sure.

Bottom line:

Russert is a shill for the Democratic Party.

Cardin is a bumbling incompetent.

Michael Steele should be elected to the U.S. Senate.

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The Washington Post covers the Steele - Cardin/Russert debate.

The spin is fascinating.

Matthew Mosk and Ann E. Marimow write that Steele was on defense. That's not how I saw it at all, not even close.

Steele was completely in control.