Michael Steele, Ben Cardin, and Maryland's Party of Diversity

The Democrats are supposedly the Party of the Big Tent. The Democratic Party is supposed to be the voice for all colors, creeds, and classes.

If that's so, why is Maryland's Dem ticket so white? Why can't the Big Tent come up with some candidates representative of all those colors?

The Maryland Republicans, often cited by Dems as the party of the rich, the male, and the white, are running African-American candidates in three top races.

Republican Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, the FIRST black in Maryland to win statewide office, is running for the U.S. Senate.

The Republican Party of Maryland is also fielding two black WOMEN candidates. Anne McCarthy is running for comptroller and Kristen Cox is running for lieutenant governor.

So what's with the Dems? They don't walk the talk in Maryland.

From that fair and balanced publication that called for Dennis Hastert's resignation, The Washington Times:

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean yesterday said that Maryland's Democratic ticket should have had a black or other minority at the top, but added that the national party isn't to blame for the lack of diversity.

"I do think there should be more diversity on this ticket," Mr. Dean said during a visit to the Maryland Democratic Party's campaign headquarters in Hyattsville.

However, Mr. Dean said that the national party bears no responsibility for Maryland's Democratic ticket, which offers four white men for the state's top offices -- the U.S. Senate, governor, attorney general and comptroller.

Way to lead the party, Dr. Dean!

That "Don't blame me" strategy shows real backbone and vision.

"We don't interfere in primaries," he said of the DNC.

BS.

Let's be honest. Dr. Dean assumes that he's got the African-American vote in his pocket.

The Dems act as if the African-American vote is a given. They take it for granted.

The Washington Times yesterday reported that black business owners and religious leaders have expressed discontent with the Maryland Democratic Party's lack of black statewide candidates and said it will encourage support for Republicans -- especially Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele's run for the U.S. Senate.

In addition, the Baltimore Sun reported Thursday that Maryland's 10 black state senators met last week with U.S. Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin, the Democratic nominee for the Senate, and Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley, the Democratic nominee for governor, to complain about the lack of diversity at the top of the statewide ticket.

State Sen. Ulysses Currie, a black Democrat from Prince George's County, blamed a lack of discipline by the national party for the lack of diversity among the top nominees on Maryland's Democratic ticket.

The Dems rely on the black vote. They rest assured that they'll get it.

Clearly, it's an ominous sign when black Dem leaders are ticked off with their party.

Black business and religious leaders encouraging others to vote Republican -- That has to scare Dr. Dean and Maryland Dems.

Sure, he's putting on a brave face, but he must be afraid that black voters in Maryland aren't automatically going to vote Democratic this November.

Dean goes on:

..."Yes, we need more diversity. I'm pushing that very hard. I know [state party Chairman] Terry Lierman's pushing that very hard," Mr. Dean said. "But on the other hand, we've got four weeks left until this election. We need to do what's right for America, and what's right for America is to make sure we get rid of this rubber-stamp Congress."

A couple of things--

Dr. Dean claims to be pushing diversity "very hard."

Didn't he just say that the national party isn't responsible for Maryland's Dem ticket, washing his hands of the diversity issue? (Yes.)

Apparently, Dr. Dean's hard pushing isn't effective.

Furthermore, notice how the Dr. changes the subject.

He says, "We need to do what's right for America, and what's right for America is to make sure we get rid of this rubber-stamp Congress."

The topic is diversity, Dr. Dean. Pretending that the diversity problem in Maryland's Dem party doesn't exist won't make it go away.

Dr. Dean is counting on voters to ignore the fact that the Democratic Party doesn't fulfill its promises.

I think it's funny that the Dr. talks about a "rubber-stamp Congress."

The Dems count on African-Americans being a rubber-stamp for them, no questions asked.

Clearly, the Dems take the African-American vote for granted. Their arrogance is troubling. Even more troubling is their condescension.

So how do the Dems respond to the tightening race between Steele and Cardin?

They go to that dog-eared page in their playbook and start laying the groundwork for charges of election irregularities and disenfranchisement.

From that fair and balanced, macaca-obsessed publication that staged a smear campaign on George Allen, The Washington Post:

U.S. Senate candidate Benjamin L. Cardin yesterday voiced a lack of confidence in Maryland's voting system and worried that the problems that plagued the primary election could discourage voters from turning out in November.

"I am not convinced that they know how to run this election so that voters will not be inconvenienced to a point where they don't participate," Cardin (D) said during an interview with Washington Post reporters and editors.

Cardin's comments came on the day that state elections Administrator Linda H. Lamone announced that Maryland would continue using an electronic voter check-in system that repeatedly froze and rebooted without warning on primary day, confusing election judges and delaying voters across the state.

"After rigorous review and testing of the proposed solutions offered by Diebold Election Systems" -- the equipment's manufacturer -- "we are satisfied the issues experienced with the electronic poll books in our primary election have been resolved satisfactorily," Lamone said in a statement.

Cardin blamed the primary day foul-ups less on technology than on human error. Maryland election officials went to the polls without properly testing the machinery, he said.

"When we go to war, we don't try the equipment out for the first time in battle, so why are we surprised when we try voting equipment out for the first time that you have problems?" he asked. "The failure was not doing a full test ahead of time."

He expressed particular concern about how the glitches would affect voter participation next month as he seeks to drive up turnout in his bid to replace retiring Sen. Paul S. Sarbanes (D). The Baltimore congressman called turnout his "biggest challenge," in particular in heavily Democratic Prince George's and Montgomery counties.

Frankly, that's disgusting.

Cardin is trying to generate support for his campaign by crying foul and disenfranchisement.

The guy is running scared.

When in doubt, plant the seed that the election results will be unreliable.

That's a typical Dem move. IT'S GETTING OLD.

Cardin's biggest challenge isn't turnout hampered because of some technological glitches.

His biggest challenge is Michael Steele -- a very appealing, strong, and competent candidate.