Maryland U.S. Senate candidates, Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele and Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin, appeared on Meet the Press yesterday where Tim Russert asked each about the Iraq war, the Republican Party, and stem-cell research. But Russert avoided mention of race and the prospects for Steele, a black Republican, to grab votes from the typically Democratic black voters.
"I would have liked to spent a little more time on ... an attitude in this campaign, where race has come into play," Mr. Steele, a Republican, said after appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press," the country's top-ranked Sunday morning political show.
Mr. Steele, who in 2002 became the first black person elected to a statewide office in Maryland, must win over black Democratic voters to overcome the Democrats' 2-to-1 advantage in registered voters. That's possible, say the state's black leaders, because Democrats have taken their vote for granted.
"Meet the Press" host Tim Russert asked pointed, detailed questions about plans for U.S. troops in Iraq, stem-cell research, abortion, judicial nominees and whether Mr. Steele was a "proud Bush Republican."
But Mr. Russert did not ask about the prospect of black Democrats, who make up about 40 percent of the state party, crossing party lines to vote for Mr. Steele.
"I don't do horse-race questions," Mr. Russert told The Washington Times. "Black voters have the same concerns as white voters, when it comes to the war in Iraq, stem-cell research, abortion, Supreme Court."
Nothing newsworthy in this. Right, Tim?
Oh, please. Is this guy's race really a substantive issue?
Steele decides to run for Congress. Some small gang of total morons says really mean and inappropriate things about him. And this is relevant to voters how? Should we let these idiots choose the issues that frame the debate?
No. Iraq is relevant. Race is not. Steele should be above this, and you should be, too.
Posted by: Jason | November 03, 2006 at 05:23 PM
True Iraq is relevant, but race is a relative too. It's especially so when you're talking about a changing demographic and the prospect of a solidly Democratic voting block peeling away because of how they perceive they are being treated on their key issue - race. This is not news?
The point of this is that for most of the press, reporting the substantive issues in this election cycle is secondary to reporting what they believe will advance Democratic chances this Tuesday. Drawing attention to Steele's success in drawing voters across party lines is something Russert wanted to avoid. Had it been the reverse and Republican voters were drawn to the Democrat, that news would probably have dominated the program.
Posted by: Tom Bowler | November 04, 2006 at 07:15 AM