From the article, Steele Election Backlash In Maryland, by Stephanie H. Dray -- easily located on Google -- proves just how important it was for RNC members to bring on a vicious, nasty campaigner onboard.
Last Tuesday, a gubernatorial race and an open senate seat in Maryland led to one of the most exciting and hotly contested election nights in Maryland's history. But questions about the last-minute campaign tactics of some Republican candidates have infuriated voters, started legal inquiries, and may ruin careers.As you will see, no careers were ruined. In fact, the person responsible has been promoted to the top political job of the Republican party.
An election day flier authorized by Republicans Michael Steele and Robert Ehrlich purported to be a "Democratic Sample Ballot." It mislead voters into believing that Steele and Ehrlich were running on the Democratic ticket in the very blue state of Maryland. Deception is certainly nothing new in political campaigns, but neither is the tactic of targeting the minority vote for disenfranchisement.Not only was Steele guilty of deceptive campaign practices, he took his deception to the heart of the African-American community. When RNC members can find an African-American who hates black people in the age of Obama, they knew they had hit the public relations jackpot!The flier was distributed at minority polling places and used the images of prominent black leaders in the state, above the words, "These are OUR Choices."
Current County Executive Jack Johnson strenuoustly objected to his image being used under false pretenses, and held a press conference to denounce the flier, saying, "We have folks that are running for the highest offices in this country that are using tactics that are false. What example is that to our young people?"And while Johnson objected, by the time he and others found out what Steele was up to, a majority of those handed the fliers and mislead by his tactics had already voted. Using images of elected Democrats, Steele was apparently too ashamed to be photographed with elected Republicans in Prince Georges County. What does the RNC think of his tactics in 2006? Two years later they hope Steele brings those tactics to the party at the national level.
Electioneers handing out the misleading pamphlets turned out to be hundreds of homeless people, particularly blacks, bussed in from Philadelphia in the wee hours of the morning. They had been promised $100, some donuts and coffee to hand out the misleading literature at the polls - particularly in Prince George's County, where the African American vote is dominant.Disgusted yet?When asked, neither Steele nor Ehrlich denied their involvement with the flier or the homeless electioneers. And according to the New Republic, both candidates were involved in a similar incident four years ago, using local homeless people. But that turned out to be a debacle, with the homeless staging a protest when they weren't paid as promised, which may have prompted both campaigns to recruit from out-of-state this time.
You shouldn't be. The members of the Republican National Committee made it clear that they applaud this behavior. Steele has shown that he will prey on minorities, the poor, and the homeless. As a religious man, maybe we should question his spelling, the next time Steele suggests preying together. It's got him this far, and I'm sure he wouldn't hesitate to do it again.
