Democrats accuse Steele of 'political identity theft'

Baltimore Sun ^ | September 22, 2006 | Jennifer Skalka

[youthgonewild]

No, Maryland voters, the printer did not make an error. Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele's new campaign signs seem to identify him as a Democrat.

A "Steele Democrat," they read.

The bright blue placards and bumper stickers made their debut yesterday in Baltimore during an event announcing a new coalition of Democrats supporting the lieutenant governor's U.S. Senate bid. Steele, of course, is the Republican nominee for Senate and a former chairman of the state Republican Party.

The group and accompanying signs appear to be the latest Steele effort to distance himself from an unpopular White House and a Republican Party struggling to maintain its hold on Congress. The state Democratic Party chairman immediately accused him of "identity theft."

Steele supporters said the term was akin to calling someone a "Reagan Democrat."

[youthgonewild]

Unusual...I don't think I've ever heard of a candidate explicitly pretending to be of another party before. I don't know if Steele himself approved the signs though.

[Uncledave]

Ha! this is awesome

[MadIvan]

John Major in 1992 got the backing of some people who had been active in the defunct Social Democratic Party (moderate socialists). I understand why he was happy to have their support, but I don't necessarily have to feel easy about it.

If Democrats are supporting Lt. Gov. Steele, excellent. But he should not coddle them by adopting any of their ideas.

Regards, Ivan

[cardinal4]

My daughter lives in Catonsville, MD. There are a whole bunch of "Another Democrat for Erlich" bumber stickers there. Erlich is the Republican Governor.

[The South Texan]

From the same group of Jackasses that illegally got his credit report.

Nice!

[7thson]

I just hope this does not turn off to many Republicans. Otherwise, I see nothing different here and the Reagan Democrat tag.

[cardinal4]

Good to see you Ivan. I remember Major had a lot of cross party support..

[Jim Noble]

Ivan, welcome back to the fight.

This time, I'm sure our side will win.

[italianquaker]

This is excellent, we always hear Reagan democrats

[sgtbono2002]

Only Democrats and the Sun would be so stupid they didnt get the message. Steele democrats , refers to Democrats who intend to vote for Steele, Whats the problem??/

[Katya]

he's not pretending to be a dem...they've just got their undies in a wad, because there may be alot of african americans ready to go for Steele...ergo Steele democrats. Of course, if the dems in MD are so afraid that their generic stupid voters might get confused....caveat emptor.

[digger48]

none of the Democrats running in my area will put any reference to their party affiliation on ANYTHING they put out.

[ConservativeMajority]

Ironic headline since Michael Steele was the VICTIM of identify theft by Chuck Schumer's staff at the Democratic National Senatorial Committee.

[RebelBanker]

The Baltimore Pravda is probably too stupid to even remember the identity theft incident against Mike Steele. However, the black community apparently does remember it. I have been informed that credit and access to it are "hot button" issues in the black community, so anything remotely like an identity theft against a prominent African-American really tics them off.

Just for the record, I love puppies.

[trublu]

His TV ads are unique. He even tries humor.

[pollyannaish]

Bwahahaha. That is very, very funny.

[drb9]

His TV ads would be more funny if the puppy that he pretends to like were cute. Instead, it looks like a mongrel. Does anyone know if this is his dog or a prop?

[kylaka]

Its just a label thing Ivan. It has nothing whatever to do with ideas.

I think of it as being the same as Clinton calling himself a "new democrat", ie a "sane democrat" as opposed to the usual looney kind. It's a way of saying "I'm like you" to the widest audience possible.

It's also similar to Ronald Reagan identifying himself as a former democrat. By doing so, in effect Reagan said I understand democrats. I used to be one.

[pogo101]

The Dems are just upset because they'd have a hard time finding many Marylanders who earnestly could claim to be "Cardin Republicans."

[expatpat]

Steele is a Republican and a good man, I think, but he's not a conservative (of course, a conservative couldn't get elected in a state-wide Maryland election, anyway)

[youthgonewild]

Actually I didn't think about this: those people have Democrat on the sign because they are, but they also support Steele, so its like a Democrats for Steele thing.

[freespirited]

The Dems are just upset because they'd have a hard time finding many Marylanders who earnestly could claim to be "Cardin Republicans."

They may also be freaking because a post-primary poll shows him +1 over Cardin. Pulling a third of the black vote at the moment, while Ehrlich is only getting about 15% of it.

I really like this guy.

[drubyfive]

Kind of like Jews for Jesus. Very popular among other Jews--not.

[perez24]

I think Michael Steele could be a very big deal in GOP politics for a very long time.

[Reagan79]

hahaha, all eight of them

[hophead]

There is NO misrepresentation here. It is like the "another Democrat for Ehrlich" signs. Or Reagan Democrat voters years ago.
Imagine, here in the Peoples Republic of Maryland, where the dems are 3-1, it took the Repubs to elect the first statewide black to office. Now it is the Repubs that will elect the first black Senator from Maryland. The dems could not elect ant statewide blacks in the primary. They ALL lost to white people.
Now Steele has on his side the son of Kwesi Mfume who was a dem opponent of Steele. (1 of 7 illegitimate children Mfume had with different women) Mfume lost. Last week none other than Russell Simmons (Def Jam Records) came to town to help Steele fund raising. The dems in this state are besides themselves with the possibility Steel will win. They are going to pull EVERY trick, dirty trick and race card they can come up with until the election. This race in Maryland will have national ramifications in the support of blacks to the dems. They will begin to really see who is on their side and who has just been saying for decades who is.

[sgtyork]

That's got to make Democrat's hair stand on end!

[AuH2ORepublican]

Michael Steele is not saying that he's a Democrat, he's just showing that many Democrats support him in spite of their respective party labels. The most famous example of this, of course, are the Reagan Democrats of 1984, but this is very common in many states; I remember in 2002 how Ed Koch and other prominent NY Democrats ran ads stating "I'm a Democrat, a Pataki Democrat" and endorsing Governor Pataki for reelection.

[doberville]

Once again you ride in with your keen eye for the obvious!
Thank you Sgt B! ;0)

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

Reagan Democrats?

[defenderSD]

"I don't think I've ever heard of a candidate explicitly pretending to be of another party before."

What are you talking about? Steele isn't pretending to be a Democrat. The signs just identify Democrats as supporters of Steele. It's exactly the same idea as the term, "Reagan Democrat."

[Norman Bates]

As for his pro-life position, he is very conservative. He may have some moderate social positions. As far as fiscal matters, he is endorsed by the Chamber of Commerce and the Club for Growth.

[RockinRight]

I dunno about that, I'd say he is every bit as conservative as Ronald Reagan. He's pro-life, and endorsed by the Club for Growth...what more can you ask for?

[RockinRight]

As in...President?