Voting with Michael Steele

Weekly Standard ^ | November 7, 2006 | Sonny Bunch

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Upper Marlboro, Maryland

"Oh my God, Michael Steele!" exclaimed an African-American woman passing out fliers outside Kettering Middle School in Prince George's County. The tone of her exclamation was not excitement; rather, she was mocking a group of photographers, reporters, and cameramen waiting to watch Maryland's lieutenant governor vote. The woman continued sarcastically, "All these people here for Michael Steele! Oh, are you going to take his picture? Michael Steele!"

Steele's voting site in the heavily African-American county was unlikely to be a stronghold of support. He had some supporters in the crowd (a handful of people sought him out while he was standing in line) and outside the middle school, the vast majority of those in attendance appeared to be overtly hostile to the candidate.

"Anyone who's with Bush is not with me," proclaimed one black woman as she crossed paths with Steele in a hallway. There were other remarks in the same vein. While being interviewed in the polling place, another African-American voter stated that she couldn't support someone who still believed in "a false war based on lies."

Standing in line to vote with his wife, the pair wearing matching blue Under Armour windbreakers, Steele was surrounded by folks who clearly had no desire to vote for him. They made snide comments behind his back. "They're just trying to trick us, but we know better," exclaimed one elderly woman. She went on to explain that Steele's great "trick" was not cutting to the front, but instead choosing to stand in line like everyone else.

For 45 minutes, Steele was waiting in line, listening to the jibes, biting his tongue, and smiling bravely. If not for his resolve, it would have been a depressing sight--the capacity some of us have to be rude to strangers is remarkable. Michael Steele deserved better.

Sonny Bunch is assistant editor at THE WEEKLY STANDARD.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

What a shame people are so nasty. It sounds like they were waiting for him to show up.

[areafiftyone]

Sickening! They are so brainwashed by the Democrats for years and years its a real shame.

[kinoxi]

"They're just trying to trick us, but we know better," exclaimed one elderly woman.

She's not falling for the Jedi mind tricks this time. She knows better. /s

[Russ]

That's right, people, don't stray from the Dem's plantation. What a shame...

[beyond the sea]

pingeroo .............

[misterrob]

Can't stand to see a man who escaped from the influence of the democrat party.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, Republican candidate for U.S. senator from Maryland, and his wife Andrea (R) arrive to vote in the U.S. midterm elections at his polling place in Upper Marlboro, Maryland November 7, 2006. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES)

Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (C), Republican candidate for U.S. senator from Maryland, waits in line to vote in the U.S. midterm elections at his polling place in Upper Marlboro, Maryland November 7, 2006. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES)

[elhombrelibre]

It's a great tribute to him that he shows dignity in that environment. It's a shame that the Democrats have poisoned our electorate to the point where people feel fine insulting a good man like Steele. One reason the polls may be way off is that many black voters in Maryland would be subjected to the same taunts if they choose to vote for Steele.

[princess leah]

Only dems cut in line!

[auto power]

Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and Bill Clinton are rubbing their hands with glee.....they have "duped" the African Americans in the Democrat Party.....

[edpc]

She went on to explain that Steele's great "trick" was not cutting to the front, but instead choosing to stand in line like everyone else.

What a masterstroke! He further confounded voters this morning by putting his pants on one leg at a time.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

....One reason the polls may be way off is that many black voters in Maryland would be subjected to the same taunts if they choose to vote for Steele

You're right. They'd get the same treatment.

[newconhere]

I guarantee there were some in that room that saw the light at that moment and voted for Steele. I do not know why someone would support and condone actions like these. I pray some found the light. Prayers to Steele.

[beyond the sea]

What a shame people are so nasty. It sounds like they were waiting for him to show up.

Sometimes I hate the character that our citizens exhibit..

Michael Steele is a solid MAN!

[kabar]

LOL. The Dems substitute the white, Jewish guy for the past president of the NAACP and former congressman and she thinks that the Reps are trying to trick her. As long as they continue to drink the Dem Kool-aid, they deserve everything they get.

[AnAmericanMother]

"They're just trying to trick us, but we know better," exclaimed one elderly woman.

"The Dwarfs are for the Dwarfs."

- C.S. Lewis, The Last Battle.

They are so afraid of being taken in, they cannot be taken out.

[Jaysun]

It's hard to believe that these people are adults. What a bunch of loons.

[jwparkerjr]

One sign of mental illness is the inability of the patient to know what's good for them and to act in their own best interest. The recognition that something is wrong and the willingness to do something about it, even if doing so seems counter-intuitive, is part of getting well. I have never understood how so many minorities can act so much to their own detriment year after year, decade after decade. Even when someone they otherwise respect, Bill Cosby for instance, comes along and tells them the truth they aren't ready for it or able to accept it.

[dwf911]

What do you expect from Democrats? Most of them are all mouth and no substance.

[lady lawyer]

Dems have mastered the Big Lie. The "false war based on lies" garbage has been manufactured and swallowed whole for two reasons. 1. The Democrats desperately needed to dirty up the successor to Clinton -- the ultimate dirtbag -- to make it appear that the Republicans are no better. 2. Bush is an honorable man, and he hasn't told any real lies. Hence, the Dems have morphed what was an honest, worldwide misapprehension about the state of Saddam's WMD programs into a "lie."