Further: Steele should be conversant at least with the concepts expounded daily on conservative talk radio, where the term is pronounced “state-ist” 100% of the time. His stumblingly and haltingly pronouncing it “stat-ist” was a dead giveaway that he had never heard the term. Ditto his pronouncing the author's name “Mark Leveeen.” It was just a dead giveaway that Steele is not in any way conversant with conservative thought in 2009.
“In the given context, it is pronounced ‘state-ist’ 100% of the time. ‘Stat-ist’ simply makes no sense whatsoever.”
What do you mean, “in the given context”? There is only one definition of statism of which I’m aware.
If you look the word up in the dictionary, I’m sure it says the “a” is long. But in common parlance, both versions are popular. Yes, I know, people are stupid and we shouldn’t let their bastardization of the language bring us down. However, I’ve heard respectable conservative pundits, ones with far better credentials than Steele, pronounce it the other way. It’s no sign of ignorance, really. That’s just the way a lot of people say it.