WaPo - Mr. Steele's Politics As Usual

[AnnieBW]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/03/AR2006110301436.html

Mr. Steele's Politics as Usual
The real candidate of the Washington establishment

Saturday, November 4, 2006; Page A22

AS HE CLOSES out his campaign for the U.S. Senate in Maryland, a central theme for Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele has been to paint himself as an agent of change and his Democratic opponent, Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin, as the candidate of the proverbial Washington establishment. In fact, Mr. Steele, a Republican, is the real go-along-to-get-along candidate in the race.

Despite his efforts to construct an image as an independent-minded newcomer, there is nothing in Mr. Steele's past -- no achievement, no record, no evidence and certainly no command of the issues -- to support it. Pressed on energy or the environment, health care or North Korea, he tells reporters that he would get "all the players in the room." That sounds fine but means nothing; he's running to be a senator, not a meetings coordinator. He proposes a list of big-ticket spending programs but offers no convincing idea about how they might be paid for. He knocks special-interest politics but is flush with campaign cash thanks to a team of GOP lobbyists.