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Steele, Cardin Debate Draws Sharp Distinctions
U.S. Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin (D), center, makes opening remarks, flanked by Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele (R), left, and independent candidate Kevin Zeese in last night's debate in Maryland's U.S. Senate race.
(By Ricky Carioti -- The Washington Post)
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Zeese, who has the backing of the Green, Libertarian and Populist parties, spoke next.
"I don't think we've been more off track than we are now," Zeese said of the nation. He derided the war and the efforts by special interests to control Washington. "We all know that the elephant in the room is that this country is being sold to the highest bidder."
Cardin succeeded only somewhat at his primary aim: pinning down Steele on issues that the lieutenant governor has avoided discussing: the Iraq war, health-care policy, Social Security.
The starkest differences between the candidates emerged during a question about the Iraq war. Cardin called for an immediate redeployment of troops without a specific timetable for withdrawal. Zeese called for an immediate withdrawal. Steele said that troops should stay but that the United States should "shift our tactics."
"This is not the time to step back," Steele said.
The moderator pressed Steele: "Tell me Mr. Steele, are things going badly?"
"In what respect?" Steele replied, prompting derisive laughter from the crowd. Pressed again, Steele conceded: "It's not going well, no."
The stylistic distinctions were ever-present on stage. On several occasions, Cardin slipped into using acronyms and impenetrable government-speak, while Steele fell back on his compelling personal story.
Steele presented himself as an independent voice, and he challenged Cardin's assertion that he would "change the direction of this nation" in the Senate.
"I appreciate your definition of change, but, frankly, it's an outdated definition," Steele responded. "How can you be a change agent when you vote 95 percent of the time with your party?"
Cardin disagreed, saying after the debate that his long record shows that "I call it as I see it."
Steele came armed with numbers for one of the most consistent lines of attack against Cardin: his campaign contributions from political action committees tied to large drug and energy companies.
