Debate Puts Steele on Defense

Douglas Stiegler, executive director of the socially conservative Family Protection Lobby, said Steele's answers did not concern him. "It sounds like he's trying not to get into that debate," Stiegler said. "From a political standpoint, I don't blame him."

Russert also pressed Cardin on abortion, asking about his vote against requiring minors to consult parents about the procedure.

"Parents should be involved in their children, absolutely," Cardin said. "The problem is you don't want it to become an obstacle, particularly where there has been family abuse. . . . You don't want it used as a way of preventing a child from getting the necessary medical attention."

Half of the one-hour show was devoted to the public's growing unease with the Iraq war.

Russert opened the show with a litany of Steele's shifting statements on the war and later asked Cardin to defend his suggestion that he would consider cutting off money for the war to force President Bush to withdraw troops.

Steele acknowledged that the war has "frustrated the American people" but said that even knowing what he knows today, "I would think we'd still prosecute the war."

Russert then presented Cardin with his own words from a newspaper article that suggested he would be willing to cut off money for troops in Iraq.

"You would vote to cut off funding for our troops while the war is going on?" Russert asked.

"No, I will never support turning our backs on our troops," Cardin said, adding that he would consider using the appropriations process to put pressure on the president to present a detailed war plan.