NATIONAL GOP MIGHT THINK MICHAEL STEELE IS A DREAM CANDIDATE, BUT STEELE WOULD BE A NIGHTMARE OF A SENATOR FOR MARYLAND

 

It’s no secret that national Republicans desperately want Michael Steele to run for the U.S. Senate, with Senator Elizabeth Dole calling herself “a huge Michael Steele fan” and Karl Rove personally reaching out to Steele. But Michael Steele’s habit of showing just how arrogant and out of touch he is with the needs of Maryland families and workers suggest that he will be a nightmare for Maryland in the Senate.  Just last week, Steele suggested that making $300,000 a year is actually normal. [Baltimore Sun, 5/9/05; “Real Time With Bill Maher,” 4/29/05]

 

STEELE THINKS A $300,000 INCOME IS NORMAL… HE’S ONLY ABOUT $250,000 OFF.

 

Steele Does Not Consider a $300,000 Household Income to be “Rich.” As a guest on the April 29 edition of “Real Time With Bill Maher,” during a discussion about extending tax cuts for the wealthy, Steele asked repeatedly, “Who are the rich?” Before being cut off, Steele gave an example of people he would consider not to be “rich:” “If you take a man and a woman living in Middle America,” Steele said, “each making $150,000 a year with a combined household income of $300,000…” Moments later, when another guest noted that there is “less mobility of poor people to the higher levels,” Steele replied, “I disagree. I think we are seeing it.” [“Real Time With Bill Maher,” 4/29/05]

 

Ø      Maryland’s Median Average Household Income in 2003 was $55,213. [U.S. Census Bureau]

 

Ø      In 2003, 8% of Marylanders Were Living in Poverty. [U.S. Census Bureau]

 

Ø      In March 2005, more than 128,500 Maryland residents – 4.5% of the workforce – were unemployed. [Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation]