Ideologically and politically speaking, do you really see that much difference between Harold Ford and Michael Steele?
Simply put, the big political difference is that Steele claims to be moving imperfectly against the trends of his party while Ford is moving imperfectly with his party. I'd rather be represented by the least favorite guy the party needs than by the party's favorite marginalized clown.
Ideologically, Steele is a Republican loyalist or they wouldn't be throwing money at his campaign (and I make similar observations about Rep. Obama). Steele's ideology is such that it allows him to claim otherwise with a straight face. I will not venture a guess as to what that ideology is, since Mr. Steele hasn't revealed much beyond implying he's a not Republican. That alone, though, is enough that if he wins he'll be the world's first self-castrating Senator.
If he's really sincere about holding, um, non-Republican positions, then if he wins he will be in one of two possible positions.
| Republicans win | Democrats win |
| Steele is outvoted in every case. Standard Republican platform rules. | Steele is in the minority and is powerless and pretty much voiceless. |
If he's lying, then, well, he's a liar. In that case, the result will look more like this:
| Republicans win | Democrats win |
| Standard Republican platform rules. Steele will claim to be the deciding vote as often as possible, and Republicans will call it proof of the power of Black Republicans. | Steele is in the minority and is powerless and pretty much voiceless. |
So there is no case in which the platform on which Steele is running...whatever it is...will actually affect anything if he wins. I guess that's a secord order difference, a matrix of the ideological and political differences.
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That's the same for Black
That's the same for Black Dems, so the point is?
Only the second set of
Only the second set of possibilities hold for the Dems.Â
The point being, if you hold views typical of Democrats the only way your views have a chance of being considered is if Democrats win. If you vote for Steele he will be marginalized (and you will not be represented) or you will be misrepresented.