1115.org

In every election cycle it’s always interesting to watch certain candidates try to pretend they aren’t completely incompatible with the constituents they wish to serve. Rick Santorum did it in Pennsylvania in 1994, but ran in 2000 and 2006 (even after it became clear that it would cost him his job, much to his credit) as the unreconstructed lunatic that he is. Running as a Republican in Maryland is usually pretty tough, but when you happen to be African American, don’t mind trying to fool people into thinking that you are a Democrat, and lying about your record (and the meaning of very simple words) it gets a lot easier:

Tim Russert: You had said that Clarence Thomas is a hero. You still feel that way?

Michael Steele: In this sense, that, as an African-American, and the only African-American on the bench. You know, I’ve disagreed with Clarence Thomas on a number of issues.

Russert: Which ones?

Steele: Affirmative action, for one. I, I strongly support affirmative action and, and believe…

Russert: You haven’t always supported it.

Steele: No, I’ve always supported affirmative action.

Russert: Well, if we go back in 1991, we’ve got a program here called “Affirmative Action that Doesn’t Work,” “Affirmative Action’s Become A Race-Based Quota Formula.”

Steele: That’s — but that’s not the same as saying “I don’t support it.”