Redstate

By jannelsen Posted in User Blogs — Comments (1) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

Promoted from Diaries.

I do not believe it is cynical to observe that President Bush engaged in smart, no, brilliant politics in choosing Maryland's Lt. Gov Michael Steele as a member of the official, three-member delegation to the inaugural mass of Pope Benedict XVI.

UPDATE: Steele's statement here.

“It is a tremendous honor to represent my country and the State of Maryland at the installation of Pope Benedict XVI,” said Lt. Governor Steele. “I thank President Bush for the opportunity to be a part of this historic moment and to be witness to a tradition in the church that dates back to Saint Peter. I truly believe Pope Benedict XVI will be a Pope of the times, a teaching Pope who will continue in the tradition of Pope John Paul II of reaching people of faith where ever they are.”

Read on.

Steele is a prominent elected official from a state with a rich Catholic heritage, a high-ranking African-American politician, a practicing and devout Catholic, member of the Knights of Columbus, and he spent three years as a seminarian at Villanova.

Then, too, he's the Republicans' best hope to win the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by the retiring Senator Paul Sarbanes, D-MD. Selecting Steele for a high-profile spot on a Vatican visit will undoubtedly produce significant PR benefits.

Hard to find anything to disagree with in this political scientist's assessment of Steele's diplomatic responsibilities (Baltimore Sun registration required):

Matthew Crenson, a political science professor at Johns Hopkins University, said the role will give Steele "real visibility."

"I suspect there are many Marylanders that don't even know he's Catholic," Crenson said. He said Steele's presence could earn him new esteem among Catholic voters while also serving the White House's needs.

"It's politically correct because there's an African-American," Crenson said. "It makes the national administration look good."

Indeed, if Steele does run for the Senate seat, his campaign need not be crass about his mission to the Vatican. The footage will run in TV campaign stories, direct mail pieces with appropriate photos can hit targeted voters, and Steele can relate moving tributes to Pope John Paul II - a hero of his, as this National Review profile of Steele notes - while referring tangentially to his journey to Benedict's inaugural mass.

Maryland remains a tough place for a Republican to win statewide, obviously, but Gov. Ehrlich has shown it can be done, Steele's a fine candidate, and it sure appears President Bush is on his side.

OTHER MARYLAND SENATE NEWS: Politicos are hungering for a Steele versus Kweisi Mfume race in 2006, but Mfume, the former Congressman and NAACP president, by no means has the Democratic nomination wrapped up. U.S. Rep. Benjamin Cardin is entering the race , and Rep. Chris VanHollen certainly appears interested.

One expects Mfume would enjoy the advantage, given his access to national money, his bona fides and appealing character. But Cardin is on Ways & Means, which also provides him access to campaign contributions, and early polling shows him stronger in a head to head versus Steele than is Mfume.

Presidential Delegation to Inaugural Mass of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI

President George W. Bush today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to the Inaugural Mass of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on April 24, 2005.

The Honorable Jeb Bush, Governor of Florida, will lead the delegation.

Members of the Presidential Delegation are:

The Honorable Michael Steele, Lieutenant Governor of Maryland

Carl A. Anderson, Chief Executive Officer, Knights of Columbus

Accompanying Members of the Delegation are:

Helen Alvare, Associate Professor of Law, Catholic University of America

Frank Hanley, President Emeritus, International Union of Operating Engineers