RNC Speaker Tied to Slimy Campaign Tactics

WASHINGTON, DC - Ira N. Forman, Executive Director of the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC), released the following statement today:

Why is the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the John McCain campaign giving a privileged speaking position at tonight's RNC proceedings to former U.S. Senate candidate, Michael Steele? Less than two years ago, Steele and his supporters engaged in remarkably offensive campaign tactics.

First, the campaign itself printed and circulated a patently false voter guide to mislead African American voters. Moreover, on Election Day, Steele's supporters distributed blatantly anti-Semitic literature to attack Steele's Jewish opponent titled, "Ben Cardin EXPOSED! Ben Cardin Promises to Attack Jesus Christ, Pastors, Churches and Christians and to Take Away Blacks' Freedom If He Is Elected."

Steele knew of these scurrilous attacks by his supporters on election day, yet failed to denounce them. Only weeks after the election, after Jewish leaders pressured him, did Steele finally denounce these filthy attacks by his supporters.

If the Republicans are curious why they do so poorly among African American and Jewish voters, they might ponder the wisdom of highlighting Steele at their convention tonight.