www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0805038.htm -
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Published on: 10/3/2008
Last Visited: 10/3/2008
Michael S. Steele said he is exceptionally proud that a major U.S. political party has nominated Illinois Sen.Barack Obama as its candidate for president in the November general election.
But as a Republican and a Catholic, the 50-year-old Steele said he is fundamentally opposed to Obama's political positions -- especially on life issues like legalized abortion -- and as a GOP leader with national influence he will do everything in his power to block the first black Democratic presidential nominee from becoming the nation's commander in chief.
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When Steele -- who had been the chairman of the Maryland Republican Party -- was selected in 2002 to run as lieutenant govenor on the GOP ticket with then-U.S. Rep.
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While delivering a political speech during that campaign, Steele said a few audience members tossed Oreo cookies at him to make a racial statement.He also said several "ugly blogs" participated in racial name-calling.
Race will be a factor in the November general election for the mere fact U.S. voters will have their first opportunity to choose between a presidential candidate who happens to be black and a presidential candidate who happens to be white, said Steele, who lost his 2006 bid for one of Maryland's U.S. Senate seats.
Obama has dealt with racial questions since he emerged onto the political stage in the late 1990s as an Illinois state senator, Father Massingale said.
"Racial questions were raised in the primaries," he said."Questions like, 'Is Obama too black?Is he black enough?Is he an angry black?'"
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"We may get to this one day when someone's race, religion or gender isn't a factor when they run for political office," Steele said."It's possible.It's about finding the will to make it happen.
"But, platitudes will not change the attitudes of individuals on race," he said.
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Though Steele said Obama's support for legal abortion is in direct conflict with the widespread pro-life position among black Catholics, several black Catholics told CNS Obama's support for civil rights and immigration reform show a deep respect for human dignity, allowing them to reconcile their support for him on life issues.
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But Steele wanted to make it clear that a vote for Republican Sen.
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"If Barack loses, people may misunderstand the why of his loss," Steele said.