Will Steele Release the Tapes?

Republican Senate Candidate Michael Steele, who was for President Bush before he was against him before he was for him, claims that Washington Post Reporter Dana Milbank violated his agreement with Steele and that the quotes in Milbank's story were taken out of context. In this case, "taken out of context" should be read to mean "embarrassing to my campaign."

Lt. Gov. Steele now says that he would welcome a Bush visit to Maryland to campaign for him. In Steele's upside-down speak, I imagine this means that he hopes Bush has pressing engagements that take him anywhere but to a state that is only a short helicopter or Metro ride away from the White House. SurveyUSA's latest tracking poll shows that a 64 percent of Marylanders disapprove of Bush's job performance so a Bush visit to Maryland about now is probably more of a dream come true for the Democrats than Steele. A whopping 82 percent of African Americans, who Steele has been heavily wooing throughout his campaign, disapprove of Bush. A Bush visit would probably nail down any prospect of Steele amping up his black support.

Revealingly, Milbank says he'll release the tapes if Steele agrees. So Lieutenant Governor, the ball is in your court. Will the truth set you free?