Paulson agrees with Steele that the ‘Republican brand quite frankly sucks,’ not much else

It's not every day that the state Democratic Party's communication director and one of Maryland's most prominent Republicans agree on a party's political fortunes. But after former Lt. Gov. Michael Steele told a crowd of Republicans that "the Republican brand quite frankly sucks," David Paulson emailed PolitickerMD.com to express his empathy for Steele's idea.

"I don't disagree with Michael Steele on his low opinion of the Republican brand - it's in the toilet for a lot of reasons," Paulson wrote in an email to PolitickerMD.com. "But Republicans who think they only have a branding problem are fooling themselves. This isn't a public relations problem. This is a public trust problem."

And that's where the temporary agreement between Paulson and Steele ends.

Steele was campaigning Tuesday for state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) in his attempt to win the 1st Congressional District seat when he made the comments about how difficult it would be for Republicans to win in the 2008 elections. Steele said that Harris as a candidate was the solution to those difficulties.

"Andy Harris is just more of the same - all talk and no action, especially when it comes to gas prices," Paulson wrote to PolitickerMD.com. "If Harris is so concerned with gas taxes why didn't he sponsor a bill as a state senator? He has even failed to officially request that any action be taken now. Proof once again that Harris (sic) all talk and no action."

Paulson concluded the email by criticizing Republicans even further: "Republican hypocrisy is not a branding problem. It's more like we-can't-believe-you-because-we-don't-trust-you problem."

Justin Ready, the state GOP's executive director responded to Paulson's statements: "Scandal after scandal, failure after failure...sounds like the motto of Martin O'Malley's administration. Have there been Republicans who have abused the public trust? Yes. It was wrong and those Republicans have largely resigned in disgrace. However, I really don't think Mr. Paulson wants to get into a blow-by-blow account of which party has been guiltier of corruption and incompetence, particularly in our state of Maryland."

He continued: "As for Andy Harris, he is taking a proactive step to address this unprecedented gas and energy crisis which, by the way, has been at least made worse by the Democrats refusal to explore for oil anywhere...anytime..."

Ready went on even further: "Talk about all talk and no action, all we get from our liberal friends in Maryland and elsewhere is vague platitudes about wind and solar, as if companies just need a little government money and then they will start rolling out sun and wind powered cars! Andy Harris called for a special session to address gas prices but Mr. Paulson's boss, Governor O'Malley, has refused. Too busy in Ireland I guess."

The Andy Harris campaign declined to comment on Paulson's statements for this article.

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• Steele, on the stump for Harris, says ‘Republican brand quite frankly sucks'

• Steele 'absolutely' wants to be governor, but will not run if Ehrlich does