Here's a recently uncovered post from the Limestone archives referencing Michael Steele's speech at the Republican Convention in 2004.

Limestone Flashback

Michael Steele is running for Senate in Maryland.

He was the first African-American ever elected to statewide office in Maryland. He graduated from Johns Hopkins University, and received his law degree from Georgetown University.

As Lieutenant Governor, Michael has lead the fight to improve access to better-performing schools; worked alongside law enforcement officials to reduce crime and secure communities; strengthened the state's minority business program to foster greater entrepreneurship; and worked with Maryland conservationists to protect the environment for future generations.

His complete bio is here. You can make a contribution to his campaign here.

Limestone Commentary

He was, in my opinion, one of the best speakers at the 2004 Republican Convention. As soon as he finished speaking I searched the Internet(s) for a copy of his speech. Here are some highlights:

"What truly defines the civil rights challenge today isn't whether you can get a seat at the lunch counter, it's whether you can own that lunch counter to create legacy wealth for your children."

"You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot help the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by encouraging class hatred. You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot build character and courage by taking away man's initiative and incentive. And you cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they should do for themselves."

"Now, at the Democratic convention, we heard one word over and over again: hope. But there's a problem, my friends. Hope is not a strategy. Hope doesn't protect your kids from terrorism. Hope doesn't lower your taxes. Hope doesn't help you buy a home. And hope doesn't ensure quality education for your children."

Read his complete speech here.