Some people will probably like Ben Cardin's new ad more than they should because it features his original opposition to the Iraq war fairly prominently. And don't get me wrong, I think that's a great statement. In fact, let me say that I, too am inclined to like this ad more than I should. But I don't, because there's one big giant word missing from the whole piece: Democrat.

What's wrong with that word? Why doesn't it pop up, even just in written form? I don't get it. It also begins with Ben Cardin being called a "skillful legislator."

Ben Cardin is running in a competitive Democrat primary against Kweisi Mfume for the right to battle Michael Steele for the Senate seat Paul Sarbanes is leaving. In a Democratic primary, in a blue state like Maryland, why not use the word Democrat? It's doubly stupid.