Perhaps we’re missing something.

Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich Jr. is receiving much-deserved criticism for holding a $100,000 fund-raiser at an all-white country club. Such a flub should be a major stain on the Republican’s resume.

But his mistake speaks for its insensitive self. What’s more amazing is that today, in 2005, there are still private clubs around that openly discriminate against minorities and limit membership based on skin color, religion or gender, that promote bigotry in club bylaws.

It’s appalling. And it’s legal. Maryland law allows private clubs to deny membership to women, Jews, blacks and other minority groups.

There’s an old joke from Groucho Marx that goes something like this: “I don’t care to belong to a club that accepts people like me as members.” We wouldn’t join a club filled with bigots, either.