Maryland Dems resort to lies and distortions in Gov race

from JoeUser Forums

Maryland Democrats have been reaching new lows in their lies, distortions and mis-statements of facts in the Governors race.

These clowns have been passing out "BOB raised my childs tuition" bumper-stickers, as well as running TV ads and radio spots touting that claim, and making a few other bold claims as well.

The other bold claims include slams at Republican Governor Robert Ehrlich's claims of remembering his middle-class roots and suburban Baltimore heritage.  Ehrlich very much remembers where he's from, and where he grew up, and many in that area remember him as well and still support him.   Unfortunately though, he is running against the current Mayor of Baltimore, and Mayor Martin O'Malley and his Democrat friends are doing everything possible to make Ehrlich the outsider.

O'Malley has governed over (lorded over as Mayor) a city that has had continued problems with it's police department and with crime in general.  There are claims by O'Malley's camp that Ehrlich's claims about Baltimore crime stats are wrong, not fair, etc.  There are outright distortions claiming that Ehrlich has been investigated for election issues when that isn't true at all.

And then there are the claims about the school tuition and the lack of support for middle-class and working families because Ehrlich veto'd the so-called "Wal*Mart health insurance bill" and offered tax amnesty and corporate tax breaks to businesses in Maryland while tuition increases were made.

The facts are that tuition costs have increased in Maryland, and for the most part the education budget in Maryland has been very tight.  But the further facts would show it's because of Democrats.  Democrats that didn't pass a bill legalizing slot machines at race tracks.  Revenue from which was ear-marked for education while the rest of a budget that had over a billion in deficits was brought back into balance.  A budget deficit that was created by the tax-and-spend (more than you have on hand) former governor, himself a Democrat, spent like crazy and as if there was no tomorrow.  A budget deficit worsened because the Democrat controlled legislature wouldn't reign itself in and cut spending.  Instead they looked for other revenue and places to raise taxes.  Places other than the slot machines that would impact only those stupid enough to continue to feed them nickles, quarters, or dollars.

As a father that is watching his son try to go to school while his family is on a tight budget, I wish that higher education costs were cheaper.  I know for a fact that they could be.  I know for a fact that we (citizens of Maryland) let millions in revenue cross the border to Delaware, and West Virginia, and lately to Pennsylvania.  All areas that have legalized slot machines.  We could have raised billions in the last 4 years, but we lost the opportunity because of State Speaker of the House Michael Busch and his friends that helped prevent a slots bill.

On the Wal*Mart bill issue that the Democrat commercials are now distorting the facts on, the Democrats rightfully claim that Ehrlich vetoed that bill.  That is true.  What they fail to mention is that the Democrats overrode the veto and then the law was found to have been unconstitutional by the courts in Maryland.  Ehrlich knew that, he warned the Democrats of that, and they still went on their merry way passing a law they knew was unconstitutional.

On the crime statistics issues for Martin O'Malley the facts don't paint a pretty picture for O'Malley and yet he claims that the Governor's office and the Maryland State Police statistics paint a different picture.  If they do, it's likely because O'Malley and his handlers have worked hard to hide the real facts from the public.  They classify violent crimes as misdemeanors so that the numbers don't look as bad.  Then they argue over whose statistics are right.

The Democrats could well beat the incumbent governor, but if they do it'll be because they've distorted the facts and resorted to the worst in trying to regain power they lost due to their own wretched incompetency just a few years ago.

politics
2,526 views 4 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
Darn it, my mind is drawing a bit of a blank right now on issues I wanted to discuss in the Virginia Senate race.  I hope to remember what it was momentarily and post an article on that race too.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
Virginia? Well, let's see "We need to increase revenues to the Federal Government". But according to the democrats, that does not mean raising taxes. Nope! Webb did not say he would raise taxes. He just wants to increase revenues.
Fences - Organize your desktop icons today!
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
just outta curiousity, terpfan have you seen hbo's 'the wire'? if you have and have seen the past couple seasons, i'd be interested in your opinion of its portrayal of baltimore politics.
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top

just outta curiousity, terpfan have you seen hbo's 'the wire'? if you have and have seen the past couple seasons, i'd be interested in your opinion of its portrayal of baltimore politics.

bee - I've not seen enough of The Wire to honestly say I've watched it.  I do subscribe to HBO, have seen an episode or two (long ago), know of the people behind the show, and know that many of the people in the show were from shows that I enjoyed previously (such as Homicide: Life on the Streets on NBC back a few years ago).

So, I really can't comment about parallels in the TV show, but would point out that Baltimore politics have long been some of the dirtiest ever played.   I can't say for sure that William Donald Schaefer was someone that played that cleanly when he was running for, and holding the office of, Mayor of Baltimore, but I know he was known for pulling some wild and crazy stunts when he became Governor.  Personal vendettas were well known for that man.

Curt Schmoke was, for all intents and purposes, someone that just held the office and didn't accomplish much while Mayor there.

And finally, O'Malley has been mayor there for several years now with things having continued to go in the wrong direction.

I'm not a huge fan of Schaefer, but he worked his butt off to make Baltimore a better place and take it out of it's doldrums and into the modern era.  He helped oversee a rejuvenation of the Inner Harbor area, and lobbied hard to get football in Baltimore again.

Unfortunately, if you venture away from the Inner Harbor and back into the neighborhoods, the rejuvenation never seemed to come.  The neighborhoods have continued to see crack addicts, meth labs, and other problems that haven't been cleaned up at all.

I won't say I fear going to Baltimore, but there are large parts where I wouldn't want to be driving around, and most certainly wouldn't want to walk around in.

All of which leads back to my statement that O'Malley and his friends have told a few l'il white lies and some out and out whoppers as they try to tout what a great place Baltimore is, with crime problems that are getting better, etc.

 

Finally, I will say that at some point I'll sit and watch The Wire on DVDs and probably kick myself in the butt for missing out on such a great show while it was on.  I give HBO a lot of credit for standing by the show and giving it the run they have.  It is (by all accounts) a vastly underappreciated gem that not many have found.