Just damn.
If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...
Posted on 02/09/2005 7:29:16 AM PST by minus_273
(CBS) A longtime aide to Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich has resigned after admitting that he spread rumors on the Internet about the marriage of Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley.
Joseph Steffen acknowledged that he was the author of postings on FreeRepublic.com, a conservative Web site, that suggested O'Malley was cheating on his wife.
"The governor had no idea. I don't even think he knows where the Web site is. If anyone is guilty, it is me. There was no outside influence," Steffen told the Baltimore Sun.
O'Malley, a Democrat, is expected to seek the Democratic nomination for governor in 2006. That would put him on a political collision course with Republican Ehrlich.
Steffen's activities came to light after the Washington Post obtained copies of his postings on FreeRepublic.com and private e-mails he has written about O'Malley's marriage.
In an interview with the Post, Steffen, 45, acknowledged that he had a reputation for hardball politics.
"They call me the Prince of Darkness," he told the newspaper.
The revelations touched off a round of accusations and denials.
O'Malley said Steffen's activities were part of a "concerted and orchestrated and sustained" effort to smear him.
"I don't think any of us run for office expecting that this sort of hurt will be heaped on our kids or our spouses," O'Malley told the Post.
The governor denied that he knew what Steffen had done, or that there was a GOP whispering campaign targeting the Baltimore mayor.
"Let me tell you, I don't put up with this, and I will not put up with this. Bottom line," Ehrlich said.
O'Malley publicly addressed rumors about his marriage for the first time on Tuesday.
"I have always been faithful to my wife, from our first date to this date," he said.
O'Malley is married to Baltimore Judge Catherine O'Malley. The couple has four small children. He told the Post that the infidelity rumor had been afloat for many months.
On one occasion, O'Malley said, he was told by an aide that people had called a TV station's tip line to say their children had overheard O'Malley's children saying, "Daddy doesn't live with Mommy anymore."
What was his screen name?
I hardly call it a smear. It said he posted the rumors on FR, which he admitted to.
What was this guy's screen name?
Just damn.
If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...
NCPAC
ncpac
NCPAC, according to WashPost....
I agree. A smear would require that FR was complicit in the rumour spreading. Every I-Net savvy person knows that anyone can post anything on a Blog, even DU.......
Some of the MSM probably post over there.
hmm. mebbe he thought he was karl rove planting rumors so that we'ed make them public . then he'd jump all over us for spreading them. point is that we have more class than that, an dhe got hoisted by his own petard.
(And I just KNOW he's lurking)
CBS sure is bitter. BTW, FOX really showed cbs how to put on a halftime show.
Steffen has been fired. And you know what? AFAIK, FR didn't hire Marshall Dick Thornburgee to do a "no holds barred" six month detailed investigation. And Steffen wasn't an Anchor, wasn't a bwana poobah. Where is the Columbia Journalism Review? Haven't they written a blistering article scalding those who would impeach Steffen's actions?
If he worked for the Maryland Governor, he had no business coming on FR posting rumors about a potential opponent of his in the next election. That is just flat out stupid if you ask me.
It is totally different if you are not a paid staffer and post rumors. A paid staffer should NEVER be caught posting rumors. I would have fired him in a minute myself.
How can you defend this?
the rumors must not have been substantiated since I never saw the thread.
seems FR did its job, the manure fell off to the bottom.
a fact lost on CBS.
Even with this story, FR has far more credibility than any news program at CBS.
There is no smear here. FR is associated with internet rumors. Some true, some not.
Another thread about you...
They are giving us publicity. Even though they intend it to be negative, it gets our name out there. When people come to this site, they are hooked. CBS continues to dig its own grave.
LOL! (True, but LOL anyway)
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