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Well, unless we've been missing a Free Republic O'Malley rumor before 7/19/04, Free Republic isn't the first Internet site on which the O'Malley rumors were spread. Check out these posts in July 4-7, 2004 mailbag on dcrtv.com, which seems to be frequented by... the local Baltimore and Washington TV and radio media:

Dave, Have you heard anything about the reported affair with [a certain Baltimore mayor] and [a certain former Baltimore TV anchor]. She left the station a few months ago. I will tell you this, I have a close friend who works at one of the Baltimore TV stations (I can't say which) and this story is starting to come out. Was told she just had twin babies and part of the move to NY was because of this messy affair with the mayor. Just wanted to pass this along to you. Thanks, Jerry MacNeish (7/4/04)

Interesting bio for Baltimorean Sade Baderinwa at WABC 7 New York's website. Gotta love the bungee jumping part!..... abclocal.go.com/wabc (7/4/04)

Sick of reading the veiled references to "a certain Baltimore Mayor" and "a certain former Baltimore TV anchor" who moved to NY, is allegedly having twins. THE RUMOR ISN'T TRUE. You don't have to have "a close friend" at one of the stations to know it's crap. The rumor has taken on various characters over the last *three* years, with a different anchor each time. Please know, all the people in one local newsroom chuckle at these allegations every time they come up. (7/5/04)

The sad part about the 'mayor/anchor' rumor mill is that the media see this stuff all the time. And they do nothing about it. I don't buy the line that the media can't 'out' someone. You can bet if it were a Republican mayor fratenizing with someone, the media would be all over it. Just look at how they treat the Bush twins. However, given their biases, the media did nothing while watching Clinton and Lewinsky fratenize at a Starbucks almost next door to WUSA. I think its the media who start and fan these rumor flames just so they have something to chuckle about when they have nothing to report. (7/5/04)

I concur about the postings of an anchor and Mayor sleeping together. It is not true. Sade Baderinwa and Mayor Martin O'Malley DID NOT sleep together. DAVE PLEASE KEEP THE NAME IN THERE! We are not stupid, and everyone knows who this is talking about. Duh! She went to NYC in August last year, and it's been almost 11 months. Sade hasn't had any time off to have a baby, and hasn't had any time off and been back in time to have an abortion. Look at her photo provided (abclocal.go.com/wabc), does it look like she had a baby? I think not!!! Besides, the Mayor and his wife were at the City Hall Open House a few weeks ago together without a problem. Granted, these things could be hidden to public, but come on. This rumor has been around for at least three years and involved 1 anchor from WJZ, and about 3 or 4 from WBAL, and 2 from Fox45 -- none from ABC2. This is all of the scenarios I have heard. It was funny at first, but now average people are asking about this. You'd think the someone put a billboard up saying this because police are asking, PIOs, viewers, people who see our marked vehicles on the street, and while on other stories. Got a question to ask, do so instead of fueling the rumor! Call NYC and ask for her, and call City Hall to ask for him. PLEASE STOP! SIGNED, Cool Dude (Really, how many of think this is true, or are you all just having fun keeping it going?) (7/5/04)

Dave's response: Memo to the WMAR promotion department - put together a news ethics PR campaign touting the fact that not one of your female (or male) news reporters or anchors has been rumored to have slept with the mayor.....

Over the past few years I’ve seen the rumors of "a certain Baltimore Mayor" and "a certain former Baltimore TV anchor" who moved to NY in a whole series of guises. At various times it’s been “a certain Washington DC Mayor,” “a certain DC area County Executive,” “a certain area School Superintendent,” or “a certain area Police Commissioner,” and “a certain TV anchor,” “a certain TV weather person,” “a certain area Washington DC athlete,” and—oddly enough—nothing has ever come of any of it. Me thinks a rather repetitive area wag wastes too much time trying to fool the local media with this stuff. As for the local CBS affiliate going blank for 15 minutes…who could really see any difference? Dave In Sterling. (7/5/04)

Dave's response: Hey's, the July 4th holiday is a slooooow news period. So, 15 minutes of dead air on on 9 becomes big news.....

All of those same "local newsroom people chuckle" also when "the Baltimore mayor" passes out during a local concert too, but they don't ever report it, do they? Oh, I guess that's not news if the mayor is hung over after a late long show for tomorrow's tough city business day, huh? Maybe the rumors have no credibility at all, but the fact that "the Baltimore mayor" and WJZ 13 chose to respond to it in some hastily staged goofy family/mayor story, does add a news angle to the story. I doubt it will go anywhere, as there is one thing that most people believe more than most "local newsroom people"... we know you all would cover up for him or any other politician, regardless of party, as much as you would cover up for yourselves in a certain given necessary situation. Imagine the day when a certain mayor's press secretary doesn't return your call and you miss "the big story", huh? Well, we know that doesn't happen does it? Personally I'm tired of this rumor as well and think until someone files legal papers or public info appears, it should probably just go away. Oh, I almost forgot, even legal trouble for local newspeople sometimes magically goes away. Imagine that, huh? -------VOICE OF THE PEOPLE (7/6/05)