O'Malley rumor has become weapon in governor's race (NCPAC/MD4Bush - Free Republic mentioned)

Baltimore Sun ^ | 05/19/05 | David Nitkin

[conservative in nyc]

It started as a rumor, but the tale of Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley's supposed marital infidelity, unproven and denied by the mayor, has become much more.

It is now a tool in the race for governor, with risks and rewards for the politicians who wield it.

Last winter, an aide to Republican Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. was fired for participating in an Internet discussion about the rumor and O'Malley -- who is expected to seek the Democratic nomination for governor in 2006.

--Snip--

But the governor has suggested that Steffen was set up by Democrats.

If it turns out that Democratic operatives or O'Malley loyalists plotted to ensnare Steffen or leak the story themselves, the political saga gets more complicated. Ehrlich could portray himself as a victim, heightening pressure on O'Malley and Democrats to detail their role in the drama.

--Snip--

This much is certain: The rumor is not going away any time soon.

It burst into view again yesterday, when WBAL Radio resurrected a five-year-old Washington Post story in which Katie Curran O'Malley, the mayor's wife, raised the topic during an interview.

Analysts for the radio station, who are regular critics of The Post and other newspapers, said the March 2000 reference undermines a perception that Steffen was the driving force behind the rumors.

But no news organization ever said Steffen started the rumor. He exchanged comments on the Web site www.freerepublic.com, however, saying, "A few folks put in a lot of effort to ensure the story got some real float."

Steffen was one of several aides to Ehrlich when he was a congressman who were given jobs in state government. Critics say they formed a team that operated outside the normal chain of command, identifying disloyal workers to fire.

[conservative in nyc]

No news organization may have said NCPAC started the rumor, but they sure gave the impression that the O'Malley infidelity rumor was started by Republican political operatives and perpetuated by NCPAC on this website. WBAL's research is beginning to show just the opposite.

There's a lot more "analysis" in the linked story.

[conservative in nyc]

MD4Bush PING!

[Alia]

The Governor needs to stay on this story! What's that old chestnut about shining a light into the darkness? Those in the darkness become massively aware of every corrupt, sneaky thing they've ever done, and worry which one will hit the light first. Dems stepped RIGHT into this one. I do believe they laid the trap, given the facts I've seen. And they were trying for a "morality" play against the Governor.

[airborne]

If I recall correctly, JimRobinson is waiting for a legal request, so that he can releases the name of MD4BUSH.

I wonder if it's somebody well known, since this could have been resolved a while ago.

[ILLUMINATI_216]

Nitkin is a reporter. This looks like news analysis and commentary. He knows folks are keying on 'MD4Bush' and "O'Malley rumors" so he uses the catchy title to lure readers in and winds up delivering the dem's talking points about Steffan "keeping this story afloat" and rementioning Ehrlich's supposed "shadow government" and political hirings/firings.

Nitkin is slanted.

Governor Ehrlich was smart to ban his Maryland state governemnt spokesmen from giving Nitkin any quotes because Nitkin always takes the bytes and includes them in thinly veiled anti-Ehrlich, anti-conservative hit-pieces.