MD4BUSH: Democrats finally ‘fessing up to their dirty smears (MDGOP email)

Maryland Republican Party ^ | November 10, 2005 | Email

[mr.sarcastic]

Finally this week, the elusive MD4BUSH may not be so elusive. After dogged investigating by WBAL Channel 11 (note: not the Sun or the Post, who seemed intent on covering the earlier aspects of the story), the Maryland Democratic Party released a statement indicating that a member of their party’s staff is MD4BUSH.

Following the statement by Keiffer Mitchell, co-chair of the Maryland Democratic Party, that decried the dirty smear campaign by MD4BUSH, Chairman of the Maryland Republican Party John M. Kane called on Terry Lierman to launch an internal investigation into whether a current or former state Democratic Party employee is MD4BUSH.

"If there is something happening within our party, then let's take responsible action and let's handle it,” Mitchell said in a statement (Democratic Party Condemns MD4BUSH attacks, WBAL Channel, November 9, 2005.)

Chairman Kane released the following statement: “The actions of MD4BUSH have finally been condemned by the state Democratic Party after months of denials and attempts to marginalize the role of the dirty trickster, MD4BUSH. Apparently the Democratic Party has now abruptly changed strategy regarding the internet poster, MD4BUSH, indicating the state Democratic Party does, in fact, play a very prominent role in rumormongering and despicable character assasinations on elected Democrats in Maryland. I call on Chairman Terry Lierman to put his words into action and identify whether MD4BUSH was or is a state Democratic Party employee and expose the role the state party played in this saga,” Kane said. “Longstanding rumors regarding Martin O’Malley’s personal life were apparently promoted by his own party. Without a comprehensive investigation and a full disclosure by the state Democratic Party, Lierman and the state Democratic Party lack credibility on their recent denouncements. The Maryland Democratic Party has an opportunity to set the record straight now or they can choose to wait until MD4BUSH is discovered by other sources outside their organization.”

[WBAL reporter] David Collins reported MD4BUSH targeted Illinois U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, used ugly slang to describe Maryland U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski, and repeatedly attacked the character, integrity and moral values of O'Malley (Democratic Party Condemns MD4BUSH attacks, WBAL Channel, November 9, 2005.)

Here are some comments over the last several months by Democratic officials and members of O’Malley’s family:

Catherine O'Malley's father, Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, lamented the effect of the rumors on his daughter's family. "It is an outrage that people practice the politics of destruction rather than the politics of good government. I'm outraged that these things go on," Curran said.
(O'Malleys React To Rumors, Firing Of Governor's Aide, WBAL Channel, February 9, 2005)

The director of the Maryland Democratic Party, Josh White, said the apology sent by Steffen should have been in a more formal letter, rather than an e-mail.
(Governor ‘Annoyed’ After Article Questions Rumor Content, WBAL Channel, February 11. 2005)

But Josh White, executive director of the Maryland Democratic Party, called the message "lame and immature" because it was in the form of an e-mail instead of a more formal, conventional letter.

White repeated calls for Ehrlich to apologize. "The governor won't take responsibility for his longtime political hatchet man's dirty work," White said.
(Laura Vozzella, O’Malley gets apology from rumor-spreader, February 11, 2005)

Katie O'Malley: "I want to thank the press for really not buying into the stories, the falsehoods of these lies, that have been perpetrated against me, Martin and my children for the past 18 months."

In a March 10, 2000 article in The Washington Post, Katie responds to a compliment the mayor passed onto the reporter.

She says, "It helps offset the rumors."

The reporter writes, "Rumors? What rumors?"

Katie explains, "That he's running around on me. That he's been running around on me for years."

Katie blames the rumors on her husband's city council opponents.

Three days after that story is published, Katie's brother, Max Curran, a member of the state Public Service Commission, e-mails Deputy Mayor Michael Enright, O'Malley's top aide.

Curran: "What's this business about telling reporters that Martin is running around. Part of the deputies' job should be getting Martin home with the kids-I fear the worst."

Curran writes Enright a few hours later: "You have a loose cannon (i.e. Katie) who needs some help with both Martin's absentee-ism and the presses' cut throat inclination."
(O’Malley Camp Worried About Rumors Years Ago, WBAL Channel, May 19, 2005)

Collins said the Maryland Democratic Party called the governor's accusation "another example of the governor trying to deflect blame for his staffers' misdeeds."
(Ehrlich: E-Mails Part of Dems Orchestrated Effort, WBAL Channel, April 21, 2005)

Josh White, executive director of the Maryland Democratic Party, said the Ehrlichs' comments are misguided. "We think the ... administration should address the Steffen issue before they start handing out blame for personal attacks," White said.
(Associated Press, Kendel Ehrlich joins husband in fight against newspapers, April 26, 2005)

"We have no knowledge of who MD4BUSH is," White said. The governor "should stop chasing a hero and start apologizing to the people of Maryland because Joe Steffen said he did it."
(Jennifer Skalka, Democrats, Post named in Steffen web scandal, The Baltimore Sun, November 2, 2005)

[mr.sarcastic]

This came from the weekly Maryland Republican Party email, "Week in Review". I could not find a copy of the email on their website.

The article includes quotes from state Democratic Party officials and past quotes from Katie O'Malley (wife of the mayor) who may have had a hand in fueling the rumors herself in 2000.

[mr.sarcastic]

Here's another MD4Bush piece. In this one, the Maryland Republican Party has assembled some quotes that will come back to haunt Maryland Democrats, including interesting comments made by Katie O'Malley in 2000 about rumors of infidelity back then, five years ago.

[Carling]

The Washington COMPOST used this fishing expedition as a reason to smear the GOP. Now that Mosk is fingered in it, silence ensues.

What a joke of a rag. COMPOST editors reading this, more and more people are on to you and you stupid, sloppy smears.

[kayak]

ping

[mr.sarcastic]

According to the quotes above, the Washington Post could have reviewed their archives from 2000 and found that Katie O'Malley herself may have initiated the rumors herself five years ago, before Ehrlich was governor and before any Republican operative would have any reason whatsoever to dig up dirt on the mayor of Baltimore.

[TBP]

Well, what do you know? Teh Dimmycraps are changing strategy.

Tehy're still a bunch of liars.

[mr.sarcastic]

Is Katie O'Malley MD4Bush?

[notfornothing]

Now that Mosk is fingered in it, silence ensues.

The more I read about this, the more I think this must be the case.

It's become obvious that the real story here is the identity of MD4Bush. I don't think the Post doesn't see that, and I can't believe that the Post, slanted as it is, wouldn't jump at the chance at pursuing a story like this unless they were complicit in the act.

[Anti-Bubba182]

Thanks. It is good to see the MD GOP fighting back instead of just ducking.

[Doctor Raoul]

Raoul's First Law of Journalism.
BIAS = LAYOFFS

[Doctor Raoul]

Think I'll make that my tag...

[VeniVidiVici]

The Party of Corruption is stalling, looking for a way out.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

If RAT trees fall in the forest and the MSM doesn't hear, et all, nuff said.

[Iowa Granny]

incredible that this is coming out.

[fatteddy]

i live in MD......it's a stinking liberal cesspool.....yesterday josh ...pos white said he doesn't believe anything from FReeper site because it's right-wing.....now who's the liar pos josh???

[mr.sarcastic]

Josh White should really watch what he says, because his published quotes are going to come back to bite him in the (rear).

"We have no knowledge of who MD4BUSH is," White said. The governor "should stop chasing a hero and start apologizing to the people of Maryland because Joe Steffen said he did it."

[tgslTakoma]

Thanks for posting this.

I wonder how long we will wait for the MD DemocRAT party and the Washington ComPost to come clean?

I don't see the Washington ComPost rushing to tell its readers what they knew, when they knew it, and how much (or little) they participated in making the MD4BUSH story grow legs...

It's not just the crime. It's also the coverup.

Where is Matthew Mosk? Where is R.B. Brenner? Where is Leonard Downie?

[Little Bill]

I wonder if the fact that we, JR as FR knows, is introducing the sword of Damocles's effect?

[TaxRelief]

Perhaps a "no excerpting" agreement could be reached over this?

Why not negotiate? Do you want to take WaPo on head on, or is some reasonable settlement possible?

(Never burn bridges...)

[trooprally]

Great Ping

[Mrs]