Md. Democrats Search for Unified Message

The Associated Press ^ | 5/27/03

[LdSentinal]

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Since the party's defeat in the last governor's race, Maryland Democrats have been searching for a unifying message — an abrupt development for the party that controlled the governor's mansion for the better part of four decades.

Democratic leaders say they've yet to find a cohesive strategy or a way to counter Gov. Robert Ehrlich's message of no new taxes and smaller government.

"We don't have the bully pulpit. We don't speak with one voice. We're on the outs," said Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, one of the state's most seasoned Democratic politicians. "We have nowhere to go but up."

The party spent much of the recent legislative session bitterly divided over whether to legalize slot machine gambling. Last week, Democratic officials looked to use the bills that Ehrlich vetoed as a unifying source of ammunition.

New state Democratic Party Chairman Isiah Leggett brought Miller and House Speaker Michael Busch together for the first time Wednesday to critique Ehrlich's veto of a corporate tax bill.

They argued that the governor was protecting "fat-cat" contributors while forcing budget cuts that would hurt working families.

"For the sake of the party and the future, it is encouraging to see that there is an effort finally being made to speak with one voice," said former House Speaker Casper Taylor Jr. of Allegany County.

But Republicans saw it another way.

"Here's their message: We want to take more money out of the pockets of hardworking, law-abiding Maryland families and give it to illegal immigrants," said GOP strategist Kevin Igoe. "Bring on the veto override."

The governor also said the health maintenance organization tax contained in the bill would come from the pockets of families.

"Coming out for higher taxes is like coming out for child molesters," said Thomas Schaller, a political science professor at University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

Political experts say the governor has seized the upper hand in the debate over the state's financial direction and that Ehrlich's stance against new taxes seems unassailable.

"I think our voice is recovering. I don't think it's effective yet," said Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson. "I think the gubernatorial race stunned us. We really haven't recovered."

Where a succession of Democratic governors once set an agenda and tone for the party, top officials say it's now unclear who'll emerge to fill the vacuum.

"Who is the spokesperson who represents the Democratic Party? There is nobody. There is no counterweight," said Michael Davis, a Towson lawyer and campaign consultant who has worked for Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, a Democrat, and others. "What is the Democratic agenda? Who would put it together? Nobody."

[Only1choice____Freedom]

Look for it in the rubble of WTC or under Saddam's statue.

[ForOurFuture]

This mantra by the Democrats that "we can't convey our message to the voters" is the epitome of liberal elitism. It boils down to saying that if voters don't vote for Democrats, it's not because they don't like Democratic policies, it's just because just we haven't able to effectively communicate what we stand for. If they only knew what we stand for, how could they possibly vote against us.

Pundits and Democrats have been squawking this mantra on the national level ever since Nov. 2002 and now they're doing it in Maryland. Get over it. Voters know what you stand for. That's why they're voting against you.

[StockAyatollah]

Its amusing to see the MD Rat party falling apart (I hope). I just wish they would have done it while I was living there. But after decades of Schaeffer, Orlinksky, Miller, Schmoke, Glendening, Townsend-the-village-idiot, Sourbrains, Mikulski and various other corrupt or incompetent rats, there is still a lot of fumigation needed in Annapolis before MD is a livable state.

[LdSentinal]

I believe there are three reasons why Republicans did so well in the 02' elections.

1) President George W. Bush's popularity.
2) Bill Clinton's unpopularity.

And probably the most important reason why the Democrats were defeated in 02'.

3) The Democrats got their message out.

[LdSentinal]

I think Governor Ehrlich (R) has to give much credit to KKT's terrible campaign and KKT herself, former Governor's Parris Glendening's horrible approval ratings at the time, and Bill Clinton's visit during the final days on the campaign that energized the Republican base.

Ehrlich's victory does not mean that Maryland is losing its' Demcoratic edge. Democrats won the 2nd and 8th Congressional districts, though that was largely due to redistricting and voting registration totals show slight Republican gains during the past couple of years.

[Jimmy Valentine]

Busch and Miller are two of the most slow witted DemocRAT machine order takers ever to infest the Maryland State House. They never had an original thought in their lives.

Regards,

[from occupied ga]

Since the party's defeat in the last governor's race, Maryland Democrats have been searching for a unifying message

There are several unifiying messages for Democrats in Maryland (and elsewhere) They are:

1. Work hard, practice self denial and make difficult life choices so that you can make money and we'll seize it from you at gun point and give it to people who indulge themselves, don't work at all, and make continuous bad life choices
2. Defend yourself or your family or your property from criminals and we'll make sure you get prosecuted rather than the criminal
3. NO matter what you want to do we'll regulate it so that some pompous arrogant government bureaucrat who's too stupid or lazy (or both) to make an honest living will tell you what you can do how you can do it and when you're allowed to do it

These are the cornerstones of the Democratic party in Maryland (and everywhere else)

[Lee'sGhost]

What they need is a slogan. Something like:

Democrats -- putting "so?" back into socialism.

[rabidralph]

The Democrats have no message.
Ha-ha!--Nelson

[goldstategop]

They're ruling in Maryland by sheer force of inertia. If the black areas were ceded to DC, I think it would be a solidly GOP state.

[from occupied ga]

Oh and another Democratic unifying message I forgot "We will judge you not by the content of your character or by your achievements, but by the color of your skin."