Democratic hit squad comes to Maryland.

[nickshepDEM]

Im sure you've seen the ads. They're short, but they sure do hit hard. One links Ehrlich to Bush on protecting corporations who avoid paying taxes. Another hits Ehrlich on the 40% increase in college tuition. The last and hardest hitting of all goes after Ehrlich for doing nothing to stop the 72% increase utility rates.



The group of assassins operate under the name - "The Maryland Fund"

But who are they?

From http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/28/AR2006092801766.html">The Washington Post:

While both campaigns have been advertising on radio and television for months, yesterday marked the debut of the first ads by a soft-money 527 group in the gubernatorial race. The Maryland Fund, which is fronted by several longtime national Democratic operatives, started airing 15-second spots in Washington and Baltimore that link Ehrlich with President Bush.

The group has also set up a Web site, http://www.ehrlichisbush.com/ , that says its aim is to educate voters about how "Maryland Governor Bob Ehrlich has run our state similar to the way President George Bush has governed America."

John Rouse, listed as the group's executive director on its Web site, has a consulting practice in Washington. Others involved in the group, Rouse said, include Jim Cauley, a Democratic consultant who worked on O'Malley's 1999 mayoral bid and more recently served as campaign manager to Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), and Thomas Sweitzer, a Philadelphia-based consultant.

No one likes negative campaigning, but after Ehrlich's 2-month assault on Baltimore City school children, parents, teachers, and police officers, I say, bring it on.

[Stinky The Clown]

1. "No one likes negative campaigning ....... "

But *everyone* likes the results of an effective negative campaign.

I say 'bring it on' indeed.

[nickshepDEM]

2. Did you see my post regarding Ehrlich's attack on the BCPD?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=157x3965

He thinks he hit one out of the park with this one. Personally, I see it backfiring. People dont like when politcians go after police officers (directly or indirectly). The FOP lodge from the City was set to endorse Ehrlich, but apparently they're not going to go through with it now. The damn State FOP is still going to endorse him though.

[aintitfunny]

3. I am confused, I see these and the ads about Steele

referred to as negative. I always though negative ads were personal attacks on lifestyle, marriage, personal history, i.e. sex drugs and rock and roll. I though negative ads were shallow truth dressed up to be purposely misleading, or actual lies. What was done to Max Cleland was negative campaigning. What was done by Bush 1 with Willy Horton ads, was negative campaigning. The Swiftboat ads were negative campaigning by a 527 group.

I am sure my bias is showing - but facts about issues facing Marylanders; such as the BGE hike, corporate welfare, GW Bush and the rampant destruction that his governance, or lack thereof, is wreaking, and the excessive increase in tuition placing college out of reach for the average Maryland family is fair game. While they are not sunshine and roses I don't think they fall into the category of "negative" campaigning, no matter what our pitiful local news media screeches. In fact, to me, they fall more in the category of public service - if the Democratic party does not speak out who will? The quote from Ehrlich spokesperson: "DeLeaver said that the ads are misleading and that the race should remain focused on Maryland issues." is downright silly. Basically she is saying that tuition, energy costs, and the overburdened middle class are not Maryland issues. I would not have known that had she not pointed it out.

Steele's "puppy" ads accused the Washington Democrats of attacking him. The first ad warned of such attacks - before any ad hit the airways. He warned that the Dems were going to make up things about him and make him sound awful - so bad that they will even say he hates puppies. That is negative, no matter how "cute" some believe the ad to be. Had his prediction come true then it would have been negative advertising. However,the Dem's responded with factual absolutes - Michael Steele's positions on a woman's right to choose and stem cell research are universally known. His fondness for GWB is a fact, GWB's support for Steele is part of the record. So...what is negative? Again, if the truth is not brought out by our party, who is going to do it? Certainly not the Steel campaign, apparently not the media.

Ehrlich is spinning furiously to exploit the negatives of Baltimore. He skews the information to demonize O'Malley. We don't have to do that, the facts about Ehrlich and Steele(particularly Steele) are bad enough, we just need to keep pointing out the facts. The plain, unvarnished truth. That is not negative campaigning - it is part of the process, in fact it is our duty to make sure the truth is shouted out at every opportunity.

I don't think this 527 group are assasins, the ads do not show any evidence that they are of the swiftboat ilk - at least not as of this date.