My first blog posting in just about two months is a posting I made on Facebook yesterday. I toyed with the idea of blogging it, and had so much encouragement to do so, here it is:
“It’s interesting how things come and go in cycles, isn’t it? Despite the fact that it’s been 12 years since I got blown up politically, I still hear about that a lot. In fact, over the last 6 or 7 days, I’ve twice been asked about (1) Why do I hate former MD Governor Bob Ehrlich – for whom I worked, and (2) What REALLY happened that got me blown up in the media? Well, I’m going to address those things right here and now – hopefully for the last time.
To begin with, I don’t hate Bob Ehrlich. Not in the least. Hell, I don’t even dislike Bob Ehrlich.
But, what I do have is zero respect for Bob Ehrlich at this point.
After taking the bullet for his administration for allegedly spreading rumors concerning then-Mayor O’Malley’s alleged sex life as concerns extra-marital relationships online (which is something I definitely did NOT do – go onto Free Republic and check it out for yourself, if it’s still up. My screen name was “NCPAC.” In fact, as NCPAC, I told MD4BUSH to “stay away” from O’Malley’s personal life when bashing him.), I received a death threat. A phone message was left – in a distorted voice so you couldn’t even make out the gender of the caller – told us (my daughter and me) to not be in our apartment between this day and that day – something like 48 hours – or else someone would end up getting hurt, or worse, killed.
We immediately called Baltimore County Police and had a detective assigned to us. We played the tape for them, and law enforcement gave us something like 30 minutes to get out of there. Also, we were told to definitely NOT be there during the timeframe described in the threat. The next calls I made were to the late Steve Kreseski – Governor Ehrlich’s Chief of Staff and Richard Cross – Ehrlich’s speech writer. I told both of them about the death threat – and Steve Kreseski actually had the nerve to chew me out for not calling the State Police because the county police were under “Democrat control.” It seemed lost on him that my life had just been threatened.
Anyway, I asked Steve to make sure he told Ehrlich about the threat I’d received – and he told me he “definitely” would tell him. I never heard a single word from Ehrlich or anyone else associated with the Administration as a result of this. Not one single word.
When we arrived back at the apartment after the days prescribed in the threat, it was very apparent to me that someone had, indeed, been in there snooping around. I told law enforcement and we were told that, for our own safety, we needed to move out of there within 30 days. We did and when we (my daughter and I) moved, a uniformed police officer stood watch outside the door. It was surreal. I told Steve Kreseski about THAT as well and told me that he’d tell Bob Ehrlich…and still, in the end, not one word from the Administration regarding the threat or the aftermath.
So, after working for him for 7 years at that point – and after doing all manner of things in/on his behalf, I knew what my very life was worth to him: Not even one single, solitary, phone call – much less any offer of assistance (Of course, any offer of assistance in THAT regard probably would have carried as much weight as the other offers of assistance – “We’ll help you in just a few months” – I’d received for taking the bullet when I’d first gotten set-up…which was no weight, whatsoever, as the Ehrlich Administration never did shit for me for taking the fall.)
Another thing I’d like to make clear here and now is that – as stated above – I did not spread rumors about Martin O’Malley’s personal life online. Not to say I was totally innocent of everything – far from it. I was guilty as Hell of doing a lot of other shit – but not THAT, and yet, THAT is what they nailed me on. That truly was quite the “hit.” Despite being its recipient, I chuckle about it to this very day. As for what I have done politically that’s untoward, under the advice of counsel, I cannot divulge anything – so don’t ask. Plus, being a big believer in karma, I got back everything I’d done to others and more.
And, there you have it. More or less, anyway.
Again, I don’t hate Bob Ehrlich. It’s just that it’s really tough to have any respect for someone who doesn’t have the spine or concern enough to call someone (who’d worked for you for 7 years and had known you for 15 years) who’s just taken a bullet for you -even, if not especially, after they’ve received a death threat.
What a major Wuss.
I don’t like talking about this any longer, and hopefully – having written this – I’ll no longer be asked about it. Hopefully.”