Club's (all-white) membership 'not my business,' governor says

[LynneSin]

Man, how does it feel to have an asshat for your governor

:cry:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.ehrlich06jul06,1,1029419,print.story?coll=bal-mdpolitics-headlines

Club's membership 'not my business,' governor says



By Andrew A. Green
Sun Staff

July 6, 2005

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. addressed criticism yesterday of a fund-raiser he hosted at an all-white country club by saying its membership is "not my business," and he complained of a "double standard" because there was no outcry when prominent Democrats held events there.

Speaking on WBAL-AM yesterday morning, Ehrlich, a Republican, said the decision to hold an event at the Elkridge Club on June 20 was made by his campaign staff, not by him. Members of the club told The Sun last week that it has never had a black member in its 127-year history.

A campaign spokeswoman for a leading Democratic politician, Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith Jr., confirmed yesterday that a supporter hosted a fund-raiser for him at Elkridge on May 4.

"Jim Smith has never belonged to a country club in his life. He was not aware of the country club's membership composition, and as the leader of a diverse county, he appreciates that it has been brought to his attention. Clearly he will not have future campaign events hosted at this location," said Rachael Rice, a fund-raising consultant for the Smith campaign.

She said she did not know details of the event for Smith, who faces an election next year.

Ehrlich, who said that he has spoken at the Elkridge Club "many, many times over the years sponsored by different groups," said he was not concerned about who belonged to the club.

[brentspeak]

1. "...decision to hold event at...Club...was made by his staff, not by him."

So, in other words: The Governor himself is not in charge. Someone else is running the show. Ehrlich just lives in the Governor's Mansion and receives a paycheck.

[LynneSin]

2. that's even more frightening

He must have learned to be governor from the same book that Bush used - "Governoring for asshat dumbasses"

[aintitfunny]

3. I think "Not concerned"

Really kinda says it all.

[Mutley]

4. "double standard"

"and he complained of a "double standard" because there was no outcry when prominent Democrats held events there."

And that makes it alllll okay, right? Isn't that the argument of a 3 year old? "Oh, but so and so got to do it, why can't I?" :cry: :cry: :cry:

[nickshepDEM]

5. KTT, Balt. County Executive Jim Smith, and Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger

have all hosted events at the Elkridge Country Club.

[tabmasterflash]

6. We shouldn't complain

I don't think it's well worth it for us to complain about this anymore. Ehrlich has already made an ass out of himself by making the comments he made. Anymore whining from us will only hurt us because yes, democrats have held fundraisers there.

And if you look at the impartial side of things, anyone can rent the golf course for an event. It's a private facility and whoever rents it is not renting the entire club and all the white members it has. What the club does is completely different from what happens when someone rents its facilities.

I guess a good question would be, did any non-whites attend this fundraiser? and did any nonwhites attend any of the democratic fundraisers that were held at this club?