Ehrlich notes disability in choice of Cox

[mcg]

Ehrlich notes disability in choice of Cox
He calls blindness a factor in picking running mate

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.ehrlich06oct06,0,470573.story?coll=bal-local-headlines

Asked by Plotkin whether he picked Cox, 37, because of her blindness, Ehrlich said, "No, but do I think the fact that she cannot see, do I see that as part of a paradigm for what I want to represent? Yes."

Later, after a commercial break, he added without prompting: "I just want to finish the last question, because I think it's a really fair, good question. In my heart of hearts, I cannot answer honestly if Kris had sight, whether she would be the person I chose. I do not know that."
...

Despite his protests about Democrats leaping on his comments, Ehrlich repeated yesterday afternoon that Cox's blindness was a factor in his selection, calling her "symbolic and substantive."
...

"Basically, the question was, if she wasn't blind, would she be lieutenant governor?" Ehrlich said. "She certainly would be on the list. The fact that Kris has a disability is very relevant to what we're trying to accomplish. She takes down caricatures as a person and as a professional."

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So Ehrlich couldn't say that he thinks Kristen Cox is best qualified for the job, which should be the criterion.

Considering that Ehrlich will probably lose the election, the wording "be lieutenant governor" is presumptuous.

Ehrlich is named as a member of the Abramoff 65, Ehrlich's connections to Abramoff are listed as 1-Money; 2-staff; 4-the public record; 5-CNMI invoices; and 6-Congressional favors. See the comment 'Tip Jar' at
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/9/25/02227/9596

[Sasha Undercover]

1. The man

is just bone dumb.

[GambitMG]

2. hmm...

I thought Republicans were all about "merit" based choices for stuff like this...