WP: Maryland's top Republicans absent from Bush's visit to state

[DeepModem Mom]

Ehrlich, Steele Absent From President's Md. Visit
By Philip Rucker
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 5, 2006; Page A04

President Bush swooped into Southern Maryland yesterday to mark Labor Day with a call to reduce the United States' dependence on foreign oil and develop technologies to help American workers and businesses compete in the changing global marketplace....

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But on a day considered the launching point of the fall election season, Maryland's top two Republicans -- Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich and Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele -- did not appear with the president in the St. Mary's County town. Their absence quickly became political fodder for Democrats, who accused the Republican officeholders of dodging the unpopular president even as they allow him to raise money for Ehrlich's bid for reelection and Steele's campaign for the U.S. Senate.

"This Labor Day, Ehrlich and Steele are afraid to be seen with the most anti-working-class president since Herbert Hoover, even while they gleefully count his checks for their campaign," Maryland Democratic Party Executive Director Derek Walker said in a statement.

Karl Rove, the White House deputy chief of staff, traveled with the president to Piney Point and said Ehrlich and Steele could not attend because "they had existing events of their own." The governor and lieutenant governor marched yesterday in a parade in Gaithersburg....

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The absence of Ehrlich and Steele illuminates a balancing act the two men face: the need to appeal to their Republican base as they also try to win office in a state where Democrats outnumber Republicans 2 to 1 and where 60 to 70 percent of voters do not approve of Bush's performance....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/04/AR2006090400366.html

[napi21]

1. I never heard of Derek Walker but I sure like hisstatements!

I find it really funny that so many Pubs have to run away from the idiot they've fully supported for the last 6 years!

I wonder if Shrub goes home every night and cries in his pillow 'cause nobody likes him anymore?

[Skittles]

2. there is nothing funny about it

those bastards bought bush, they f***ing OWN him and all of his disastrous policies and now they are running from him like scared rabbits? People are dying every day because of their misguided support of that incompetent piece of SHIT; it is SICKENING to see the f***ing cowards distancing themselves NOW, only with elections approaching. COWARDS, ALL OF THEM.

[Erika]

3. I share your passion completely

These bushbots and republican rubber stampers are now running like hell, after their president hurt this country terribly and they backed him all the way.

[Skittles]

4. I can't stand it, Erika

they cheerleaded that bastard as he slowly destroyed America, now they are running to save their own ass. They can all F*** THEMSELVES.

[Erika]

5. Exactly

The anger is deep and searing, and the thought they stood by and let it happen is almost unbearable.

They are the ones who should be hung for treason, not we who stood up for our country and its values of world leadership to peace and a better world for all. Now they run off with their tails between their legs just like Newt after prosecuting Clinton for sex matters.