Democratic leaders: Ehrlich-Steele campaign literature is misleading

Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2006

Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson (D) held a press conference Tuesday to denounce fliers he said misleads voters into believing he is endorsing Gov. Robert Ehrlich (R) and Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (R).

‘‘My picture was obviously pulled form the [county] Web site and put on a piece of literature insinuating that I am supporting Ehrlich and Steele in this election. Everybody knows that I’m a Democrat through and through,” said Johnson, who reiterated his support for U.S. Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin (D), who is running in the U.S. Senate race against Steele. Ehrlich is running against Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley (D) for the governor's seat.

The flier is a red, black and green handout with pictures of Johnson, former County Executive Wayne Curry and former Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Kweisi Mfume on a flier titled ‘‘Ehrlich-Steele Democrats.” At the bottom, it read, ‘‘These are our choices.” The flier says it was authorized by both the Steele and Ehrlich campaigns.

Neither Steele nor Ehrlich has returned telephone calls for comment.

‘‘We have folks that are running for the highest offices in this country that are using tactics that are false. What example is that to our young people?” Johnson asked.

Johnson held his press conference at noon today outside Edgar Allen Poe⁄Shadyside Elementary School in Suitland. He was joined by Del. Joanne C. Benson (D-Dist. 24) and Terry Lierman, chairman of the Maryland Democratic Party.

Lierman said the Maryland Democratic Party will be meeting with the attorney general to discuss legislation that will prevent this type of campaign literature from being used in the future.

Benson decried the treatment of homeless people allegedly brought from Philadelphia to campaign for Ehrlich and Steele.

‘‘What we see happening here today in Prince George’s County is an all-time low. It is a despicable, outrageous act,” Benson said.

Two men, Gary Swimpson and Leon Watson, told The Gazette that volunteers from the Steele campaign came to their homeless shelter in Philadelphia in the wee hours of Tuesday, offering $100, donuts and coffee for anyone willing to work the polls on Election Day. Swimpson said several buses left for Prince George’s with about 500 men.

‘‘We’re just down here trying to make some money,” said Swimpson, 47, adding he had not heard of Steele before Tuesday.

‘‘I don’t even know if this cat’s a Democrat or Republican,” Swimpson said, pointing to Ehrlich’s picture on the back of the pamphlet.

Watson said he and others at the shelter were confused when buses pulled up early in the morning.

‘‘It does seem strange. ... Why would they come all the way [to Philadelphia] when they could have gotten guys from down here?” he said.

‘‘This is totally against the American tradition of fairness. It’s a shame they have to stoop to such lows. We are going to do something abut this,” said Lierman.