Seeing Red In Maryland

Willie Don Shoots Off His Mouth (Again)

Md. Comptroller William Donald Schaefer made three "controversial" statements yesterday.

1. When asked if he would debate his primary opponent, Anne Arundel Co. Exec. Janet Owens, and he responded that he "wouldn't debate her on how to bake a chocolate cake."
   
2. He called a female reporter a "sweet little girl."
   
3. He objected to spending money testing immigrant students on ability to learn English.
   

Oh, boy. In the words of Ronald Reagan, "There you go, again."

Now with the first statement, he may have meant that he wouldn't debate her even if it was a subject that he knew nothing about. Unfortunately, he chose a traditional "home making" skill, and comes across as sexist. (I doubt Schaefer knows whether or not Owens can bake a cake.)

With the second statement, he just dug himself a deeper hole - particularly with all his similar past statements. Granted he's an old man, and to him the reporter is a "girl", both in her age and how he was raised. However, you think the man would have the intelligence to learn to not say such things.

And with the third statement, we have another installment of Willie Don's "You're in America - Speak English!"

Schaefer has given more than enough ammunition to his opponents. And they are piling on. I am beginning to wonder how much longer he can survive politically.

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For Republicans, there is one possible up-side to this latest brouhaha - Schaefer has promised to support the winner of the Democrats' gubernatorial primary, and it could be funny watching him trying to keep Willie Don at more than arm's length.

posted by Mike Milligan @ 6:26 PM