The Red Maryland Endorsements

What you see listed below are the candidates that have been endorsed by Red Maryland’s contributors, receiving the coveted “Red Maryland Endorsement”. Read on below the fold to see the vote breakdowns and comments from our contributors:

  • President: Mitt Romney
  • 1st Congressional District: Andy Harris
  • 2nd Congressional District: No Endorsements
  • 3rd Congressional District: Paul Spause
  • 4th Congressional District(Republican): Michael Moshe Starkman
  • 4th Congressional District(Democratic): Donna Edwards
  • 5th Congressional District: No Endorsement
  • 6th Congressional District(Republican): Roscoe Bartlett
  • 6th Congressional District(Democratic): Andrew Duck
  • 7th Congressional District: No Endorsements
  • 8th Congressional District: No Endorsements

LOTS to see below the fold…



PRESIDENT

Trending: Thank You

  • Mitt Romney- 5
  • John McCain- 3
  • NOT John McCain- 1

D.C. Russell: As for President, I am absolutely opposed to John McCain and will not vote for him under any circumstances. That being said, I am generally turned off by the rest of the field. I probably won’t make a final choice until just before I vote. Some days I’m tempted to vote for Ron Paul simply out of protest against all the others, but I’ll probably end up going for Romney, Thompson, or whoever has the best change of beating McCain.

G.A. Harrison: One of the things that I always look for in a candidate is honesty. That’s why I was a big supporter of Phil Gramm’s back in 1996. I may disagree with a McCain on a few issues, particularly campaign finance and immigration, but at least he’s been pretty straight as to what he believes.

Brian Gill: For me, private market/career success is very important, and Romney has the best background in that regard. I like the fact that he has been an executive rather than a legislator, and I like his message/policies enough.

In strict political terms, I like Romney a lot. Most of the recent Presidents have ascended from the office of Governor, which Romney has over every candidate—D or R. He is a lot prettier than McCain and Rudy, and a heck of a lot prettier than Hillary—and these things matter a least a little bit. He has the best “outside of Washington” argument, for what that’s worth.

Streiff: This is as painful a statement as I have ever written but with the withdrawal of Fred Thompson from race John McCain is the best choice for president. Whether you like his positions or not, John McCain has been constant in both his virtues and vices. His positions are long held. He carries an lifetime ACU rating of 82.6%. His voting record on both life issues and the Long War have been flawless. There are a lot of things I don’t like about McCain. His opposition to tax cuts. His acquiescence, if not down right complicity, in the growth of the federal government. His jihad against political speech. His willingness to toss conservatives under the bus if it garnered a positive lede in the New York Times. That I do support McCain despite these flaws indicates the seriousness of my reservations about Governors Huckabee and Romney and Mayor Giuliani.

Matt Johnston: Like others have expressed, I was something of a FredHead (although I was quite miffed that he took his sweet time getting into the race and then didn’t really make as solid an effort as I think he could have.

But here is why Romney is my guy–he has a proven track record of getting things done. No, I didn’t like his MA healthcare plan, but at least he put something forward instead of sitting around blabbing about it. His work on the MA education system is stellar, although I think it won’t translate to the national scene very well. (See what I mean, it is hard to get really jazzed about this race). But what I like most is that he takes the issues and tries to solve them. Instead of yakking about solutions, he tries them out. As an executive, he was paid to make decisions, both in government and in business, and his success is hard to deny. He has more executive, and wide ranging executive, experience than the other candidates from both parties (except perhaps Bill Richardson, but that is a moot point).

No candidate is perfect and there is no reason to expect a perfect candidate. Mitt Romney is a great candidate and would be a great president.

Mark Newgent: Mitt Romney I explain here.

Greg Kline: My reasons for supporting Mitt Romney are here.

* * * *

FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT:

  • Andy Harris- 3
  • Anybody but Andy Harris- 2
  • TIE: Gilchrest, Andybody but Wayne Gilchrest, and E.J. Pipkin- 1

Brian Griffiths: I think I have been rather outspoken about my disdain for the way that Andy Harris has run his campaign, and has continued to run his campaign. It’s sad because Andy Harris has wasted this opportunity to make a difference. Yes, he is politically more in line with my views than the other candidates. But E.J. Pipkin and Wayne Gilchrest are good men, something that remains in question about Harris given the campaign he has run. As I promised, I do not endorse any candidate, but do tell you to vote for somebody who is not Andy Harris…

Chester Peake: Would really like to support Andy, but he and his campaign are making it increasingly less likely I will be able to do so. Not so sure about E.J., so may wind up supporting the incumbent even though I disagree with him on almost every issue due to the nice guy/better the devil you know factor.

G.A. Harrison: Harris, no question….What are the arguments against Harris? The biggest one is that he has run a “negative” campaign. First of all negative sells, whether we like it or not. Except for a few hardcore Pipkin partisans that’s it. The flip side is that in the last few weeks no one has run a nastier campaign than Pipkin. What’s worse is that it’s been stupidly nasty. You never call names yourself (or have senior staff do it). That’s what surrogates are for.

Before Harris officially entered the race I called up Lowell Stoltzfus and asked him point blank if Harris was worth spending any time on. His response was that Andy is the real deal. And he has proven to be. Sure you can nit-pick a few votes, but where has Andy seriously strayed from Reaganite orthodoxy?

Pipkin on the other hand has myriad problems when it comes to social issues. He’s pro-abortion and has supported a bizarre gay union law (I know, technically it’s registration). Personally, I don’t care about the latter and while I’m pro-life I will not withhold support from an otherwise good candidate based on that issue alone. Now let’s look at this practically. Will social conservatives pull the lever for Pipkin in November? No!

Andy doesn’t need to make a big play on social issues because he has bona fides there and the word will spread within the various communities. He’ll get strong NRA support for the general. My only concern is that Kratovil will run a good campaign and that Andy’s campaign lacks. If he had run a better primary race early on Pipkin wouldn’t even be an issue. He’s still run a better race than Pipkin.

Michael Swartz: For First District, I’m endorsing Andy Harris based on my study of the candidate stances on the issues that I hold dearest. However, E.J. Pipkin is solid on a number of issues too so either would be a good choice over Wayne Gilchrest – I just think Harris is a better fiscal conservative than Pipkin and, while social conservatism isn’t high on my issue list, Harris is a better choice there as well. And yes I know Joe Albero is a big Harris supporter but I supported him first.

But if either of them won, I’d work to get them into Congress. Wayne Gilchrest wouldn’t even get a yard sign in my yard (he didn’t in 2006 either.)

Unfortunately, I can see a situation where Harris and Pipkin cannibalize and split all the anti-Gilchrest votes and Wayne wins again.

Streiff: Andy Harris….He’s the conservative in the race. It is as simple as that.

Greg Kline: This is a tough one. Forgive me if this endorsement reads like a disclaimer. To some degree, it is a reflection of the truly divisive and negative trajectory this race has taken.

Wayne Gilchrest deserves a challenge. His transgressions against the conservative voters who put him in office make it just that he sweat this race out. I personally have run against Republican incumbents who went off the reservation too often. There is a place in our party for that and should logically have led me to support one of the challengers in this race.

But something funny happened on the way to the forum. The challengers in this race have shown themselves undeserving of representing me and my neighbors in CD-1.

Andy Harris has run one of the most negative races in Maryland history. I would be a hypocrite to say I opposed criticism of an opponent’s record, especially an incumbent. I do not. Harris, however, has taken the negative attack to a level beyond anything we have ever seen. It would truly be newsworthy if he actually issued some positive statement or espoused some agenda of his own and his specious attacks on E.J. Pipkin strain his credibility beyond the breaking point. He has also chosen to associate with unsavory operatives, reprobate politicians who endorsed Gilchrest and Harris in the same month, and has relied on out of state interests to such a degree as to cast doubt that his campaign emerges from the grassroots of this district.

E.J. Pipkin is little better. His entry into the race smacks far more of political opportunism than principle, hardly what we need more of in the United States Congress.

Wayne Gilchrest has said that he has had to polish his conservative credentials in this race. While they may not shine as much as some would like, they are there. Gilchrest has been a named a Hero of the Taxpayer by the Americans for Tax Reform five times and supported pro-growth tax policies throughout his career. While not going far enough, Gilchrest has supported legislation to make English our nation’s official language, to expand border patrols and immigration enforcement. He seeks to rein in what he acknowledges is out of control spending in Washington.
Beyond policy, though, no one can argue that Wayne Gilchrest is a honorable, decent man. For all the negative attacks on his voting record, none have assailed his character. That is why he has had the support of so many conservative leaders in his district and in Washington.

It is why he has my support as well.

Bud the Blogger: Contrary to the popular (yet grossly incorrect) belief in the Anne Arundel County blogosphere, I often find myself supporting republican candidates for political office. Besides their life experience, some of the traits I look for in a candidate are intellectual honesty, independence and a conservative ideology. After reviewing all the candidates vying for the republican nomination in the First Congressional Primary, one person stands out above the rest. E.J. Pipkin should be the choice of voters on February 12th.

Unlike the other State Senator seeking to unseat the incumbent, E.J. Pipkin didn’t grow up a child of privilege. His father worked as a electrician and his mother served as a cafeteria worker. Meanwhile, E.J. (which stands for Edward Joseph) flipped hamburgers at McDonald’s simply to make ends meat. In order to pay his way through college, E.J. Pipkin needed to work full time in construction. While many young men would have took an easier route, E.J. Pipkin hung on until he received his master’s degree in 1978.

In 2002, E.J. Pipkin got elected to the Maryland State Senate in most impressive fashion. He defeated a long time incumbent by an astounding 25 percentage points. In his time in the Maryland Senate, E.J. has established himself as someone who’ll put the interests of his constituents above all else. While the republican establishment stood up for BGE almost 2 years ago, E.J. Pipkin broke ranks with his party leadership and stood up for the consumer. He even went so far as to solely sponsor a bill that would have returned $500 million to ratepayers. All but 5 state senators went on to vote in favor of his bill. Unfortunately, then Governor Ehrlich made the flawed political decision to veto the same.

Even though he garnered wide range bi-partisan support for this bill, he received unfair criticism within republican ranks because he didn’t walk in lock step with the governor. For the record, I voted for Governor Ehrlich both times, but in the case of BGE, E.J. Pipkin stood up for the good guys.

E.J. Pipkin also stands on the right side of many vital issues. Pipkin is a stealth warrior for 2nd amendment rights. As a candidate for Congress, Pipkin has vowed to end pork barrel spending and pass a constitutional binding balanced budget amendment. By doing do, it makes his promise to fight tax cuts practical. The special session gave a preview of what we could expect from a Rep. Pipkin. He stood up and became the leading voice against O’Malley’s tax hikes.

E.J. Pipkin is a leader we can trust to fight for us in Washington. Don’t buy into the gross distortions you’ll see and hear in campaign ads. By merely examining Pipkin closely, as I have, you’ll see he stands out above the rest.

Mark Newgent: Anybody but Gilchrest. I prefer Andy Harris. However I think we would be well served by EJ Pipkin as well. But I live in Baltimore City and I admit great unfamiliarity with CD1 issues, especially on the Eastern Shore. I am stuck with scion of Sarbanes so my endorsement doesn’t mean much.

* * * *

SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

  • No Endorsement
Brian Griffiths: I cannot endorse a Ron Paul troll in this contest, even as the only candidate in the race. This speaks more to the failure of John Flynn and party leadership to recruit a candidate than anything else….

* * * *


THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

  • Paul Spause- 1
Brian Griffiths: Paul Spause is the only credible candidate in this race, and I endorse him for this tough contest.

* * * *

FOURTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT(Republicans)

  • Michael Moshe Starkman- 4

D.C. Russell: Living in PG County, the only Congressional races I have focused on are 4 and 5. In 4 (my district) I endorse Michael Moshe Starkman.

Michael Swartz: I’d also like to put in a plug for Michael Moshe Starkman in the 4th District, simply because he had the gonads to answer my Ten Questions.

* * * *

FOURTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT(Democrats)

  • Donna Edwards- 2
  • Albert Wynn- 1

Streiff: Given that a Democrat is going to represent M-4, Albert Wynn is an infinitely better choice than Donna Edwards. Edwards is a creation of the fringe left Move On.org. The last thing the Congress needs is another moonbat. Wynn is a reflexive leftist but not a movement leftist. If you’ve got to deal with a leftist it is best to not have to deal with a true believer. Prince George’s County has enough problems without being represented by Donna Edwards.

Matt Johnston: Contrary to what other people may think, if Edwards wins and she is indeed a “moonbat” then she will be marginalized pretty quick. Wynn has his head more in Maryland politics than in his Congressional duties. Just a gut feeling but there it is.

Brian Griffiths: It comes down to the fact that both Al Wynn and Donna Edwards are going to put politics and special interests before the people. We know that both are going to be beholden to liberal interest groups first and foremost, despite the noted problems of this district. But so long as Donna Edwards wants to run to the left of Mao, do lame stakeouts, and get endorsements from celebrities, us on the right will have a good time making her the new face of the Maryland Democratic Party.

* * * *

FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

  • No Endorsement
* * * *

SIXTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT (Republicans)

  • Roscoe Bartlett- 2

Matt Johnston: To be frank, I would much rather see some real challengers to Barlett (Alex Mooney comes to mind quickly), rather than the parade of horribles currently running. Mooney, I think, is biding his time until Bartlett retires. That being said, Bartlett is far and away the better candidate. I think his time has come and gone, but if we are to have a caretaker, far better it to be a Republican than a Democrat. Should Bartlett lose, look for a real conservative to jump into the race. The big problem is the leftward trend in lower Frederick County thanks to all the refugees form the People’s Republic of Montgomery County.

* * * *

SIXTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT (Democrats)

  • Andrew Duck- 1

Streiff: Duck had his wee-wee knocked in the dirt in 2006, despite Democrat successes nationwide. He, like Edwards, is a creation of Move On and Daily Kos and his credentials are limited to a tour in Iraq and working on the Carter/Mondale campaign. Why would I support this feckless and perennial loser? Because Jennifer Dougherty would be a formidable candidate.

* * * *

SEVENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

  • No Endorsement


* * * *

EIGHTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

  • No Endorsement

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