Md Gov Ehrlich (R) selects blind woman as running mate - pandering or not?

Ehrlich's current Lt Governor is Michael Steele, an African-American, who is leaving to run for the senate seat vacated by Paul Sarbannes (D). Ehrlich has made great use of black and female imagry in his campaigns, but has governed like any Republican.

My question today: Is this selection of a blind white woman pandering or is it a sincere example of making choices based on qualifications, other issues notwithstanding?

I don't see it. :rofl:

Oooh, I know, that's too easy and not not nice. Shame on me. :spank:

qualifications a sighted person would have, it is pandering. I wouldn't put it past Ehrlich to do that at all, but since I know nothing about the woman, I won't vote.

That having been said, anyone who has seen Steele on "Real Time with Bill Maher" knows what a slimy, disingenuous a**hole he is. I would LOVE to see his campaign crash and burn.

TC

She and Steele are cut from the same bolt of political cloth.

Can you say 'disingenuous, hate-filled hack'?

I voted "Pandering"! LOL!

TC

and they are all figuratively blind or malicious or both. Being literally blind doesn't mean anything to me one way or another.

Wish I'd made it! ;)

TC

He really does it well, I guess it is good to have a talent.

I don't think it will have the desired result.

Go here to see her picture.

www.nfb.org/fr/fr4/FRFA0011.htm

When I googled her there was a reference to her having been a Bush appointee, but no specifics were given. She has no political/campaigning experience.

I'm sorry for her personally that she is blind, and it must have taken tremendous perseverance to complete her education. That said, if she is able to access information on how the Bush administration has squandered this country's wealth on war (with Ehrlich's full support), she should realize that this horrendous & still growing Bush deficit means there will be no money left in the U.S. for decades for assistance to the handicapped. Organizations like the NFB will see their funding slashed. Anyone know anything about her family background/level of wealth?

www.examiner.com
Do a search on this website for "Kristin Cox" to get the whole article - their web address has a squiggle in it which I can't match on my keyboard)
(June 26, 2006)
Cox, a former Bush appointee, is legally blind. She has served as disabilities secretary since July 2004 and was formerly appointed by Ehrlich in July 2003 to serve as director of the Governor’s Office for Individuals with Disabilities. Cox could not be reached Sunday.

English . . . not Braille . . .

Gee, ask her how she can be a Republican when they were against the Americans with Disabilities Act?

If something happened to the governor and she assumed power could she handle the everyday duties as governor of the state of Maryand?

And I don't ask that implying that the blind are incapable of living full and productive lives. Not at all.

and the lawyers used to pull all kinds of shit in his courtroom, like walking in front of the jury box holding huge blownup photos of stuff which was not admissible into evidence, making faces at his rulings, etc. He also served as a county commissioner with his bestest friend, Tom Forester, and the 2 were like TweedleDee and TweedleDum - Forester was Staisey's source of information, so you never saw the two disagree.

You make a valid point. Whomever was chief of staff for this woman would pretty much control and manipulate her. Look how Cheney controls the chimp, and the chimp is sighted.

apparently you don't believe a blind person could serve as the governor of a state. Could they serve as Attorney General? Senator? House of Representatives member? Is there a line that you draw somewhere between "okay for blind people to have this position" and "not okay"?

Ultimately, its up to the voters. I hope that they decide based on the merits of the candidates positions and how they'll govern (in which case they'll elect O'Malley and toss Ehrlich out) and not on bias against someone because of a physical characteristic.

If that person, sighted or not, can do the job, fine. Vote for him or her.

I would think for someone who is blind that this could be a rather daunting task, given the governorship requires a lot of travel and time on the road, among other things. If they are up to it and can fulfill all their duties, then go for it.

But don't go accusing me of implying that the blind aren't capable people. Big mistake on your part.....................

You asked whether selecting a blind person as candidate for lieutenant governor was "wise" or "practical" and questioned whether a blind person could handle the job of governor. YOu then gave a pretty clear indication of what you thought the answer to that question was by labelling the selection of a blind candidate as pandering.

If that's not what you meant, then you won't have any problem answering the following question: do you think a blind person can handle the "daunting task" of being governor and of spending "a lot of travel and time on the road".

If she thinks she can do the job, then I know she'll get your vote.

If she honestly says she can't, Erlich is pandering.

Since I clearly stated I was against the Erhlich ticket.

I guess even folks with working eyes can't see sometimes.

And you accused me of impying she isn't able do the job.........

Here's what I said: "I hope that they decide based on the merits of the candidates positions and how they'll govern (in which case they'll elect O'Malley and toss Ehrlich out) and not on bias against someone because of a physical characteristic."

In other words, my opposition to the Ehrlich/Cox ticket is based on their policy choices, not on whether...as you seem think...the job is "too daunting" for someone who is blind.

"If they are up to it and can fulfill all their duties, then go for it"

That's not to difficult to understand, is it?

I have no trouble with a blind person filling any job, if they can handle all the tasks associated with it. The lt. governor is generally a useless position anyway, and few ever dream they'll ever become governor, but it does happen occasionally.

new to politics in general, of course I would say its pandering. But it doesnt suprise me considering he select an untested African-American in 2002 just to gain a couple votes here and there.

Picking a running mate almost always has an ingredient of pandering to it, whether it be pandering to a geographic region, or to a particular segment of the electorate (African-Americans, particular religion, women, veterans, etc.).

O'Malley's running mate certainly is qualified, having served in the state legislature for 7 years. But there are plenty of other state legislators out there who weren't selected. Did the fact that O'Malley's running mate is African American and a veteran influence his selection? Of course it did. Is it "pandering" ... in a sense yes, but not necessarily a bad one. Knocking down barriers (and picking up votes in doing so) is a valid consideration in selecting a running mate.

I support the O'Malley ticket over the Ehrlich ticket not because of the characteristics of their running mates, but because of their respective policy positions.

to the visually impaired community for its promotion of e-voting. Moreover, Cox was a lobbyist for the National Federation for the Blind, to which Diebold donated money.