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GOV. EHRLICH HOSTS FUNDRAISER FOR BRAD JEWITT
Governor believes mainstream leadership can
return to Maryland’s Fifth District
On Friday, July 9, Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr.,
hosted a special fundraiser honoring Brad Jewitt, Republican nominee for U.S. Congress in
Maryland’s Fifth Congressional District.
Gov. Ehrlich joined co-hosts Hon. Kenny Keen and Karen
Shields Keen, Secretary of Planning Audrey Scott, Maryland Delegate Anthony
O’Donnell, and Calvert County Commissioners Susan Shaw and David Hale, among other
notable personalities, at the Twin Shields Golf Club Friday evening to rally local support
for Mr. Jewitt, who seeks to unseat Minority Whip Steny Hoyer this fall.
Commissioners Shaw and Hale opened the evening by stating
that for the first time in many years Republicans have a true challenger to Steny Hoyer.
Secretary of Planning Audrey Scott added equal doses of humor and reality to the event
when she said, "Although Brad is certainly qualified, you don’t need any special
qualifications to win an election; you just need more votes than the other person on
election day," explaining that with enough grassroots support any incumbent can be
defeated.
Del. Anthony O’Donnell expressed his dissatisfaction
with Rep. Hoyer’s level of commitment to Southern Maryland by saying, "Steny
Hoyer has been gallivanting around the country trying to elect people to Congress who
don’t represent our values" instead of focusing on the needs of his own
district. "Brad Jewitt is a Marine. He understands hard work and dedication,"
continued O’Donnell, "and he will be a representative in Congress who truly
cares about his constituents and about serving them with dignity." O’Donnell
then introduced Gov. Robert Ehrlich, who entered the room to a standing ovation.
The Governor endorsed Brad Jewitt with an impassioned and
compelling speech, stating that Jewitt represents the "guts, attitude, and
intelligence" that Marylanders deserve in a leader. Ehrlich also made it clear that
Mr. Jewitt’s congressional campaign will be long, hard, and challenging, noting his
own experiences with Steny Hoyer, who campaigned furiously to prevent the Governor from
defeating Kathleen Kennedy Townsend two years ago.
Gov. Ehrlich inspired confidence in Jewitt supporters by
comparing this race to his gubernatorial campaign, where even some of his closest friends
and defenders said he had no chance of defeating a Kennedy. "There is a difference
between ‘difficult’ and ‘impossible,’" Ehrlich stated, joking
that he has finally come to the realization that he’ll never be a starting pitcher
for the Baltimore Orioles. "But beating Steny Hoyer is not impossible," he said.
Mainstream voters "could not have a more clear clash of ideology" than between
Hoyer and Jewitt, noted the Governor, urging Republicans, Independents, and conservative
Democrats to make that known this November. Regarding Mr. Hoyer, Gov. Ehrlich stated that
"no one stands more for a liberal establishment in this state than Steny
[Hoyer]," adding "I give him this -- he is consistent, he runs the liberal
Democrats, he is a liberal Democrat," and "he is an unapologetic, very liberal
member of Congress, representing an increasingly conservative District."
