Democratic officials are reacting with sarcastic criticism to a fundraising letter from former Republican Gov. Robert Ehrlich in which he takes potshots at his successor, Martin O?Malley.
State Comptroller Peter Franchot sent Ehrlich hisown letter Thursday, telling Ehrlich his letter was “hypocritical” and “fictional hyperbole.”
In a release from state Democratic Party, party Chairman Terry Lierman said, “It is the opposite of class to say you?ll put away the partisan attack rhetoric and then break that promise with a little diatribe that insults voters intelligence with fuzzy math and false claims.”
In the April 20 letter, Ehrlich slams O?Malley and the Democratic-controlled General Assembly for overspending and pushing for tax increases.
Ehrlich writes, “The new governor spent more than half of the state?s ?rainy day? fund after just one week in office.” O?Malley proposed using the money to help balance the fiscal 2008 budget in his first week.
Ehrlich said O?Malley broke “his signature campaign promise by cutting state education spending by almost $100 million.” O?Malley actually increased education funding by nearly $600 million, but delayed a component of increased school aid that Ehrlich also had refused to fund.
Since his defeat, the former governor has set up the Maryland law office of a North Carolina firm, hosts a weekly radio show, joined the Rudy Giuliani campaign for president, and is writing a book on politics.
Franchot told Ehrlich, “We now have to work on issues that you largely ignored during your term in office.”
In a P.S., Franchot said, “My mood is always lightened” when he looks at a framed 2006 letter from Ehrlich saying, “We will miss you in Annapolis next year.”
“I?m still here,” Franchot said.
