GOP plan aggressive campaign for Cardin seat, Bongino rallies party elite in PG

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Vowing not to concede any ground to Senator Ben Cardin, Republican Party nominee Dan Bongino will rally top party leaders in Temple Hills tomorrow. His No More Neglect Rally hopes to play on the complaint by many residents that Cardin is like an absent father, comes around for what he want and then disappears when you need him.

Bongino will be joined by

Michael Steele – Fmr. Lt. Governor & Fmr. Chairman of the Republican National Committee

Nicolee Ambrose – Maryland Republican National Committeewoman &

Harry Alford – Founder/CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce

Wednesday, June 27, 2012
12:00 p.m.
Thurgood Marshall Middle School
4909 Brinkley Road, Temple Hills, MD

http://www.bongino.com

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Is Muse preparing to go on the air?

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We all by now have seen Sen. Ben Cardin’s creepy and almost offensive commercial playing on the Donte Driver death to win a second term from black voters, but could State Senator C. Anthony Muse be preparing to go on the air as well?

Muse has been trying for weeks to gain the traction that will help him unseat the junior senator but with leading black leaders using the contest to get what they want from the senator while hitting Muse by endorsing Cardin that has been impossible. Today his campaign sent out a fundraising email asking for help getting on the air before the April 3rd Primary. We are not sure what his ad will be but the campaign did link to the video below created by a supporter.

Ben Cardin and Anthony Muse have been locked in a primary for the Democratic nomination on April 3rd.

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Our Endorsements

For the Prince George’s County Board of Education

District 1

David Murray is clearly the most experienced and connected candidate for the vacant seat being left by Rosalind Johnson. Two years ago Murray came close to defeating Johnson in her reelection bid and since that time has remained connected and in touch with the community he wants to represent. His drive and vision for a system that aggressively pursues innovation as a way to improve student achievement is what the Board of Education needs. Additionally he will join a board that has failed to hold senior administrators accountable and deliver on a real reform package everyone says they want. Prince George’s needs new energy as well as new ideas and David Murray is the best chance we have to do that in the 1^st District.

District 4

None of the candidates in the race for this seat currently held by Patricia Eubanks brings the experience or vision we believe is necessary to improve Prince George’s County Public Schools. However, one of them is at least more prepared than the others, Micah Watson. As the former Vice Mayor of Cheverly and member of the Democratic Central Committee, Watson does come with a wealth of budget experience unmatched by the other contenders. While Dennis Smith also served as a member of the Glenarden City Council in the past, during his time as a leader in the city he never distinguished himself in fiscal or program matters. Watson played instrumental roles in developing and passing the Cheverly budget as Vice Mayor and a councilman. What concerns us is a disturbingly detached community outreach strategy and real educational experience.

District 5

For the last five years Verjeana Jacobs has been the chair of the Board of Education and should be reelected. None of the candidates running against her have been able to layout a clear vision of why she should be replaced or what they would do better. Jacobs has made a lot of mistakes in her two terms on the school board, but as chair she has been able to bring a diverse group of people together that has done a lot of good. Jacobs has not been as tough on Dr. Hite as she could have been but she has been effective.

District 7

No Endorsement

District 8

Edward Burroughs has been the most outspoken and passionate member of the school board on issues of community involvement, transparency, and most importantly accountability. He has been criticized for not voting the party line and often being the lone voice of dissent but we recommend is reelection. The problem has not been that Burroughs votes no on things like changes to the popular Reading Recovery Program, a budget that grows class sizes, or retaining a lawyer making millions of dollars who donated to the reelection of another board member, the problem is that not enough of his colleagues are joining him. That will change when he is joined by people like his best friend David Murray.

United States House of Representatives

District 4

We support Rep. Donna Edwards for re-nomination to the United States Congress as a Democrat.

No Endorsement in the Republican nomination race.

District 5

We support Rep. Steny Hoyer for re-nomination to the United States Congress as a Democrat.

We believe Delegate Tony O’Donnell has the best chance to give Rep. Hoyer a run for his money. We therefore support his nomination in the Republican Primary.

United States Senate

State Senator C. Anthony Muse (Democrat)

Ben Cardin has been in Washington for over two decades. In that time the support this county has received from the federal government, including the six years he’s been in the Senate has been poor. His casework for the county has been almost as equal to his presence in the county, non-existent. About six years ago Cardin was handed his hat by fmr. Representative Kwesi Mfume by voters in Prince George’s County, but after beating Mfume statewide the best any county resident has seen of their junior senator was likely in their church this year now that he is up for reelection. Senator Muse is not an excellent candidate but he is a better candidate more in touch with the needs of county residents. A strong vote for Muse, even if he does lose to Cardin, will send the message that we as a county are dissatisfied with our representation and we demand more.

Republican Primary (No Endorsement)

For President of the United States of America

Democratic Primary

We support the re-nomination of President Barack Obama

Republican Primary

We support fmr. Governor Mitt Romney for the Republican nomination

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U.S. Senate Candidate Forum in Prince George’s

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The Collective Empowerment Group has announced the first U.S. Senate Candidate Forum (we’ve heard of) before the Democratic Primary.

Thursday, March 8th
7:30pm – 8:30pm
U.S. Senate Candidate Forum
hosted by the Collective Empowerment Group
Church of the Great Commission
5055 Allentown Road
Camp Springs, MD 20746

The Collective Empowerment Group (Formerly the Collective Banking Group) is a coalition of more than 150 churches in Prince George’s County.

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In blow to Sen. Muse, Mfume backs Cardin for reelection

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From our friends at The Maryland Juice

Kweisi Mfume Endorses U.S. Senator Ben Cardin for Re-Election

The re-election campaign of U.S. Senator Ben Cardin today circulated the following press release trumpeting the endorsement of Mr. Cardin’s 2006 Democratic Primary competitor, Kweisi Mfume. To provide a little context, The Washington Post in an article today remarked, “The support of Mfume, the former head of the NAACP, is significant in part because Muse, who is African-American, has made the fact that there are no black members of the Senate a part of his campaign pitch.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONGRESSMAN KWEISI MFUME ENDORSES SENATOR BEN CARDIN

Baltimore, MD – Former U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume, five-term Congressman for Maryland’s 7th district and former President/CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), has announced his support for the re-election of Ben Cardin to the U.S. Senate.

“I am happy to join President Obama along with a host of Marylanders in supporting Ben’s re-election to the U.S. Senate. Ben stands up for the values important to Marylanders and I believe we need to keep him in the U.S. Senate working hard for all of us,” Congressman Mfume stated.  “Whether he’s fighting to create jobs, supporting our small businesses, protecting retirement security, expanding health care coverage, keeping our air and water clean, or defending civil rights, Ben works around the gridlock and gets the job done. Importantly, I know that he is a principled leader who understands that compromise is possible without sacrificing important values.”

“Kweisi’s support is very important to me.  He has a long and distinguished record of service to the people of Maryland and we worked together for many years in the House of Representatives to advance the issues important to the people of Maryland.  He is a good friend and I am fortunate to continue to be able to rely on his advice and good counsel.  I am honored to have his support.” Senator Cardin said in response to the endorsement.

Congressman Mfume joins an impressive list of state elected officials who have endorsed Senator Cardin, including but not limited to:

•    Governor Martin O’Malley
•    Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown
•    Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III
•    Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett
•    Baltimore City Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
•    Howard County Executive Ken Ulman
•    Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz

-30-

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Baker endorses Cardin on eve of Muse announcement

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Remember when State Senator C. Anthony Muse made headlines in 2012 and endorsed Rushern Baker for Executive? Many observers see it is pivotal to helping Baker win over a base that has never been his strongest, black evangelicals. Muse is also bishop a powerful mega-church in south county and has connections with other powerful church leaders. Well that was then and this is now. Today Senator Muse will officially declare his campaign to unseat Ben Cardin in the Democratic Primary. Hours before that announcement Executive Baker announced his is backing Cardin in a Youtube video posted on the Maryland Democratic Party’s page.

The video, which is about 3 minutes long, has Baker touting Cardin coming to his office for a meeting on how he could be helpful to the county. After showing the video to a leading county official they had one thing to say, “what has done? Not a damn thing!”. The official went on to say “Ben wasn’t there in our battle with Montgomery County to move HHS to the county. He hasn’t helped Edwards in her push to get GAO to look at redlining issues impacting federal government leasing contracts, and to tout his help on health care is to spit in the face of voters who know he hasn’t done anything.”

Senator Muse will kick off his campaign tonight with a rally at Camelot in Prince George’s County.

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Muse to announce challenge to Cardin today

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Today Maryland State Senator C. Anthony Muse, of Prince George’s County, will officially throw his hat in the ring to challenge incumbent United States Senator Ben Cardin’s reelection in the Democratic Primary.

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Muse to officially announce challenge to Ben Cardin

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Prince George’s County State Senator C. Anthony Muse, who has been exploring a potential primary challenge to incumbent Democratic Senator Ben Cardin, will officially declare his bid to unseat him we have learned.

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Black Senator from MD? Pres. Obama says NO!

Then-Senator Barack Obama, then- Rep Ben Cardin, and fmr. Rep. Mfume (Photo: Democratic Underground.com)

Today the Washington Post reported that in an email set to go out later this week, President Barack Obama, once the lone African-American in the US Senate, will endorse Ben Cardin for a second term. The endorsement this early in the campaign is expected to help blunt any possible challenge by State Senator C. Anthony Muse of Prince George’s County.

Cardin, who is in his first term, barely won the Democratic Primary in 2006 against former Congressman Kweisi Mfume of Baltimore by less than three percentage points. Cardin was stumped by Mfume in vote rich Prince George’s County and while Muse has far less name ID insiders don’t want to take a chance. Prince George’s County is home to the most democratic votes in the state of Maryland mainly because of its large African-American population.

This isn’t the first time Barack Obama has come to the aid of Ben Cardin. In 2006 after Cardin defeated Mfume in the primary, Democrats organized a Unity Rally at the University of Maryland – College Park in Prince George’s County. Party leaders worried that after Cardin had been defeated so soundly in Prince George’s during that primary by 52 points would be in danger of losing the general election against then-Lt. Governor Michael Steele, an African-American, who at the time lived in Prince George’s. In fact later in that campaign a group of somewhat prominent black elected officials in the county did endorse Michael Steele over Ben Cardin. The keynote speaker for that rally…then-Senator Barack Obama.

Read the full story from the Washington Post here.

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Baker using official accounts for political activity? Plus What’s Happen Now Updates

Remember last week when United States Senator Ben Cardin made one of his rare visits to Prince George’s County? On one of the hottest days of the year he, Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, Delegate Geraldine Valentino-Smith, and Executive Rushern Baker all took to enjoying ice cream with residents in Bowie at Simple Pleasures. From sources at the event it was a great time despite the heat.

The day before and of the event, Executive Baker, took to social media to promote that he would be attending and encouraged others to come as well. The problem as some community members see it is he appears to have used his official account for partisan political purposes.

On the below freeze frames of the Executive’s twitter accounts his @CountyExecBaker account said, “Come 2 Simple Pleasures Cafe, 8519 Chestnut Ave, Bowie @ 6:30. Will be w/ @SenatorCardin & @WhipHoyer. We all need ice cream in this #heat!” Most people wouldn’t see any problem with that at all except that it was a political event and the bio of the @CountyExecBaker says the account is the “Official Twitter site for Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III.” That means that partisan and political messages that promote events of one party over an other would be banned. However in thinking about this it does appear possible that the twitter account could not be his official executive account but instead his political account. The problem would be then what is the @RushernBaker account for and even more why does neither one of them appear to comply with the new ruling from the State Board of Elections requiring the name of the committee and campaign treasurer?

“This is the a foggy line that in all honesty Mr. Baker may have intentionally drawn,” said a member of the Republican Central Committee who asked not to be named because they aren’t authorized to speak on behalf of the party. “I know I plan to ask the committee to look into this and request the Board of Elections to look into as well.”

A review of Senator Ben Cardin’s @SenatorCardin account and Rep. Steny Hoyer’s @WhipHoyer feed neither mention the Bowie event. Most of them only make mention to their official duties in congress.

Happening this Week

This appears to be a busy week in Prince George’s County politics.

On Monday Councilwoman Karen Toles will appear before the Chamber of Commerce to defend her Project Labor Agreement bill at 8:30AM.

The District Council (County Council) will meet to review planning decisions at 9:30AM (we assume Toles will be late)

On Tuesday the County Council Transportation Committee will meet before the full council meeting at 11:30AM to see their agenda check out the Community Calendar Page.

At 1:30PM the full County Council will meet to consider a number of items but also hear a briefing from State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks and Interim Chief of Police Mark Magaw on summer public safety and youth programs. Their full agenda can be seen on our Community Calendar Page too.

At 7:00PM the County Council will hold a public meeting at Northwestern High School to discuss workforce development education.

On Wednesday the County Council Planning and Zoning Committee will meet at 10AM and their agenda can be seen on the Community Calendar Page.

At 1:30PM the County Council Public Safety and Fiscal Management Committee will meet to hear a range of bills including Councilwoman Toles’ PLA legislation. View their entire agenda on our Community Calendar Page.

At 4:00PM the Board of Education will hold a FAB and CIP meeting to among other things review a revised budget proposal from Dr. Hite. Click here to see that presentation.

At 6:00PM the Board of Appeals (County Council) will meet to hear appeals on planning decisions. View their agenda on our Community Calendar Page.

Also at 6:00PM the Prince George’s County Young Democrats, Town of Edmonston, and others will join Adam Ortiz for a Thank You/Goodbye Party at Franklin’s.

At 6:30PM the Fannie Lou Hamer PAC will host an educational forum to discuss redistricting in Lanham at UFCW Local 400.

On Thursday the Prince George’s County Board of Planning will meet at 8:30AM, and

On Friday the Prince George’s Branch of the NAACP will host their annual fundraiser.

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