I can't believe he said that. I support Bernstein but I find Murphy's comments are so disturbing, how can we ever believe anything he ever says again? Thank you for admitting your racism, Mr. Murphy. May others stand up and do the same.

Well done! Thank you for standing up and breaking your silence Mr. Murphy. I commend you, your partner and Warren Brown for standing up for the right thing. As a country we have come to far to in turn rob the better man of a job based on the color of his skin. I understand that racism is alive and well, but to be guilty of these types of actions sets us all back as a HUMAN race.
I also agree that if GB were an African American, the choice would in fact be easy-he would be the next SA without a doubt. This has been such a blatant display of racial polarizing that it is making me question the political figures that are supporting her, their ethics, as well as their personal interest in this city as a whole.

It looks like the leaders with backbone are speaking up. Mr. Murphy is putting Baltimore first, rather than nominal loyalties. This is good for Baltimore.

Billy Murphy is absurd. While I'm a Bernstein supporter, I marvel at the shameless hypocrisy spilling out of Murphy's mouth. He all but admits that he's historically supported an inferior candidate because of the color of her skin, and in the same breath, has the stones to say a black person should ultimately have the job.

Also find it amusing that he's decided to come out in rousing support of Bernstein now that most media outlets - and some very influential public figures - have already endorsed him. Where was he six months ago?

And I won't even bother addressing the double standard that protects the bigotry in Murphy's statement from criticism by the masses. It's a dead horse in a town where an intelligent, honest debate on race is impossible.

Buried beneath Mr. Murphy's otherwise eloquent statement is the very sort of one-way partiality that reveals the black community's shameless preference for racial solidarity.

As always, whites are left to suspend their disbelief and pretend that phrases such as "We believe...a...black lawyer should have that job" are somehow within the realm of equitable. This is an interesting point of view from someone whose legacy within the Civil Rights era is based on the proposition that race should never matter.

Would Mr. Murphy be so "enlightened" were the electorate in a jurisdiction like Carroll County to say candidate Perry Jones has no place on the County Commission because some hypothetical "we" believes that that job should go to a white resident?

Both Mr. Murphy and Mr. Ravenell are skilled litigators with well-earned reputations for excellence and tenacity. Unfortunately, what Mr. Fenton is hoping - that Mr. Murphy's self-imposed, temporary halt to afro-centric decision making constitutes a useful endorsement of Mr. Bernstein - falls well short of the mark.

Why hasn't Billy Murphy took a stand on the pathetic record of the current police commissioner Freddie Bealfeld?

I want to know why you do not post my anti-Bealfeld comments? Is this still America? Ever heard of the first amendment? Does the Sun subscribe to freedom of speech? A blog is supposed to be two-way.

Oh, if it were only that. These comments have to be moderated by hand and I had something to do Saturday besides wait for your posts. -JF

"said he has a strong preference for black leadership " <- This is precisely why every white taxpayer needs to move out of Baltimore as quickly as possible. Blacks are so monolithic, that they will live with the most incompetent and/or corrupt if he or she has a dark skin tone.

If a white person said they preferred white leadership, that person would be branded an evil racist oppressor. It's reprehensible that this double standard is allowed because white people are too afraid to call these ignorant people out.

I fled Pigtown a few years ago and no longer have to worry about criminals, thugs and black leaders making me feel responsible for causing their criminal behaviors (because, of course, I'm the white devil). I am free to live a relatively safe life - devoid of inner-city drama.

To the white, hispanics and asians still trying to live in that s-hole: get out while you can and take your tax dollars. Baltimore City is a dead city.

Good riddance, Mark. We need losers like you. We'll see who's laughing when gas costs $10 per gallon.

This is embarrassing and inflammatory. Question: When was Billy Murphy nominated or even given authority to speak for Black people or even the African American Community in Baltimore? In fact, when did he establish the credibility? Moreover, painting him as a former judge, and current civil rights attorney from a notable family is misleading. We all know Billy is a criminal lawyer and he made much of his money off the the crime and violence of Baltimore (criminal defense). Contrastingly, suggesting that we cannot criticize black leadership because we are black is not only untrue but disturbing. I look forward to his candidate, Mr. Bernstein denouncing such foolish statements unless he agrees with them.
Mr. Murphy saying that the State's Attorney has been in office for 15 years because she is black is demeaning to Ms. Jessamy, voters like myself, and thinking people everywhere. Her ethnicity is not the reason she has defeated Warren Brown and other challengers for the office over the last 15 years. I am glad that one single "negro" has seen the error of His ways and decided to use the brain that God gave him to select public officials with critical consideration. Mr. Murphy the rest of us have been doing that and will continue to do that.
Please speak for yourself. If we want you to represent us, we will pay your hefty retainer.

:Gregg Bernstein meets the bill to a 'T', except for the color of his skin"

In othere words, I'm still racist.

"Oh no he di'nt." Sorry nobody had used it yet when I posted

Mr. Murphy is black. Being so does not confirm is preference in this race as racial treason. Any black person has the right to say anything about any candidate. The same should be true for any white person. As I understand his remarks, he considers Mr. Bernstein likely to perform the office more effectively than Ms. Jessamy. I agree with him.

billy murphy shame on you betraying the black race

It's sad to see that race still matters. I hope that one day Mr. Murphy will discuss his support for candidates based only on facts, not the color of their skin. It is sad for anyone to give any elected official a "pass" because of their skin color. No wonder Baltimore is in this mess. Racism lives in all colors and we're all worse off for it.

I think supporting a candidate on the facts is what he says he's now doing; he puts his support for Jessamy based on race in the past tense. Whether you buy his comments is another thing, but I think you misinterpreted what he said. -JF

Acknowledging his "failure of leadership" was courageous. There are very few people in public life who admit they were wrong. Judging by the comments here it is easy to see why.

Justin, Your notes here are cracking me up. I think I read your blog for your sense of humor as much as anything else. I suppose in a crime blog that's weird, but hey, this is Bmore, right?

Thanks for reading, lesley. -Jf

@ Black in Baltimore. I agree that Mr. Murphy may be a self appointed leader, but I have to ask you one question: Why refer to him as a "negro"? I find it interesting that you used what most would deem a racist term by today's standard against someone of your own race. The the African American community already suffered enough at the hands of racism from other groups - in doing this you are promoting self deprecation. Is that how the African American community of Baltimore treats each other when a view is expressed that one does not agree with?

By the way Warren Brown never ran for the office of State's Attorney. Past contenders are Fogleman 2006 (a relatively unknown attorney who still managed to get 30% of the democratic vote), Keating and Stancil in 2002 (Keating a 35 yr practicing attorney and Stancil a councilwoman split the vote against her- I believe Keating could have won without Stancil) , and in 1998 no one challenged her in the Democratic Primary which gave her a clear run into the office. So basically the woman has been relatively unchallenged her entire career.

Oh yeah and she is MRS Jessamy, not MS.

I am voting for change. I did it when I voted for Obama and I will do it with a vote for Bernstein.

Please be safe (it's dangerous in Baltimore) and have a blessed day.

I am black and am very tired of the idea that people should vote - or hire - on race. I don't care at all what skin color the State's Attorney has as long as they don't care what skin color the defendent or victim is. The best person should get the job - period.

People who vote or hire someone just on race sort of get what they deserve. They may be depriving themselves of a better person just because of their own - yes - racism.

I'm glad that he endorsed Bernstein but I just wish he hadn't gone into the thing of preferring a black attorney. The best qualified person should get the job, as long as that person isn't a racist. I have absolutely no reason to believe that Mr. Bernstein is a racist.

This whole racial, us-versus-them, thing is ridiculous and sort of explains why Baltimore is so screwed up. Come on, folks. We can do better than this. Clearly, voting for a person who is not performing just because of racial paranoia isn't working out that well

Also, anyone else find see the irony in a civil rights attorney openly admitting that he's historically used race as his primary measuring stick when choosing a candidate?

Last time I checked, that's what the civil rights movement fought against.

As most murder victims in Baltimore are African-American, one would think that the most qualified candidate for State's Attorney - regardless of his or her race - would be preferred among those who are concerned for the safety of Baltimore's African-American residents.

I can see how some of the white people reading may get upset by some of Murphy's remarks. Let us remeber Murphy is endorsing a white candidate. Second lets remember that Baltimore is a predominately black city. Should not the people who represent THE PEOPLE be able to relate to the challenges faced by their constituents? I, a black male, agree with Murphy's assessment and plan to vote for Bernstein myself. I also would prefer to see a black candidate for the position who can better serve Baltimore. Can you blame me? Oh did I mention that my wife is white as are most of my friends. I went to private schools and grew up in a white neighborhod. The racial backlash against having a black president has been fierce. Not exactly encouraging to blacks in America. I mean Obama isn't even black or white he is both! Almost 2 years into his presidency and many still think he is muslim when he isn't and many still dispute his birthplace! Not exactly a spirit of cooperation or acceptance. Those who make this article about race obviously miss the point. It is about a better Baltimore and how we get to it. That's it.

What Murphy is saying is true on both sides of the aisles, racially speaking. It's unfortunately natural for our animal instincts to kick in and select something/ someone familiar to us. I'll admit it myself. I've been guilty of the same preference to the white race as I am white. Let's just imagine he was white and admitted wholeheartedly he voted for an official because of the whiteness of their skin and in addition, a white person should hold that position over another race - experience/qualifications not considered. what an uproar that would be on da evening nooz. Well consider this my uproar. I can also see many others are up in arms about this article and the complete hypocrisy this country has become.

Blacks are very nationalistic. they focus on their skin color. it's in their everyday speak, music, media. They are obsessed with the color of their skin. I never used to be racist, but the older I get the more I dislike black people and their actions and what they do to a neigborhood, and how they strut around like they own everything when they haven't even earned it yet.

sincerely,
Fed up

FIRST & FOREMOST Murphy does not speak for the African American race in Baltimore/or anywhere else. The disrespect to Mrs. Jessamy is unfathomable!!! Yet, consider the source if you will!! @Fed Up - you cannot speak for Black people!! "Blacks are very nationalistic, focus on their skin color, . .. everyday speak, music, media . . ." You are and always will be a RACIST, it doesn't just occur because you aged. Neighborhoods are destroyed by other people as well, so how dare you lump one race into a destructive category, how do you know what a person has/has not earned, talking about a hypocrit. I suggest you spend a little more time on grammar, i.e. "speak." PUZZLED