Boy Scouts, the governor and ... Hitler?
It's almost never a good idea to compare a politician to Hitler or the devil -- let alone to do so in writing.
But that’s just what Douglas B. Riley did as he tried to inspire his friends to come to a breakfast benefit for the Boy Scouts of America. Riley, a Republican attorney who was once a member of the Baltimore County Council and ran unsuccessfully for county executive and state Senate, figured his colleagues needed a little push since the guest speaker is Democratic Gov. Martin O’Malley.
Riley, who is a chairman of the annual fund-raising event for the Baltimore Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, sent a March 12 letter to about three dozen of his friends and supporters. He wrote: “I’m inclined, though, to quote Winston Churchill in praise of Governor O’Malley and his support for our cause:
"I'm inclined, though, to quote Winston Churchill in praise of Governor O'Malley and his support for our cause:
'If Hitler invaded hell I would make at least a favorable reference to the devil in the House of Commons.'"
While the letter is on what appears to be campaign stationery, Riley is not a candidate for any office this year.
O'Malley's aides obtained a copy earlier today and called the Boy Scouts. Riley learned of the inquiry and called the governor's chief of staff, Matthew Gallagher, to apologize. Riley also emailed an apology.
Riley explained in an interview, that he "wasn't trying to compare O'Malley to the Nazis or anything like that."
"I was teasing myself," he said. "I was, not immodestly, comparing myself to Winston Churchill."
The context -- not included in the letter -- is that Churchill delivered the infamous line when members of Parliament questioned why he had sent supplies to the Soviet Union after Hitler invaded Russia in 1941. Churchill was outspokenly anti-Communist.
In this scenario, Riley said, he had "been in the trenches for years" working for Republican former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., and yet now here he was asking people to come listen to O'Malley speak. His letter noted that a similar breakfast fund-raiser a few years ago with Ehrlich generated a huge turnout.
"I am really, honestly, sorry about it," Riley said of the letter. "I feel like it's been misinterpreted."
Rick Abbruzzese, an O'Malley spokesman, said Riley had apologized.
"There’s no place for references like this in our public discourse," Abbruzzese said. "Regardless of his political views, it’s unfortunate that Mr. Riley would use this kind of language to solicit support for the Boy Scouts of America."
O'Malley plans to attend the Friday breakfast.
Comments
Why did he apologize? I don't get it?
Bob Nolton
Posted by: Robert M. Nolton | March 25, 2010 6:55 PM
This is absolute drivel. While you all sit and stare at your navels as your once-storied newspaper fades into oblivion, perhaps you might want to consider lightening up on your viscious, partisan hit jobs. Let's get this straight: you're trashing a good guy, who is retired from politics (and has been for quite a few years), who devotes a significant amount of his free time as the volunteer chairman of a terrific organization in direct support of Baltimore area youths, for an obviously self-deprecating comment referencing a well-known historical event. Not a single person, anywhere, could honestly interpret this as a direct reference to Hitler. Instead, in typical Sun fashion, your "ends justify the means" reporting of attacking anyone with an R at the end of their name does nothing but injure the Boy Scouts of America. Shame on you.
Posted by: Baltimore Eagle Scout | March 25, 2010 8:28 PM
Is Abbruzzese saying that the words of Winston Churchill have no place in our public discourse?
Posted by: William Sheldon | March 25, 2010 8:34 PM
seems to me like a tongue-in-cheek attempt at humor for those who might be reluctant to attend an event with O'Malley. I agree ... why would he apologize? Oh, and I think you meant 'stationery.'
(From Julie: Thanks for that correction.)
Posted by: jmr21093 | March 25, 2010 11:00 PM
Well, he compared a guy helping out with their little Boy Scout fundraiser to the Devil. That's not really the most polite way to acknowledge someone's help, Bob.
Posted by: Robert Baden-Powell | March 26, 2010 8:11 AM
What's the big deal? Hitler was Catholic but became a socialist later in life and only had one testicle. O'Malley - ditto... though he acts like he doesn't have any. Hitler was a creep. O'Malley is a creep - 'nuff said.Good job on the BP Solar business MOM. You chased another business out of state. I like the 'regional reference - e.g. they'll hop on I-85 & Rt 15 to WV, VA or PA for parts. Good job Boy Blunder! Meanwhile you'll still try to tax the state to prosperity (point of information - despite the tax increase, 260 million in tax revenue LEFT the state last year).Meanwhile... our energy costs continue to rise. And it wouldn't have been that way if Constellation merged with a strong energy supplier like, say, uh... Florida Power & Light!
Posted by: TheBaltimoreColt | March 26, 2010 10:41 PM
Well????Did Hitler ever actually make it to breakfast?
Posted by: JustAQ | March 26, 2010 10:44 PM
Smart move. It's not as if the Dems have anything on Ehrlich's choice for Lt. Governor or anything! After all, it's not as if spending party money on a S&M club will be controversial or anything.
It's the perfect time to invite retaliation, is it not? No matter how big of a mistake the Democrats make, the GOP always manages to top it in no time flat..
Posted by: Fang | March 29, 2010 6:47 PM
Have you lost your mind? This was a funny remark by a Republican, commenting on his predicament in asking people to attend an event with MOM--nothing more. If you can't appreciate the humor in this, you need to increase your medications.
Posted by: goodhumor | April 1, 2010 6:50 AM