Ehrlich on robocalls: 'I don't think they work'
A reporter for the news site Towson Patch caught up with Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. yesterday at a Princeton-Towson basketball game, where the twice-defeated Republican former governor briefly discussed his future and the controversial Election Day robocalls that are under investigation.
Ehrlich, who sat courtside with his two boys as his alma mater defeated Towson, wouldn't comment on the state investigation of his operative Julius Henson and the batch of more than 112,000 robocalls deployed in the final hours before polls closed Nov. 2.
Henson's home was raided last week as part of a state prosecutors' investigation, and Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler has already filed a civil lawsuit against Henson, alleging voter intimidation and voter suppression.
Henson has acknowledged ordering the robocalls, which told voters to "relax" and stay home instead because Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley had already "been successful." But the operative, who also works with dozens of Democrats in Baltimore and Prince George's County, has said Ehrlich probably had no knowledge of the calls.
Ehrlich told Patch that his campaign did not order robocalls from Henson or anybody else
"I'm not a fan of [robocalls]," Ehrlich said. "I don't think they work."
Ehrlich also told Patch that he is still weighing his employment options. He said he may return to the Baltimore office that he launched for North Carolina law firm Womble Carlyle Sandridge and Rice. Or, he said, he may pursue an association presidency in Washington, where he could tap his eight years of experience as a member of Congress.
Ehrlich, who lost to O'Malley by 14 percentage points -- more than double his margin of defeat four years ago, when the then-Baltimore mayor ousted the sitting governor -- reiterated his decision to end his career as a politician.
"I can't imagine running for anything in Maryland," he told Patch.
Comments
when is this pig gonna come clean and clearly spell out his involvement?
Posted by: mike | December 23, 2010 1:51 PM
neither do fraudlent sample ballots right?
Posted by: Anonymous | December 23, 2010 2:38 PM
"I don't think they work. I still lost, didn't I?"
Posted by: RomanTotale3d | December 23, 2010 2:53 PM
Well of course they don't work. He lost by 14 points despite using robo calls.
Zing!
Posted by: CrazyIvan | December 23, 2010 3:44 PM
Ehrlich doesn't think that robocalls work? Yeah, that's rich! So why the hell did his campaign robocall my house about a dozen times between primary and election day in 2006?
Posted by: Rusty Shackleford | December 23, 2010 3:46 PM
Thanks for the prompt response.
Posted by: Richard Higdon | December 23, 2010 3:56 PM
Well Rusty, they didn't work then either.
Why doesn't the Sun interview Ehrlich's bosses at the law firm? What do they have to say about this.
Posted by: Anonymous | December 23, 2010 4:06 PM
Busing in homeless from another state to target specific areas to pose as your supporters doesn't work either. Nor does whining on the radio for most of the past decade.
So what's his point? That he's always a victim of circumstances and has no responsibility about what the people he pays do on his behalf after he throws a hundred grand at them? That he threw money around like that without thinking to even ask how it would be used?
What a joke!
Posted by: Josh | December 23, 2010 4:18 PM
You Erhlich haters got what you deserved, enjoy the higher taxes and other nickle and dime tactics that'll be coming from the O'Malley regime.
Posted by: DHarri | December 23, 2010 7:09 PM
Ehrlich is a prime example of the GOOPer mentality of:
"Do as I say, not as I do."
Posted by: Mike | December 24, 2010 1:28 AM
DHarri, let me call you a WAHmbulance. Go move to Oklahoma if you hate it here so much.
Posted by: Rusty Shackleford | December 24, 2010 8:43 AM
DHarri - I don't know, I think Ehrlich took care of all those nickel and dime increases when he raised the sewer/water, car registration, and deregulated BGE
Posted by: phishin2010 | December 24, 2010 9:32 AM
"Robocalls don't work"
Oh Bob - neither do bad head rugs!
That's where the $14,000 should have gone to.
Posted by: Frank Barich | December 24, 2010 10:37 AM
Don't cry, L'il Bobby... Word has it your mentor, Big Newt, is considering a run for the Big Chair. The way you tucked yourself up next to him as "one of his boys" when you were in Congress, you might have an opportunity there to be his "Master of Dirty Tricks!" But only if you bring Mr.Henson and his cohorts along.
Note to DHarri-Keep those blinders on! People like you are the reason people like me keep reading and staying active when it comes to politics. To still be supportive of Ehrlich after this last election just shows that you've been drinking the koolaid far too long!
Posted by: Liz H. | December 24, 2010 12:35 PM
Erlich-- once a hypcrit, always a hypocrit.
Posted by: Irene | December 24, 2010 4:55 PM
Good Riddance, Two-Time LOSER!!! There's a reason you lost by more the 2nd time: Most of us knew you aren't the man for the job. Maybe, Kendall will let you have your testicles back!!
Lee Dill
Posted by: Lee Dill | December 28, 2010 9:17 AM
Maryland has plenty of idiots like the ones who have posted on here bashing Governor Ehrlich. You deserve the higher taxes and corrupttion of O'Malley and one party government. At least Maryland had 4 years of sanity during my lifetime. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely - that is what one party rue with no checks and balances has done to Maryland.
Posted by: Chuck | January 5, 2011 2:36 PM