O'Malley: GOP governors 'live in a different world'
Richmond, VA — Gov. Martin O’Malley stepped into the national spotlight as the head of Democratic Governors Association for first time Saturday night, delivering a twenty minute address to Virginia Democrats that urged government investments in education and infrastructure.
The themes he struck echoed his inaugural address and campaign stump speeches: Democrats should not run away from traditional priorities even in difficult economic times. Keeping schools and transportation projects funded will help states “move forward, not backward,” he said.
Political observers have been keeping close tabs on O’Malley since he became the head of the DGA late last year. Others, including former President Bill Clinton, used the job to build a national profile. O’Malley is term limited.
The governor has made frequent trips Washington, DC in the past two months and he’s sharpened his partisan rhetoric, tangling in the media with the Republican governors of Florida and New Jersey.
O’Malley’s address, delivered to about 1,400 at Virginia Democratic Party’s annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner, was laced with partisan remarks. The governor derided the “current crop of tea partying Republican governors” saying they “live in a different world.”
“The Republican governors’ tea party is more Mad Hatter than James Madison,” O’Malley said. He took another jab at New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, calling the Republican darling a “colorful character.” For the Republicans, he said, “There is no need to pay bills, no need to protect bond ratings, no need to invest in the future. Down is up, up is down; candy is a vegetable, and vegetables are candy.”
The themes he struck echoed his inaugural address and campaign stump speeches: Democrats should not run away from traditional priorities even in difficult economic times. Keeping schools and transportation projects funded will help states “move forward, not backward,” he said.
Political observers have been keeping close tabs on O’Malley since he became the head of the DGA late last year. Others, including former President Bill Clinton, used the job to build a national profile. O’Malley is term limited.
The governor has made frequent trips Washington, DC in the past two months and he’s sharpened his partisan rhetoric, tangling in the media with the Republican governors of Florida and New Jersey.
O’Malley’s address, delivered to about 1,400 at Virginia Democratic Party’s annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner, was laced with partisan remarks. The governor derided the “current crop of tea partying Republican governors” saying they “live in a different world.”
“The Republican governors’ tea party is more Mad Hatter than James Madison,” O’Malley said. He took another jab at New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, calling the Republican darling a “colorful character.” For the Republicans, he said, “There is no need to pay bills, no need to protect bond ratings, no need to invest in the future. Down is up, up is down; candy is a vegetable, and vegetables are candy.”
Comments
Keep drinking the Kool Aid, Governor.
Posted by: Chestertownie | February 20, 2011 8:48 AM
Good job Martin we're proud of you!
Posted by: Ray Barcia | February 21, 2011 11:26 AM
More drivel and nonsense from THE MAN WHO WOULD BE KING.
How will these new projects be paid for when there is no money?
Posted by: Anonymous | February 21, 2011 12:46 PM
Down is up and up is down. Candy is a vegetable and vegetable is a candy.
A fee is a tax, a tax is a free? A fund raid is bad, good is a fund raid? I won't support tax hikes, tax hikes I support [if the legislature passes them]?
=) anyone else see the irony in O'Malley calling someone else a mad hatter? Take a look in the mirror, Governor!
Posted by: JoeSchmoe | February 22, 2011 6:55 AM
i cannot say what democrats of maryland have done in the recent election, they loyally keep voting back into office these politicians, as if elections are simply a football game to win in the NFL . Life isnt a game.
I cannot say what they are doing to Maryland. My description of what the democrat party has done to Maryland and its citizens is simply this-- the election may have been rigged...illegal foreigners are in MAryland and have illegally voted in last election.. a mockery of democracy in America is being carried out by a one- party monopoly in Maryland ....total disgrace. my description would involve obscene language. so i cannot say more...America is waking up Democrats... your vacation from accountability is almost over. --DERR UFO
Posted by: DERR UFO | February 22, 2011 1:40 PM
wow!
what a complete moron, leftist pig
Posted by: gary | February 22, 2011 3:39 PM
The only ones who do not live in the real world are MOM and the state legislature. They have a 1.6 billion deficit but will continue to "invest in the future" also know as tax hikes and MOM will not introduce new taxes on his own (how spineless) but will gladly sign them if passed by the legislature. MOM you are a loser and if you have aspirations of higher office, outside of MD, I can't wait to see what the rest of the country will think of you once they hear you preach to them like that wonderful "alabaster sky" speech I am so fond of laughing at.
Posted by: reader203 | February 22, 2011 11:15 PM
God help us when he runs for president in '16. But knowing him and his giant ego he might just push Obama aside and run in '12..
Posted by: RIGHTOFCENTER | February 23, 2011 11:30 AM