Pugh shakes up Rawlings-Blake endorsement
A quiet luncheon at which a group of ministers endorsed Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake Thursday afternoon became a lot more interesting when state Sen Catherine Pugh arrived.
Pugh, one of Rawlings-Blake's leading challengers, entered the church hall silently as the minsters were wrapping up their remarks.
Rawlings-Blake and campaign staffers turned to their phones, rapidly tapping messages. Several of the ministers embraced Pugh, who shares much of her West Baltimore base with Rawlings-Blake. The incident could presage a summer of tough campaigning by Pugh, who as a former City Council member and state delegate, has considerable political clout.
Pugh questioned the process by which the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance chose to endorse Rawlings-Blake. The group has held candidates' forums in past elections before choosing a candidate to back.
"Never in the history of the IMA have they not had a candidates' forum," said Pugh. "We were waiting for an invitation to be heard."
Rev. Alvin J. Gwynn Sr., president of the group and pastor of Northeast Baltimore's Friendship Baptist Church, acknowledged that the group had traditionally held forums. But, he said, the group decided to "support" Rawlings-Blake on June 1, 2010.
"She was coming in behind the former mayor, Sheila Dixon, so we were backing her," he said.
When asked when the group decided to formally endorse Rawlings-Blake, Gwynn said the decision was made "during the course of the year."
When pressed for specifics, Gwynn said the group's decision to support Rawlings-Blake in June 2010 was tantamount to an endorsement.
"It would have been hypocritical for us to interview the other candidates," he said. "We've been working with [Rawlings-Blake] for the whole year."
Gwynn said the "short time frame" and volume of candidates also prompted the group to make an endorsement without a forum.
"We've never had six or seven candidates before," he said. However, in 1999, 15 candidates vied for the Democratic nomination. In 2007, seven candidates filed for the mayor's race.
Gwynn was joined by Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown and about a dozen ministers for the endorsement, which followed a luncheon meeting in a hall at Friendship Baptist. Fewer than ten others, including a pair of Rawlings-Blake campaign staffers, attended the event.
At least three of the ministers said that they had not made up their minds which candidate to support, but joined the other ministers to show solidarity with the organization.
Bishop William E. Gaines Jr. of United Brethren Church of the Living God said that he had expected a regular meeting today and had not learned until this morning that the endorsement would be taking place.
"I didn't come here to endorse," he said. "I came to be with the pastors here. I haven't personally made up my mind. I think [Rawlings-Blake] has a lot to offer and so does Sen. Pugh."
Pastor Macie Tillman of Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church said he "didn't really decide to endorse Rawlings-Blake," but felt obligated to join the others because he is an IMA board member.
Among those in attendance was Rev. Sheridan Todd Yeary, pastor of Douglas Memorial Church, where Rawlings-Blake is a member. Yeary made several comments to Pugh, admiring her gray high-heeled shoes.
Gwynn, the groups' leader, said in his remarks that the IMA is an "advocate for citizens who can't advocate for themselves" and touted the high percentage of candidates that the group has endorsed who have been elected.
But in an interview afterwards, Gwynn downplayed the importance of the endorsement. "The vote is in the hands of the people," he said.
Comments
Rev Gwynn: "advocate for citizens who can't advocate for themselves"
If citizens are kept honestly informed, they are more than capable of advocating for themselves.
Posted by: MairZdoatz | July 7, 2011 4:20 PM
Way to go Catherine Pugh. Takes guts to bounce up against the political machine, especially with the Lt. Gov in attendance. Keep the pressure on...
Posted by: b_Baltimore | July 7, 2011 5:45 PM
Preachers in bed with politicians. Makes me wonder who's the pimp and who's the whore.
Posted by: Marie | July 7, 2011 6:50 PM
they like going to places where all of the mindless people gather, neither one of them would no influence other nonbeliever's
Posted by: kwolf443 | July 7, 2011 7:11 PM
Marie, Great question!
Posted by: Deb G | July 7, 2011 7:17 PM
The citizens of Baltimore voices have been heard and those voices are not pleased with the mayor and current city government. Rawlings-Blake has failed the city as Mayor! She lack’s true leadership qualities and is out of touch with the citizens and city worker's of Baltimore. As for the IMA, I would like to thank them, for finally exposing the level of self-righteous bias that exist within their rank and file.
Posted by: mdncbpdnotme | July 7, 2011 7:20 PM
Warning to the citizens of Baltimore, If you award acting mayor Rawlings-Blake a legit term, You will reap the dire consequences, so will I. Let's avoid this and put our support Behind Catherine Pugh to avoid Batimore's Armeggedon. I will make my voice heard to keep SRB from being elected.
Posted by: johnnyangel | July 7, 2011 7:28 PM
The comment by the clergyman about advocating for those who cannot advocate for themselves might better be interpreted as his being the self appointed interlocutor for those who do not think for themselves.
By the way, I have long thought they are walking a pretty fine line as they represent tax exempt institutions.
Posted by: Bob Kean | July 7, 2011 7:33 PM
Any politician who is in bed with the homophobic black ministers of Baltimore is no candidate of mine. Keep religion out of politics!
Posted by: comeagainbaltoMD | July 7, 2011 7:33 PM
Where is the "like" button? No, the "LOVE" button??!! Thank you mdncbpdnotme! I couldnt have said it better!
Posted by: overtheedge | July 7, 2011 7:33 PM
Stephanie you DONT need any endorsements by these hypocrites anyway...and I used to like Pugh, but she's acting like Dixon...You cant bully your way to get an endorsement.
Posted by: MiMi | July 7, 2011 7:51 PM
Yo Gwynn, y'all supported Sheila?
What happened to her again?
Oh yeah, she was convicted and given a hefty retirement package for stealing gift cards intended for the City's youth; some of those that, in your own words, "can't advocate for themselves".
Posted by: Anonymous | July 7, 2011 7:52 PM
Maybe the ministers need to read Mark 12:17 again:
Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”
Posted by: William | July 7, 2011 8:11 PM
Posted by: johnnyangel : Batimore's Armeggedon which is spelled wrong , just like a religious to not know better.
Posted by: kwolf443 | July 7, 2011 8:16 PM
Marie, I'm not sure who the pimp is and who is the whore. But I know who's really pulling the strings at City Hall.
Click here to find out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxdzohHTmp8
Posted by: weneedchange | July 7, 2011 8:23 PM
Happens in North Carolina (and probably all black communities nationwide. Congregations generally know what's going on, which is why last year's races for Congress had such interesting outcomes.
Posted by: MissV, Raleigh NC | July 7, 2011 8:48 PM
Go Senator Pugh!
Posted by: Anonymous | July 7, 2011 9:44 PM
"Pugh shakes up" "became a lot more interesting"
""She was coming in behind the former mayor, Sheila Dixon, so we were backing her," he said. "
Sounds like these people have diminished mental capacity due to lead poisoning.
Posted by: It's Clear to Me | July 7, 2011 10:43 PM
What happened the the old liberal belief in SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE?
Posted by: Hypocrites All! | July 7, 2011 10:45 PM
The really sad part of one of the most
formerly prestigious religious groups in
the city 'handling' this endorsement issue
differently than it has for the past 25 yrs,
is that it causes those beyond their
individual congregations, and those within
to continue doing what they normally do
'think and vote ' their own minds.
Vernon Dobson and the other founding
patriarchs of the IMA would be embarassed by your actions. Why on
earth or in heaven would you want voters
to feel that men/women? of God? are
unworthy of voter respect.
Really sad that even SRB would accept
an endorsement that smacks of under
the table shennanigans. Sure, Christ
and the angels are proud of you clowns.
Posted by: Bmoretruthful | July 7, 2011 11:18 PM
Another example of how SRB operates. Backroom deals, even with men of God! I no longer have any respect for the IMA!
It's time for a change, wake up Baltimore and get this puppet of MOM out of office!
Posted by: Gimme A. Break | July 8, 2011 6:45 AM
Wasn't Pugh the one who blamed the violence in the aftermath of the fireworks on "lead paint"? How would she be any different than Rawlings-Blake or any other hack who's been in charge of the city lately?
Posted by: Jimmy A | July 8, 2011 7:41 AM
I wish the challengers would gather behind one opponent to run against SRB.
The last thing Baltimore needs is the OMalleys puppet to win election, thus guaranteeing Baltimore's further decline.
Posted by: john | July 8, 2011 12:34 PM
How many of these ministers actually live in Baltimore City?
Posted by: Catlady777 | July 8, 2011 2:30 PM
The IMA has no cred left, anyway. These guys still think they matter. The fact that they have no process or objectivity just illustrates how worthless their half-baked endorsement really is. Kudos to Pugh for being crazy enough to show up at the meeting, but I'm still sticking with Otis--the only candidate who can really pull this off.
Posted by: G. Frangler | July 8, 2011 4:47 PM