Bob vs. The Troops

On March 3, 2010, In Bob Ehrlich, Ehrlich Radio: We Listen So You Don't Have To, By Travis Tazelaar

Ehrlich Radio: We listen so you don't have to.

We’ve catalogued Bob Ehrlich saying some pretty outrageous things in his right-wing shock jock gig on WBAL in the past three years, but this past week the former governor shocked Americans across the country by blasting Gov. O’Malley for visiting our troops.

At first we thought Ehrlich might have just gotten carried away and would change the subject. But then Ehrlich began running a full-scale campaign to attack Governor O’Malley for visiting our men and women in uniform.

Here are the facts: Ehrlich as Governor took trips to China, Israel, the Bahamas, Las Vegas and Philadelphia to watch Princeton play basketball versus Penn. But he has a problem with Martin O’Malley visiting our troops – unbelievable isn’t it?

No wonder WBAL-TV reporter Jayne Miller swiftly dismissed Ehrlich’s comments as “partisan, petty attacks.”

We’ll let Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown, a member of the Active and Reserve Components of the United States Army since 1984, have the last word:

“I thought that [Ehrlich's] comments were irresponsible.  Also, as a soldier, and I spent 26 years on active duty and in the Reserves, it was an insult to those of us who serve in uniform.

“I was in Iraq from September of ‘04 to July of ‘05.  When I was there, there were a number of delegations, congressional delegations, governors who came and visited.  In fact, it was a really exciting day when Congressmen Steny Hoyer and Ben Cardin came to visit, and I saw them in Baghdad.  Now they didn’t come to visit Anthony Brown, they came to visit soldiers and sailors airmen and Marines, but I can tell you it was a pretty exciting day to see their faces and to know that they were looking out for our well-being and trying to better understand what we were facing so that the decisions made back here at home are appropriate.”

Travis Tazelaar is Executive Director of the Maryland Democratic Party and a former U.S. Marine.

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Silent Bob

On February 9, 2010, In Bob Ehrlich, Democrats, Ehrlich Radio: We Listen So You Don't Have To, By MD Dems

Ehrlich Radio: We listen so you don't have to.

I wouldn’t normally call Bob Ehrlich silent given his frequent television and radio appearances, but it’s been 5 days since Ehrlich was asked about his possible violation of the FCC’s “Payola Rules” and the public still hasn’t received a straight answer.

However, he did have time to go on his talk radio show on Saturday morning and hurl “snowballs” while the rest of us dealt with “Snowmageddon.” You’d think that his radio show would be the perfect opportunity to clear the air.

When initially questioned about the complaint, Ehrlich spokesman Henry Fawell said that our “allegations didn’t deserve the dignity of a response,” but later admitted he didn’t know whether they had disclosed that Ehrlich had a financial stake before pushing his client’s position.

The bottom line is that Ehrlich needs to answer whether he put his firm’s financial gain ahead of the public trust. If he didn’t violate FCC rules, he needs to tell us that. If he did violate FCC rules, he needs to own up to it.

What is he hiding?

What does he know that he is refusing to share with the people of Maryland?

Are there other instances where he promoted clients over the airwaves without properly disclosing the relationship?

The public deserves to know.

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Ehrlich: The Payola Pundit

On February 5, 2010, In Bob Ehrlich, Democrats, Ehrlich Radio: We Listen So You Don't Have To, Republicans, By Travis Tazelaar

As Bob Ehrlich continues his extended flirtation with a possible run for Governor, it’s important that the public take a good hard look at what he’s been up to for the last four years. He’s worked as a self-described “rain-maker” for a big North Carolina law firm, and he’s worked as a paid pundit and talk show host in Baltimore. Unfortunately, it appears he may be illegally using his media appearances to help make money for his firm.

Yesterday, the Maryland Democratic Party submitted to the Federal Communications Commission a request for investigation of FOX 45 TV and Robert Ehrlich, Jr., for violations of the FCC’s “Payola Rules.”

In 2009, Ehrlich was paid to promote the position of one of his clients on a highly controversial issue in Maryland: the awarding of a license for a slots machine facility. Mr. Ehrlich promoted that position in the course of a broadcast program on which he regularly appears on WBFF-Fox 45 TV, in Baltimore, Maryland. However, there was no disclosure at all to viewers, either by Mr. Ehrlich or by the station, of the payment made to Mr. Ehrlich to promote his client’s position in the broadcast.

Federal Communications Commission payola rules require he disclose his firm’s interests to avoid the appearance of neutrality, which clearly did not exist. Mr. Ehrlich clearly did not disclose this conflict during the broadcast.

When initially questioned about the complaint, Ehrlich spokesman Henry Fawell said that our “allegations didn’t deserve the dignity of a response,” but later admitted he didn’t know whether they had disclosed that Ehrlich had a financial stake before pushing his client’s position.

Meanwhile, FOX 45 TV is “looking into it” and has indicated that its findings would be aired on the station.

Ehrlich needs to answer whether he put his firm’s financial gain ahead of the public trust. If he didn’t violate FCC rules, he needs to tell us that. If he did violate FCC rules, he needs to own up to it. What is he hiding? What does he know that he is refusing to share with the people of Maryland? Are there other instances where he promoted clients over the airwaves without properly disclosing the relationship?

It’s inappropriate for Bob Ehrlich to use his regular appearances on television and radio to promote his firm’s clients. It violates the public trust; and as a former public official, he should know better.

As he seeks to re-enter public life and seek public office, Bob Ehrlich needs to come clean about his questionable and possibly illegal activity.

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