Ehrlich Appoints Gay, Fires Gay Basher

gay, gay, gayRobert Ehrlich (R), governor of Maryland, has been reaching out to the gays (and their friends, the Democrats) in advance of his race against Martin O’Malley in November.

First, he fired Robert J. Smith from the Washington Metropolitan Transit Agency for criticizing homosexuals living lives of “sexual deviancy” on cable TV.

“Robert Smith’s comments were highly inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable,” the Republican governor said in a statement released by his office.

“They are in direct conflict to my administration’s commitment to inclusiveness, tolerance and opportunity,” the governor said.

Then this week, he made the Baltimore District Court a little more fabulous.

Ehrlich appointed Christopher Panos, 47, a special master in the city Circuit Court family division, to a fill a court vacancy. Panos and his partner of 17 years, Dennis Cashen, are raising a young daughter, Cate.

“This is indicative of social progress within the form of a judicial nomination,” Panos said last night in an interview.

Ehrlich – who says his politics are shaped by a libertarian bent – has tread carefully around gay issues since being elected governor with strong crossover support from Democrats.

I’m sure fellow Marylanders will start going down the litany of things that Ehrlich has done that make him “not a libertarian,” but he’s a hell of a lot more libertarian than this frothy mix of lube and fecal matter (R-PA) who thought a Constitutional gay marriage amendment was the most important thing for the Senate to work on.

“Republican Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania said senators were facing “potentially the greatest moral issue of our time” – the “integrity of the family in America.”

Old conventional wisdom: Libertarians are Republicans who want to smoke pot.
New conventional wisdom: Libertarians are Republicans who don’t hate gays.

posted Jun 28th, 2006 by nsarwark
  • http://warcriminal.freeservers.com Sol

    “Ehrlich appointed Christopher Panos, 47, a special master in the city Circuit Court family division, to a fill a court vacancy.”

    I love it! It’s not good enough to call our government masters just masters. We are supposed to refer to them as “special masters.” Outstanding!

  • http://www.gabejohnson.org/ Gabe J

    I dont hate gays, and I smoke pot. Am i an ultra-libertarian?

  • http://www.gabejohnson.org/ Gabe J

    I really liked the Cure and I had wondered what the hell hapened to Robert Smith. Odd that he ended up in politics.

  • http://www.renbook.com Gene Berkman

    When he was in Congress, Robert Ehrlich supported Medical Marijuana. He is clearly one of the better Republican governors.

  • http://www.libertyforsale.com Timothy West

    Yes he is. He’s not a “libertarian” per se, not even a small L one, but he’s a damn sight better than most of his Republican peers. First Republican Governor Maryland has had since Spiro T Agnew.

  • Graham

    I wrote him a letter once concerning decriminalizing marijuana and received a nice response. Of course, I voted for Spear in 2002, but Bob E. ( while not a libertarian) is a hell of a lot better than KKT or Martian O’Malley.

  • http://www.wrenbeck.net Drew

    The fact that Christopher Pano’s sexual orientation is part of the story is a statement on how far we are from resolving the “gay” issue

  • IanC

    Is it bad I knew you were referring to Arlen Specter by the description & state?

  • nsarwark

    Sol: Special masters are appointed to investigate facts for judges in complex cases. Think master, like “master of ceremonies,” not like overlord.

    Graham: I voted for Spear too, but I’ve liked Ehrlich the most of the governors we’ve had in my time in Maryland.

    Drew: Excellent observation. Though I’m hoping the progression goes: hatred -> hypersensitivity -> who cares.

    IanC: Actually, I was referring to Rick Santorum. I’m warming to Specter because it seems like he’s one of the few Senators actually pissed off by the overreaching from the White House. He also has more of a spine than most of his colleagues.

  • http://warcriminal.freeservers.com Sol

    >>Special masters are appointed to investigate facts for judges in complex cases. Think master, like “master of ceremonies,” not like overlord.

  • http://warcriminal.freeservers.com Sol

    “Special masters are appointed to investigate facts for judges in complex cases. Think master, like “master of ceremonies,” not like overlord.”"

    No government official will ever be special or a master in my book.

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  • http://darianworden.tripod.com D Worden

    >”I dont hate gays, and I smoke pot. Am i an ultra-libertarian?”

    Only if you’re also Republican ;)

  • Living_on_the_edge

    Kodu’s on your knowledge of the correct meaning of “Santorum”!

  • SD

    I consider myself a Republican in many ways. However, I am appalled that a person’s sexual preference would be frowned upon. Since when did it become ok to some to bash a person because they are fortunate enough to have someone love them? Bravo to Ehrlich for showing others that a person’s character makes them great…not who they hug when they go home!

  • Wes

    Don’t hate me if I say the obvious:

    “Special Master” is the gayest job title I ever heard.

  • Wes

    No posts from SVD today. I suppose he’s hard at work getting LM out before the convention. Good luck!

  • http://warcriminal.freeservers.com Sol

    >Kodu’s on your knowledge of the correct meaning
    >of “Santorum”!

    Ah, good ol’ Senator Sanitorium! I loved his WMD announcement the other day. That guy is just too good of a liar and criminal NOT to be a US Senator!

  • Tommy Jefferson

    Smith is fired from his job on a Metro transportation board because he believes homosexuality is wrong, and said so.

    He needs to get his personal beliefs in line with what is acceptable and not acceptable to political leaders, or, he needs to learn to keep his mouth shut when his personal beliefs contradict those of his leader.

    No man has the right to remain employed if he contradicts his employer’s political wishes.