BaltSun Parrots Gov. O'Malley's Specious Charge About Foe Being GOP 'Pawn'

January 10th, 2008 1:09 PM

*Update/Correction (15:28 | January 11): Grasmick has donated to Republicans running for statewide office (OpenSecrets tracks only federal contributions), as Mark Newgent of the RedMaryland blog notes, yet all told her state and federal contributions to the GOP are quite smaller than that of those to the Democratic Party. See Newgent's item here.

The January 10 Baltimore Sun, reporting on an escalating personnel struggle in Annapolis, dutifully noted liberal Gov. Martin O'Malley's (D) charge that state school superintendent Nancy Grasmick is a "pawn" of the GOP. Grasmick has served under three governors, two Democrats (Govs. Schaefer and Glendening), and Republican Robert Ehrlich.

Yet completely missing from reporter Liz Bowie's article was any mention of Grasmick's historic political ties to Democrats. Indeed, 30 seconds in an online would yield campaign contribution data showing Grasmick has only given money to Democrats.

According to OpenSecrets.org, in the past seven years Grasmick has given money to incumbent Democratic congressmen or congressional candidates such as Elijah Cummings, Dutch Ruppersburger, and John Sarbanes. Grasmick also gave $500 to the state Democratic Party in 1999, the first year of liberal Gov. Glendening's second term. Not once during her tenure was a contribution to a Republican* listed.

For more NB articles on Sun bias, check here.

GRASMICK, NANCY
PHOENIX,MD 21131

STATE OF MARYLAND/EDUCATOR

6/14/2001

$250

Cummings, Elijah E

GRASMICK, NANCY S
PHOENIX,MD 21131

STATE OF MARYLAND/SUPERINTENDANT OF

6/19/2001

$500

Shriver, Mark Kennedy

GRASMICK, NANCY S
PHOENIX,MD 21131

STATE OF MD/SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOO

7/20/2006

$500

Sarbanes, John

GRASMICK, NANCY S
PHOENIX,MD 21131

 

7/20/1999

$500

Democratic State Central Cmte/Maryland

GRASMICK, NANCY S
PHOENIX,MD 21131

STATE OF MARYLAND/STATE SUPER INTEN

6/9/2004

$250

Ruppersberger, Dutch

GRASMICK, NANCY S
PHOENIX,MD 21131

STATE OF MD/SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOO

6/29/2006

$250

Sarbanes, Joh