Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Schaefer escapes censure Date: Sun, 8 Nov 92 15:50:37 EST Message-ID: \SE A;METROPOLITAN \SS (WS) \HD Schaefer escapes censure \SH But governor is hit as 'disloyal' \BY Laura Rehrmann \CR ASSOCIATED PRESS \DT BALTIMORE BALTIMORE - Maryland Democrats grumbled, but they decided yesterday not to formally reprimand their governor for his endorsement of President Bush. A resolution to formally censure Gov. William Donald Schaefer did not have enough support to come up for a vote at the annual fall meeting of the state Democratic Central Committee. A second resolution touting the party's achievements in the election but noting that Mr. Schaefer "relinquished his honorary title as titular leader" of the party was narrowly rejected. State Democratic Chairwoman Vera P. Hall said she was angry about the governor's endorsement of Mr. Bush at a rally in St. Louis on the Friday before Election Day, but she stressed party unity. Ms. Hall said she resented "the time and the energy wasted talking about this disloyal Democrat who has fallen by his own hand." "We certainly have a great victory, and we are not going to let anyone spoil it," she said to cheers from the more than 100 Democrats gathered at Baltimore City Community College. While some Democrats said that failing to discipline the governor sent the wrong message to the thousands of volunteers loyal to the party, others felt Mr. Schaefer should just be ignored. "If you ignore him, he'll go away," said Irving Pinder, a Democrat from Queen Anne's County. "Why are we sitting here after we just got a Democratic president for the first time in 16 years talking about a governor who's insignificant?" Mr. Pinder asked. "He's got nowhere to go and no one to turn to. In two years, he's done." Sam Moxley, a Baltimore County Democrat, said: "You let it die. He made a choice. I don't agree with it. I think he did a disservice to the party, but the man has a right to freedom of speech." Mr. Schaefer did not attend the meeting. His spokeswoman, Page Boinest, said the party's decision not to take any action shows it is looking ahead and recognizes his long record of service. "The governor was not ignored when there was a need to raise money this fall," Ms. Boinest said. "He raised about $100,000 for the Democratic Coordinated Campaign. "He has done everything that the state party has asked him to do and considers himself a lifelong Democrat," she said. Anne Arundel Democratic Committee member James Hoage failed to win a second for his resolution that the governor be "formally censured and declared persona non grata" at all party functions. Montgomery County Democratic Party Chairman Michael Gildea's resolution cited the party's work in amassing 50 percent of the state's vote for Bill Clinton. Maryland and New York were second only to the president-elect's home state of Arkansas in the percentage of voters who chose the Democratic ticket on Election Day. The resolution added that the party was "dismayed" by Mr. Schaefer's actions and that he had relinquished his role as the party's unofficial leader. It failed 171-186. Mr. Gildea said he thought a statement from the party and not just the chairwoman was needed to show that the party demanded loyalty. But Attorney General J. Joseph Curran Jr. said he believed most party members felt there was no sense in criticizing the governor. "The governor caused his own problems," Mr. Curran said. "It really isn't necessary for the party to admonish him. I think most people just wanted to let bygones be bygones." This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM