Rumors of Senator Brinkley’s untimely leadership demise are unfounded
Saturday, June 7th, 2008 by Kevin Dayhoff
Westminster, Md. - Yesterday, I had the opportunity to speak with Senator David R. Brinkley, (R) Dist. 4, Carroll & Frederick Cos.
I have had the pleasure of working with Senator Brinkley for a number of years; as a fellow elected official, a constituent, and as someone I have covered as a reporter.
Recently the Maryland blogosphere has been titillated with rumormongering and wild speculation, disguised as news reporting, about Senator Brinkley.
I had a blunt and candid conversation with the longstanding and well-respected elected official, in which he acknowledged straightforwardly that recently he and his wife have recently sought marriage counseling.
He also verified that three Frederick County Sheriff’s Deputies went to his house one evening last week. There were no citations as a result of the visit.
On the phone he reiterated essentially what Frederick News-Post writer, Meg Bernhardt wrote in Thursday’s paper. He said that his marriage has hit a rough patch and that he and his wife are working their way through it.
As an aside, may the first person who has not had the opportunity to put a bit of extra effort into their marriage cast the first stone.
I heard exactly what Ms. Bernhardt wrote. Senator Brinkley said:
“We are working on our marriage… We have been in counseling. We are very optimistic on the outcome and frankly reinvigorated. We thank everybody for their calls and prayers of support. Our family is making time to work through this.”
Senator Brinkley said to me, on behalf of himself and his wife:
“Marital issues challenge many Maryland households as they have ours. We are seeking counseling and are very optimistic of the outcome.
We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and concern from so many people. We thank all who hold us and our family in their prayers.”
As is so often the case, how one addresses a challenge is as critical as the challenge itself and it appears that Senator Brinkley has charted a clear-headed responsible approach. I did not expect anything less of the gentleman and I was not disappointed.
Other than that, at my advanced age, it is my view that this isolated event is a personal matter.
The issues at hand are not the stuff of “political scandal” as one Maryland website appeared to be so assiduously interested in generating.
Beginning last Thursday afternoon, as I was quietly attempting to enjoy a Dr. Pepper; I stumbled upon a truly enigmatic series of not one, not two, but eventually seven or so articles reporting on Senator Brinkley with the sort of wide-eyed excitement I usually associate with people recounting their abduction by aliens.
I’ve been a reader of this web site since it recently burst on the Maryland blogosphere and this is essentially my first profoundly unhappy experience.
Perhaps, as a grizzled and crusty observer of more than a few “political scandals,” some real – most not, maybe my jaundiced eye is not one of this web site’s targeted base.
Nevertheless, for what it is worth, here I am on your computer screen to say that the magnificent series of seven scintillating articles were badly done.
At my advanced age I have developed relatively good radar for journalistic silliness produced by the cracked mirror by which much of the media views its navel. Ultimately the writers of the magnificent series of seven scintillating articles must live with the reputation of having written such slipshod drivel.
With my seasoned media values mood decoder ring at the ready; I take no pleasure in pointing out the numerous liberties taken by these writers with the matter in question; but after seven articles, it is a heavy burden from which I cannot avoid being unyoked.
The endless series of articles utilized an approach that employed unique journalistic standards. All right, the articles used an approach that is inconsistent with the journalistic standards of which one should aspire, if they wish to be taken seriously in the long haul.
Someone much brighter than me once said that “Politics is high school drama taken to a new level.” This is more like a “B” movie about middle school.
The tawdry, titillating, anonymous quote-filled articles reminded me of a food fight of middle school proportions with the gratuitous use of “sources say,” “allegations,” “rumors are swirling,” “alleged scandal,” and “as details gather.”
After several paragraphs of this drivel I had arrived at the conclusion that the writers had interrogated a ghost for their salacious walk on the wild side.
With no idea where to begin allow me to be amused with the broad sweeping nefarious conclusions drawn by way of the fact that Senator Brinkley missed Gov. Bob Ehrlich's portrait unveiling.
Even though I had also planned to attend, in the end, I did not go either. As a matter of fact, I was out that evening with another woman – my mother-in-law. As much as I am a big fan of Governor Ehrlich, my mother-in-law outranks the governor and I gave her some company for a social event that evening.
I’m so happy that I avoided any over-analysis as to my absence.
As a matter of fact, under the circumstances, it would have been irresponsible for Senator Brinkley to have attended any recent political gatherings in lieu of tending to the needs of his family.
Elected office in Maryland is extraordinarily difficult on marriages – as is exemplified by the series of articles in question. Most of our marriages survive because many of us had the fortune to marry saints – of which category I include my wife. Let me tell you some stories about irresponsible newspaper articles…
Moreover, to carry it to reductio ad absurdum, although there were events that evening in which both Senator Brinkley and Senator Hillary Clinton did not appear; rumors that they got together are also untrue. That may be about the only wild speculation missed by this august series of article, but then again, the day is young…
For journalists and elected officials to rush to judgment without factual information and then speak publically about the aforementioned speculation is not responsible. Responsible journalists don’t draw facts from conclusions, we draw conclusions from facts.
The rush to judgment on the part of some of the actors in this Kabuki morals play does not command respect. The fact that nefarious conclusions have been drawn about Senator Brinkley’s future leadership because of family challenges or that he did not attend a few events are no more warranted a conclusion than you standing in a garage makes you a car.
When small minded and petty people are shielded by the anonymity of the internet this is the result…
What, in all likelihood has happened is that these writers got used. A political writer simply cannot believe everything they are being told when it is obvious that their source is using you to advance a political agenda at the expense of a colleague’s inadvertent misfortune.
In all likelihood, if the writers of this drivel had attempted to thoroughly examine the “ghosts” that put out this character assassination on an objective basis, the outcome may have been completely different – or at least, gasp - balanced.
However, the results fell flat as the writers overlooked - that by allowing only the opinion of the purveyors of personal destruction, with an axe to grind - to form the basis their conclusions, the articles failed to constitute any responsible semblance of objective examination or responsible journalism.
By challenging their source(s), it would have been obvious to the most pedestrian political observer that in all likelihood Senator Andy Harris and Senator Brinkley are not on each others’ Christmas card list.
If you will recall it was in December 2006, that a divided Republican caucus labored over the choice of choosing Senator Brinkley over Senator Harris to be the Senate Minority Leader
One meeting on December 5, 2006 deadlocked seven to seven for over 10 hours without a winner. Finally on December 18, 2006, the Republican caucus decided upon Senator Brinkley over Senator Harris.
Then on December 26, 2007 Senator Brinkley endorsed State Sen. E. J. Pipkin over Senator Harris in the primary contest in which Senator Harris ousted Maryland’s 1st Congressional Representative Wayne Gilchrest.
Now keep that in mind when you read Senator Harris being quoted, “if the charges of marital infidelity leveled against Senate Minority Leader David Brinkley (R-New Market) are true, ‘Voters would expect’ Brinkley to step down from his leadership position… ‘If it turns out these rumors are true-I think this is why voters are looking for change.’”
Here’s a newsflash for you, most reasonable folks expect Senator Harris, who aspires to gain a higher office with greater responsibilities, to withhold his judgment until all the facts are thoroughly heard.
And yes, voters have expressed a desire for change – away from the what Sen. Alex Mooney explained on December 19, 2006, in a Frederick News-Post article: “I do think Andy would have been more confrontational ... I always thought (Mr. Brinkley would) do a good job, (it's) just that I thought Andy would do a better job.”
A better job at being confrontational – that is.
What change voters want is an end to the bomb-throwing confrontational approach to public policy making – and the Democrats in the Maryland General Assembly. In consideration of the fact that the Democrats vastly outrank and outnumber Republicans in the Maryland legislature, voters were demanding a more measured, thoughtful and sophisticated approach to promoting a conservative agenda in a cobalt blue state.
Actually, what voters want is a change from rush-to-judgment and reckless comments like “Voters would expect Brinkley to step down from his leadership position,” based on rumors and innuendo.
Finally one of the writers wrote yesterday:
“The silence is deafening to his friends. Those who would like to see him go are thinking he could be ousted if he doesn't quit or quell the anxiety of others. Multiple sources have said that the caucus will stall for him until Monday. After that, things change.”
Perhaps this explanation is meaningless to those who practice professional outrage, but there is no “silence,” as has been suggested.
Of course, one can only imagine Senator Brinkley’s reluctance to take phone calls from folks who have a demonstrated an inability to be human or who have behaved with a wonton disregard for facts in order to promote an agenda or attempt to increase their relevancy with breathless recklessness.
As to the wild, self-serving suggestions that he resign from his leadership post - - for what reason, pray tell?
My conversation with the Senator left me with the impression that he has no interest in “resigning.”
In the rapacious world of the Maryland blogosphere where there is a greater narcissistic loyalty to 15 minutes of fame, and the highly rewarding realm of the politics of personal destruction, at some point in time it may be important to aspire to the highest of journalistic standards of sourcing, cites and objective news reporting.
Senator Brinkley has steadfastly devoted years to public service with integrity. At a time when he is facing personal challenges, responsible and reasonable folks are more than willing to give him and his family some space.
Since there is no political nexus with his personal challenges and his responsibilities to his constituents, the matter is really not fodder for responsible journalists. Unless there is an interest in writing about how a community leader has come upon a personal-family problem as a result of some unfortunate events – and has chosen to address it by getting help.
####
20080607 Rumors of Senator Brinkley’s untimely leadership demise are unfounded
