Saturday, December 17, 2011

The Tentacle: The Sixth District – Part One by Richard B. Weldon Jr.

December 5, 2011

The Sixth District – Part One

Richard B. Weldon Jr.

http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=4782

Labels: Elections 2012, Elections 2012 MD 6th Congressional Dist, Media The Tentacle, People Bartlett-Roscoe US Congress, People Brinkley-David MD Senator, People Weldon-Richard

Speculating over the political future of Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R., MD 6) has fast become a routine spectator sport. It's just too juicy to ignore, the idea the 10-term congressman might be vulnerable after two decades of electoral dominance.

Dr. Bartlett rode into office thanks to Tom Hattery's brutal Democrat primary campaign against former Rep. Beverly Byron in 1992.

Disclosure statement: I have always held Mrs. Byron in the highest of esteem. She, more than most, seems to me to represent the highest standards of integrity and honor throughout her service, following the legendary legacy of her late husband and congressional predecessor Goodloe.

Former state Del. Hattery had other ideas. He ran some cheap-shot commercials highlighting junket trips Mrs. Bryon took, creating the false impression that she was a jet-setting vacationer on the public dole. She wasn't.

His strategy worked, at least temporarily. He narrowly defeated the great lady in the primary, only to be taken out in the General Election by Mr. Bartlett. Representative Bartlett ran a non-traditional campaign. He promised to be a different kind of congressman, a fighter for fiscal discipline and traditional family values reflecting the will of western Maryland voters.

He has been true to his word, at least by most accounts.

A recurring criticism of Roscoe is that he reneged on a promise to only serve two terms, something every Democrat that has ever run against him repeats like a mantra. One problem: that's not what he said.

The promise Mr. Bartlett made was to only serve two terms if Congress were to pass a balanced budget. Ignoring the fact that this is like promising to only serve two terms if pigs fly, he did not make an unconditional promise to walk away after four years in Congress... http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=4782