Big Dogs Weblog

Citizen Held To Higher Standard Than Maryland Governor

by Big Dog on Aug 7, 2008 at 14:10 Political

A Maryland man, Walter Abbott, was arrested earlier this year for sending an email to Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley threatening to “choke the life out of him. Abbott is a business owner who is losing work because of illegal immigrants. He took exception to the governor’s pro illegal immigrant stance and support for CASA de Maryland. In the email Abbott stated:

“If I ever got close enough, I’d wrap my hands around your throat and choke the life out of you, you piece of sh*t American sellout.” Baltimore Examiner

Abbott was charged with threatening a public official and conveying a threat. His initial bond was $2 million but it was reduced. He was placed on home detention and that was eventually removed and he was allowed to work, with stipulations, prior to his trial.

His trial was to begin yesterday but has now been postponed until October. Abbott faces up to six years in jail and a $5,000 fine for his threat.

Given that the Governor has police officers around him all the time, it is unlikely that Abbott could have ever acted up the threat and his claims are that he was blowing off steam over losing work because of illegals. This will play out in court as it should but is this a case of hypocrisy?

Governor Martin O’Malley is a hothead and has been known to express his anger. In fact, O’Malley made a public threat to two radio show hosts, on the air, for everyone to hear. In 2002, after a family was firebombed and killed by a drug dealer who the family had reported, O’Malley was getting beaten up by the media. He was the mayor of Baltimore at the time. He got into his car after a meeting and heard the discussion between Rob Douglas and Chip franklin then of WBAL (both have taken other jobs). He became angry and ordered his driver to take him to the studio.

O’Malley demanded to address the issue on air to the surprised staff at the station and was afforded that opportunity. He got into some heated discussions with the hosts and took particular offense when Douglas remarked that if the residents keep voting in the same nitwits year after year they get what they deserve.

O’Malley decided that after the exchange it was a good time to leave and he parted with this:

“On that note, that probably is a good way to exit,” he said. “And gentlemen, if you enjoyed that, come outside after the show, and I’ll kick your ass.” Baltimore Sun

What is the difference between this threat by a public official and the one toward a public official? O’Malley is just as wrong in threatening the show hosts as Abbott was for threatening O’Malley. O’Malley was not arrested, held on a $2 million bond, and then placed on home detention. O’Malley never faced six years in jail and a $5,000 fine. In fact, he went on to win the Gubernatorial election.

O’Malley is a public official and one expects better behavior from those elected to lead. Regardless, how can they punish Abbott for his threat while ignoring the threat of the then mayor? It is a double standard and the whole issue smacks of hypocrisy.

O’Malley has armed guards and the show hosts did not so the threat to them was even more likely to be carried out than the threat to O’Malley. If O’Malley’s defense is that it was just a comment of frustration then they must allow for that in Abbott’s case.

Personally, I wish Chip Franklin would have taken him up on the offer because I think Franklin would have beaten him half to death and shut that smug mouth of his up. I would have paid money to see Franklin kick O’Malley’s ass all over Baltimore. [Note to law enforcement: This is not a threat from me. I am merely expanding upon O’Malley’s desire for the fight and what I would like to have seen as a result of it]

I hope the defense brings this up in court. Even if it does not make much difference in the trial it would be nice to have them point out the blatant double standard and demonstrate how the elected elite get away with those things for which we are held accountable.

Tags: chip franklin, hypocrisy, maryland governor, O'Malley, rob douglas, threat, trial, wbal