Steffen Talks To I-Team About Ehrlich Firing Practices (NCPAC/MD4Bush)

The WBAL Channel ^ | 11/02/05 | WBAL-TV

[conservative in nyc]

A self-described political hit man told his side to the WBAL-TV 11 News I-Team Wednesday.

Earlier in the year, the work of Joe Steffen sparked an investigation into Gov. Bob Ehrlich's hiring and firing practices. He could also become a key witness in that probe.

Steffen admitted to the 11 News I-Team that he weeded out state workers, but only based on job performance, not party affiliation.

--Snip--

Steffen Held No Ill Feelings Toward MD4Bush

Steffen claimed he initially held no ill feelings toward being outed by MD4Bush.

"I fell on the sword for the governor for the simple reason that when you play blood-sport politics, that's what you do," Steffen said.

Collins said Steffen is disappointed with the Ehrlich administration, claiming that they promised to help him find a job.

New revelations about how The Washington Post got the story now bother Steffen, who's considering a lawsuit.

Meanwhile, the committee remains split along party lines about using its subpoena power to probe into the identity of MD4Bush. Collins reported that Republican members favor calling the Post reporter to testify, while Democratic members consider that a waste of time.

[conservative in nyc]

NCPAC speaks!

Baltimore-area FReepers -- please watch WBAL's news tonight and report what you see.

[conservative in nyc]

MD4Bush Ping!

[Mo1]

Collins reported that Republican members favor calling the Post reporter to testify, while Democratic members consider that a waste of time.

Hmmmmmmm ... What are the Dems afraid of?

[Anti-Bubba182]

Collins said Steffen is disappointed with the Ehrlich administration, claiming that they promised to help him find a job.

The Ehrlich administration does not look good here.

New revelations about how The Washington Post got the story now bother Steffen, who's considering a lawsuit.

Steffen should do that.

Meanwhile, the committee remains split along party lines about using its subpoena power to probe into the identity of MD4Bush. Collins reported that Republican members favor calling the Post reporter to testify, while Democratic members consider that a waste of time.

"...while Democratic members consider that a waste of time." Lol! I'll just bet they do! They consider they don't want the whole affair blowing up in their face!

[conservative in nyc]

Similar article on WJZ's website:

Joseph Steffen Breaks Silence

Joseph Steffen stepped out of the shadows talking on the record to WJZ's Mary Bubala more than 9 months after he posted comments on-line about infidelity rumors surrounding Mayor O'Malley and was fired from Governor Ehrlich's administration. "I regret being stupid going onto the website, discussing the mayor at all when he was a potential candidate against my former boss, but I don't regret taking a sword at the time because that's what you do, the first person hit takes it for everybody," said Steffen.

Overnight Steffen became the fall guy for dirty politics after a Washington Post article last February named him as "NCPAC", the person spreading the O'Malley infidelity rumors on Freerepublic.com. But Steffen says he was lured into the discussion by someone logged in as "MD4Bush."

The identity of "MD 4 Bush" is now the source of intense speculation and investigation. Governor Ehrlich's chief council Jervis Finney released copies of e-mails that allegedly imply "MD4Bush" is a former member of the Maryland Democratic Party. "It's been quite a roller-coaster ride and when I try to pull myself away from it and look at it, it's like wow, it's a movie, this is political theater if you are not directly involved, it's unbelievable." added Steffen.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

"But sherly you could do me the favor of logging in under my handle and sending this email..."

Jayne Miller of WBAL Channel 11 TV news has done the best job investigating this so far. She discussed the rather convenient Washington Post cosiness with MD4BUSH's FR account on tonight's news.

The local television news (WJZ13) did a segment on the Steffen/MD4BUSH controversy tonight. They mentioned Freerepublic.com. The camera angled flashed a shot of a computer screen logged on to FR. It displayed a post and you could make out the handles: TBP and ILLUMINATI_216. I could not tell what thread it was.

Most likely they will run these stories again tonight at 11:00pm EST so stay tuned.

[Wally_Kalbacken]

the WBAL-TV 11 News I-Team, with

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

"Meanwhile, our cameras caught up with Maryland's
distinguished Senator Mikulksi in Washington..."

[dyed_in_the_wool]

Right. Stay classy, Baltimore.
I can hear it now.

[advance_copy]

Since MD4BUSH violated the user agreement, how can they continue to expect FR to protect their confidentiality?

[conservative in nyc]

Since MD4BUSH violated the user agreement, how can they continue to expect FR to protect their confidentiality?

That's for Jim Robinson to decide. It's his website.

[GOP_1900AD]

Ping.

[TBP]

Since MD4BUSH violated the user agreement, how can they continue to expect FR to protect their confidentiality?

That's for Jim Robinson to decide. It's his website.

And we can all make suggestions to him. It's pointelss at this point anyway, since we all know who MD4Bush is now: Ryan O'Doherty, the Communications Director of the Maryland Democrat Party.

[conservative in nyc]

Kristinn is holding a press conference on behalf of Free Republic tomorrow in front of the Washington Post.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1514877/posts

Jim Robinson has decided.