Here in Maryland, the Republican Party doesn’t garner much attention at all. However, lately there has been alot of focus on the 1st Congressional District’s GOP Primary race. The primary has three candidates running, 17 year incumbent, Rep. Wayne Gilchrest, current state senator E.J Pipkin, and Dr. Andy Harris, a Johns Hopkins anesthologist who also serves in the state senate. The high profile tone of this race suprises me, considering that there are probably 10 Republicans for every 100 Democrats in Maryland. Nevertheless, the campaign commercials for the primary are abundant, each usually featuring one one of the candidates touting how they are more conservative than the other two. My only question is, since when did being a
conservative matter in Maryland?
With all of these campaign commercials essentially each saying the same thing, it might be difficult for voters to properly interpret each candidate’s record. That being said, hopefully my following fact based analysis will make some things clear.
Congressman Wayne Gilchrest’s record is by far the most conclusive. To be candid, this man is not conservative in any way. Congressman Gilchrest favors abortion “rights”, and also supports legislation that promotes same-sex marriages. On the fiscal side, he isn’t too hot either. Gilchrest has twice broken his word by not keeping a “no new taxes” pledge issued by Americans For Tax Reform. Gilchrest also compromised his integrity by voting to overide President Bush’s veto of a 606 billion dollar domestic spending bill in November. ( He had promised to sustain any spending related veto that President Bush issued in June 2007.) The Congressman also voted against the now successfull troop surge in Iraq last May.
It seems to me that if each part of the conservative platform were a fastball, then Wayne Gilchrest would be back in the dugout by now.
Ideologically in the middle is Maryland State Senator E.J Pipkin. Pipkin is best known for his failed 2004 U.S Senate bid, which he lost to Barbara Mikulski. At first glance, Pipkin might appear to be your ideal “Eastern Shore Conservative”, however, a closer look at his record proves otherwise. Pipkin voted for Martin O’Malley’s 2007 tax increase, and he seems to have an unhealthy affinity for supporting Demcratic candidates. Indeed, one would wonder why a “conservative” would help finance Kathleen Kennedy Townsend’s 2002 gubernatorial bid against Bob Ehrlich.
That leaves us with Andy Harris. Dr. Harris has served with distinction in the Maryland State Senate since 1998. He has a strong pro life record, and has voted on the side of traditional marriage consistently. He has been an opponent of Gov. O’Malley’s policies, and has proven to be a loyal fiscal conservative. All in all, I think that Andy Harris is the most conservative, and he is the best man to represent Maryland in our 1st Congressional District.
