Ehrlich at the JCC: Opportunism Or an Attempt to Reach Out?

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr . (R) made a guest appearance Monday at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington's summer lecture series. Participants arrived at the Berman Hebrew Academy in Rockville to learn the "Secrets of Smart Investing" from James Glassman . But first they were treated to brief opening remarks by Ehrlich, who expressed his support for Israel at a time when the Jewish community is anxiously following news from the Middle East.

Ron Halber , executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council, said many in the audience were thrilled to see the governor. There was polite applause and people were respectful and appreciative, he said.

But Halber acknowledged there was some dissatisfaction in the audience, including from the man who underwrites the symposium in honor of his parents.

"We hope that he will see past this incident, which obviously caused him some discomfort," Halber said.

A spokeswoman for the JCC declined to share the name of the donor or elaborate on the circumstances.

Not surprisingly, though, word of Ehrlich's participation irritated supporters of Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley (D). They said the educational venue was inappropriate for a political appearance.

"We in the O'Malley campaign never would have thought of barging into an event like that and certainly not using support for Israel as a cynical strategy for gaining a partisan advantage," said Arnold Gordon , a district coordinator for O'Malley's campaign for governor.

To be clear, Ehrlich did not barge in. He was invited after his aides expressed interest in opportunities to speak to Jewish audiences, Halber said.

"Those who are automatically equating an appearance by the governor with an attempt of cynical political manipulation are just plain wrong, and it's utter nonsense," he said.

Opposite Camps, Joint Stand

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It was a Kodak moment on the campaign trail when the two leading Democratic candidates for county executive were speaking with one voice, instead of focusing on their differences.

County Council member Steven A. Silverman (At Large) and former council member Isiah "Ike" Leggett were among the dozens of community leaders who joined a group of Korean Americans this week to condemn recent comments by Comptroller William Donald Schaefer (D).

Earlier this month, Schaefer seemed to suggest there was a link between North Korea's missile test and the large number of South Korean students taking English language classes in Maryland schools. Schaefer's spokesman said he misspoke during a discussion of a state contract to test students for proficiency in English. He meant to convey his frustration with the large costs the state pays in the absence of an effective federal immigration policy, the spokesman said.