The Baltimore Sun has no trouble noting for readers the political affiliation of politicians who face an ethical scandal and/or official investigation. That is, of course, if the pol in question is a Republican.
Last Wednesday, I noted how the Sun's Julie Scharper failed to note Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake's Democratic party affiliation in a story about her voting on city contracts where her husband's company had a competing bid.
The very next day, however, Scharper's colleague Nicole Fuller promptly noted the Republican affiliation of two-term Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold. Here's how Fuller opened her story:
State prosecutors have served Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold with a subpoena as part of an investigation into whether he misused government resources by directing his county-funded security detail to do work for his 2010 reelection campaign, a spokesman for Leopold confirmed Thursday.
The subpoena, served late Wednesday, seeks the county executive's schedule from 2008 to the present, an indication that the investigation may broaden to include allegations beyond last year's election.
The subpoena also requires Leopold, a Republican who was reelected last year, to answer questions regarding the schedule — but does not demand that he appear before a grand jury, said Leopold spokesman Dave Abrams.
For our archive on "Name That Party" bias, click here.
