Doug Wilder Syndrome

Why is it that Prince George's County Executives all flirt far too coquettishly with our Republican governor? As the Washington Post has noted (hat-tip to Free State Politics), Bob Ehrlich sure is getting chummy with Jack Johnson.

Is it the perfume of corruption that surrounds them both? Perhaps Ehrlich is attracted by Johnson's ability to use county contracts to pay off political friends. Or maybe Johnson admires Ehrlich's ability to use a staffer to fire his political enemies in state government and then deny he ever knew the guy even after years of service in his U.S. House office?

Ehrlich even is making noises about funding some version of the Purple Line to please his new friend in Prince George's. An excellent debate question for Ehrlich might be whether he plans to deny funding to the ICC, the proposed Baltimore Red Line or the Metro Match proposed by Rep. Tom Davis in order to pay for it. Or are we supposed to believe in the gambling mirage that Ehrlich could not manage to push through the legislature despite having more power than any other governor in the nation and an ally in Senate President Mike Miller?

Personally, I think Johnson is suffering from Doug Wilder syndrome. Doug Wilder was the first African-American governor of Virginia and a real pathbreaker. However, times were tight after he was elected in 1989 and Wilder cut the Old Dominion's budget drastically. His presidential bid in 1992 didn't go very far, at least partly due to this conservative record. In recent years, Wilder routinely made it hard for Democrats to win his endorsement, flirting with Republicans and Democrats and above all the spotlight. I think Wayne Curry and Jack Johnson wouldn't mind playing the same role.

Wilder deserves some kudos for not shying away from the tough fights, however, even if he drives Virginia Democrats crazy. You may not like how he balanced the budget but he did balance it. Former Gov. Wilder is now Richmond Mayor Wilder. Again, he is ruffling feathers but I give him enormous credit for directly taking on the problems of his hometown--something many politicians of his stature fail to do. If Johnson could really tackle crime and improve the schools, and thus give the citizens of Prince George's the services which they deserve, I'd respect him more even if he did make eyes at Republicans.