Election Aftermath, 1st Report

Phil Lee, 12/30/06

Purtilo continues to defame RKBA activists with accusations concerning the recent election. His latest attack, on Roy Tarbutton and his Stoney Creek Fishing and Hunting Club, is presented in his "Follow the Money" article. In this article he asserts:

Looking at Stoney Creek's record does beg some headscratching, however.  For example, historically the club has been a strong backer of local incumbent Joan Cadden, a Delegate who has been very good for the club.  Yet this election the club's political officer, Roy Tarbutton, was openly active in helping Don Dwyer's effort, which resulted in Dywer (a Republican) knocking out Cadden (a Democrat) in the General election.  (Be sure you understand that: Stoney Creek's people helped take out Cadden, the House's chief sponsor of ballistic fingerprint repeal, in order to elect Dwyer, the candidate chiefly responsible for killing ballistic fingerprint repeal.)  You may recognize Tarbutton as an Ehrlich administration appointee to the Handgun Permit Review Board.

Contrary to Purtilo's assertions, Roy supported Del. Cadden's re-election efforts.  In fact, he was so helpful to her that she invited him as witness for the recount she requested.

And that's not all folks.

We observe that MARYLANDERS FOR THE PRESERVATION OF FIREARMS (MPFO) donated the same amount of money to Del. Dwyer's campaign ($500) as did Stoney Creek during the recent campaign cycle.  But Stoney Creek contributed $2,110 to Del. Cadden's campaign during the recent election cycle -- see the graphic below.

I couldn't find any contributions to Del. Cadden's campaign from Purtilo or MPFO on the Maryland campaign election financing site (you can search for yourself using this form).  Talk about begging some headscratching!  Here we have Purtilo pontificating about Roy and Stoney Creek helping to "take out Cadden" when Purtilo did more himself to take out Cadden by his/MPFO's lack of contributions to her.  What hypocrisy!  More than hypocrisy -- it is a sleazy deception aimed to inflate Purtilo by tearing down Tarbutton and aimed at justifying Purtilo's waste of gunny resources by his obsession with defeating Del. Dwyer.

Most people might think Purtilo was just careless and didn't check his facts.  But he said "Looking at Stoney Creek's record . . ." so if he looked at the record, how could he miss their contribution of more than 4 times as much money to Cadden's campaign as Dwyer's?  And, if he is the master political strategist, how could he fail to know about MPFO's contribution to Del. Dwyer and lack of contribution to Del. Cadden?  And, if he is such a great supporter of Del. Cadden, how could he not have been invited by her to witness the recount and not observe Roy Tarbutton there as her observer?

Why would Purtilo get it so wrong in this case?  Why has he shown such a reckless disregard for truth and why has he defamated people who are pro-RKBA? 

This isn't the first time Purtilo has been reckless with his accusations and not just with politician targets.  He has defamed ordinary people working to reverse Maryland's gun control and distorted their record.  He has defamed friends of mine.  It isn't just politics anymore with Purtilo.