From many, one

Maryland Governor Says He Intended Ban on Reporters to Have 'chilling Effect'

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Maryland's governor says his order that state officials stop speaking with two reporters for The (Baltimore) Sun was "meant to have a chilling effect" on two writers he believes "have no credibility."
The ban was intended to set a benchmark for the minimum level of accuracy expected of newspaper coverage of his administration, Gov. Robert Ehrlich said in an interview on WBAL radio.

"At what point does a monopoly newspaper abuse its privilege, its First Amendment privilege, in making things up, making quotes up, making context up?" the first-term Republican governor said Friday. "I just said this is our minimum benchmark."

Rob Douglas, a WBAL radio host, questioned whether Ehrlich should direct all state government officials not to speak to reporters.

Ehrlich responded, "That's my government. That's my government. I'm the chief executive."

Dear Mr. Ehrlich,

It's not "your government". It's the people's government.

And we want it back.

Yours Truly,
E Pluribus Unum