Dr. Ben Carson

Hopkins neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson’s political career must be well underway, as he’s already had to apologize for his “choice of words” in discussing his views on gay marriage on Fox News last week. The beloved conservative voice grouped gays in with NAMBLA and “people who believe in bestiality” as examples of groups who don’t get to “change the definition” of marriage. Read More →

Horseshoe to start ringing in new workers in next 3 months - Baltimore Business Journa
Catholic bishops struggle with message on gay marriage - Baltimore Sun
Recovered from shooting, Perry Hall High School student gives back - Baltimore Sun
Laurel man arrested after using Skype to announce bomb threat - Baltimore Sun
The Long Story of U.S. Debt, From 1790 to 2011, in 1 Little Chart - The Atlantic

Sure, equality is great. But what about the bottom line?

Marylanders have a reason to celebrate the passage of the Civil Marriage Protection Act besides the progress it makes in treating all our citizens equally: it could inject an extra $90 million a year into Maryland’s economy. That’s according to analysts who crunched numbers for the General Assembly earlier this year, and it includes money projected not only from Maryland residents, but also from out-of-staters who will tie the knot here. Read More →

City re-emphasizes need to replace infrastructure after water main break – Baltimore Sun
Baltimore has a decades-old war on trash cans – Baltimore Sun
Maryland table games could be live in early 2013 - Baltimore Business Journal
Probation violation threatens ex-mayor Dixon’s plea deal - Baltimore Sun
Editorial Board: Gay marriage’s long march to equality - Washington Post

Though we met in New Hampshire, ours is a Baltimore love story. We started dating up north, but it just so happened that he was moving back to his hometown Baltimore, while I, a recent and idealistic college grad, was heading to DC to try to make my mark in politics. We decided to keep things going. Two years and a lot of MARC trains later, I realized I wanted to give journalism – and Charm City – a try. I’ve spent the last four years falling more in love with this town – and my now-husband – than I ever thought possible. Read More →

Tomorrow Marylanders vote on many important items, not just whether to reelect Barack Obama, but Questions 4 (The Well-Named Dream Act, which allows immigrant kids who are state residents to pay the same tuition as other Maryland residents if their parents have paid taxes and proved stand-up), 5 (Sneaky Redistricting Map), 6 (Same-Sex Marriage), 7 (Jobs and Schools? Nope…Casinos: table games everywhere + a big, brand-new casino in Prince Georges County). Because this is a blog/opinion post, I’ll admit I have memorized a simple yes, no, yes, no mnemonic for 4, 5, 6, 7. Plus, as backup because I’m forgetful, coined the dorky phrases: “I am 4 racial equality, 5′s a jive, 6 is sexy and fair, 7′s unlucky, lady.” And speaking of keeping the numbers and yeas and nays straight, I was pleased to read yesterday in The Baltimore Sun that the casino-brained developers of National Harbor have handed supporters of both same-sex marriage (goodbye, Dark Ages!) and the Dream Act (is that you, American Dream?) good reason to vote N-O on 7. Read More →

Parking ticket enforcement after Sandy riles some residents – Baltimore Sun
Marshalls signs lease for Inner Harbor store - Baltimore Business Journal
Halloween should go off without a hitch - Baltimore Sun
Debate over Question 6 focuses on ‘teaching’ gay marriage - Baltimore Sun
Storm provides Obama with a commander-in-chief moment - Washington Post

African-American Church Leaders Pose Strong Opposition To Gay Marriage – CBS
Under Armour’s Plank hopes to start horse in Preakness – Baltimore Sun
Teen drivers are texting, just like their parents – Washington Post
BSO to take over Greater Baltimore Youth Orchestras – Baltimore Sun
Ex-cop who ran for Queen Anne’s sheriff faces murder charges – Annapolis Capital

Looks like Barack Obama’s “evolving” views on gay marriage have finally completed their evolution. The president “came out” in favor of same sex marriage after his vice president went off script on a talk show declaring his own absolute comfort with marriage equality.

With Maryland anticipating a photo-finish referendum on gay marriage in November, and with much of this bluest of blue state’s indecisiveness on the issue credited to socially conservative black voters, speculation abounds as to whether the president’s new attitude (which, by the way, is actually his old attitude) will sway African-Americans.

The Daily Beast has declared that it already is, but as much as identity and affinity do to shape a voter’s views, treating the “black vote,” and especially “the black Christian vote,” as a political monolith seems foolish, and counter to what we’ve seen already. Baltimore’s Rev. Larry Brumfield has been very vocal in his support of marriage equality, as has Delman Coates, pastor to the 8,000-member Mount Ennon Baptist Church in Prince George’s County. And those are religious leaders!

Either way it will be interesting – to say the least – to see what happens in November.

Nik Wallenda nearly slips off wire during Baltimore tightrope stunt – New York Daily News
Churches offer to host funeral for alleged St. Peter’s shooter – Baltimore Sun
O’Malley, Busch, Miller unveil budget agreement for special session – Baltimore Sun
Walters Art Museum Uploads Images to Wikimedia – Urbanite
Obama Took A Potential Liability With Gay Marriage And Turned It Into An Energizing Strength – Business Insider
Ultra-Orthodox ShunTheir Own for Reporting Child Sexual Abuse - The New York Times