Name That Party: Former Hoboken Mayor of Unknown Party Gets Two Years in Prison

You would think the local newspaper would at least be able to identify this "youthful ex-mayor" they seem smitten with.

Peter Cammarano III, the youthful ex-mayor of Hoboken who became the face of the biggest political corruption sting in the state's history, was sentenced today to two years in federal prison.

Arrested just three weeks after taking office, he pleaded guilty in April to accepting $25,000 in illegal campaign contributions in exchange for his support of high-rise building projects being proposed by an undercover informant who was posing as a crooked developer.

Cammarano was one of the most prominent of the many public officials nabbed in the sting last year, which led to the arrests of more than 40 people, including mayors, state legislators, five rabbis and a man accused of trying to broker the sale of a black market human kidney.

Cammarano had faced up to 2 1/2 years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines.

In case it's not clear what party Cammarano is affiliated with, this should help clear up any confusion.

That's Cammarano on the right. You might recognize the three hacks on the left.

Naturally, the AP refuses to identify Cammarano as a Democrat. Safe to say it'd be in the headline if he were a Republican.

At least this outlet is still practicing actual journalism.

Heh, At Least He's a Fiscal Conservative

This is about the third story today I have seen where you have gotten to play our favorite game, "Name That Party". I am used to these sort of stories normally breaking on Friday around 4 PM EST. Maybe this is the change Barry O promised.

My first clue came when I saw he was retired Air Force; sorry guys but y'all do have to claim ownership.

The 56-year-old former lieutenant colonel in the Air Force is injecting some color and controversy into an otherwise quiet mayoral race in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

The guy in question is named Earl Rynerson, an openly gay businessman. Not that there is anything wrong with that. It is just randy Rynerson has a few problems like not paying credit card debts and, oh yeah, not putting the fact that he is retired on his campaign posters. He just put his former rank Lieutenant Colonel.

Look, I retired as just some lowlife, I mean, crotchety old NCO, but even I know that if I am going to use my rank on correspondence or in any sort of title block that I need to put the (RET) tag with it. The proper way to display the signature block is Rank, Branch of Service, and Status.

But folks, that is a minor thing compared to what else has come out about this guy.

Rynerson's credit card bill included at least 3 monthly payments to "Access 4M4M site," the billing name of a "men for men" sex site based in New York. "The m4m4sex website is for men looking to meet other men for sex," the Web site declares in plain English.

Another charge on his card provides a phone number for the International Masters Association, which "unites the Leather community online and [brings] Masters and slaves together," providing services for people "interested in Leather, Gear, Bondage, Rubber, Watersports and other fetishes."

Rynerson said the stories of his credit card purchases were greatly exaggerated, and compared the Web sites to YouTube and MySpace. "These are online services that a lot of people use," he told the Sun-Sentinel. "There's nothing pornographic ... nothing to that."

Gay sex and leather community just like YouTube and MySpace???

What really gets me though is that in the begining of the article they describe him as a fiscal conservative. More like a cheat and a deadbeat, or maybe candidate to be head of the Treasury.

This is the article where I found his political persuasion all the way in the last paragraph.

Also, the Fox News article makes the case that Ft Lauderdale, FL is the San Francisco of the south. Ouch.

Name That Party, GOP Edition

A recurring theme with the mainstream media is their refusal to note the party affiliation of Democrats when they're in trouble, with notable recent examples being disgraced former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer and Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, while always noting a Republican in trouble, with David Vitter and Larry Craig prime examples.

Well, the trend continues today as we read about Republican New York City Councilman Dennis Gallagher, who has agreed to resign office after pleading guilty to sex abuse.

Let's have a look at a few stories and see how long it takes to mention his party affiliation.

NYC councilman agrees to resign, pleads guilty to sex abuse

A city lawmaker agreed Monday to resign from the New York City Council after pleading guilty to sexually abusing a woman he met at a bar in his Queens district.

Republican Dennis Gallagher pleaded guilty Monday to forcible touching and sex abuse, both misdemeanor offenses, Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said.

That was quick. Second sentence of the story.

Gallagher Absence May Shrink GOP's Presence on Council

The Republican Party's already anemic presence in the City Council could shrink after Council Member Dennis Gallagher of Queens, who pleaded guilty yesterday to "forcibly touching and sexually abusing" a 52-year-old woman, resigns his office.

Even faster. In the headline and the second word of the story.

The New York Times, as noted in the Kilpatrick link, failed to identify the Detroit mayor as a Democrat. Let's see how long it takes to identify Gallagher's affiliation.

City Councilman Dennis P. Gallagher resigned from office and pleaded guilty on Monday to two misdemeanors, admitting that he sexually abused a woman in his district office in Middle Village, Queens, last summer while he was intoxicated.

Mr. Gallagher, 43, a Queens Republican, told the court in a non-emotional tone that he touched the 52-year-old victim against her will, a position in contrast to his earlier claims that they had consensual sex after meeting in a bar.

Again, second paragraph.

This local item is several days old, before the plea deal was finalized.

Councilman Dennis Gallagher (R-Middle Village) was expected to plead guilty to a misdemeanor and step down from office as part of a deal following his arrest last year for allegedly sexually assaulting a 52-year-old grandmother at his district office, a source familiar with the investigation said.

Since we have no hesitation noting when Republicans are in trouble, is it too much to ask of the news media to properly identify Democrats as quickly as they do Republicans?

Having lost so much credibility over the years, the least they could do is practice basic journalistic principles and keep the readers informed, rather than guessing.

Don Surber links. Thanks!