You would think Gov. Hogan would not rock any boats as the 2018 election comes up. He came off what is arguably his best legislative session, getting passage of two big items for his agenda. Bills he is opposed to, he’ll usually still let them become law without his signature since the super majority Democrats have in Annapolis will likely overturn it. Even for the fight on paid sick leave, The Baltimore Sun notes:
We have always had reservations about this legislation, and Mr. Hogan could please his backers in the business community by vetoing it. But Mr. Hogan has also shown an aversion to fighting losing battles. The fact that he has voiced support for the concept of paid sick leave, though not this particular proposal, makes this a question of nuance rather than principle.
And that overall has been Gov. Hogan’s public persona, disagree with Democrats on the nuance or details of legislation. It’s helped with maintaining his high approval rating despite Maryland being a very blue state.
Online, however, Gov. Hogan, or whoever handles his Facebook page and responses takes a much more adversarial approach. Kinda like the man with small hands in the White House at the moment.
Earlier this year, it was blocking people who disagreed with him on policies.
[The ACLU] wrote to Hogan’s office on Friday to demand a review of all 450 people barred from posting on the governor’s popular social-media page. The ACLU also wanted apologies and the restoration of posting privileges for seven clients the group says were unjustly barred.
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“The purpose of social media is to have this exchange of ideas,” said Deborah Jeon, legal director for the ACLU of Maryland. “Once that type of a forum is established by the government and the governor, it’s not permissible to say, ‘If you agree with me, you are allowed to post. And if you don’t, there’s no place for you here.’ ”
Hogan’s people originally claimed it was due to comments with foul language or off-topic messages such as calling the Governor a “fat racist trump loving Facist” which cause the blocking. The ACLU found many of the people that were blocked we just politely dissenting and in fact others had “found themselves blocked again this week or discovered that their comments had been hidden” after being unblocked. A few days later, Gov. Hogan claimed, “I do not block constituents who disagree with me, that whole narrative is simply false.”
Now it seems that while no one is being blocked, they are getting rude responses to comments (lots of screen grabs from his Facebook page).
On climate change, Gov. Hogan thinks Maryland is doing just fine thank you.
Must be news to California that Maryland is the green leader.And again.
We passed a law! What more do you greenies want?! (continued below)He just can’t let it go.
Hogan knows this is public right?Now it seems, if you disagree with Boss Hog, you are just part of a stupid minority of the voting public.
Guess your diarist part of the 10%If Democrats want to test run the Paris Accords and other environmental (justice) policies, Maryland can be a good test ground. Residents cherish The Chesapeake Bay and we are part of The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative for the NorthEast.
Afterall, Gov. Hogan has already done so much for the Bay and local waterways…