Ben Cardin

It was a tremendous disappointment to read that Sen. Ben Cardin is still pursuing that noxious legislation which will only punish whistleblowers that expose government malfeasance ("Cardin's spy bill draws anger," Nov. 25). Presumably, my senator wants to protect those in power who violate the public trust. Surely Senator Cardin followed the National Security Agency's persecution of Thomas Drake, the whistleblower who exposed a wasteful computer system and then was prosecuted. Surely Ben Cardin knows about Daniel Ellsberg and his release of the Pentagon Papers.

Republican Senate candidate Richard J. Douglas launched his first television ad Tuesday, criticizing incumbent Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin on the economy. Douglas, who is seeking the GOP nomination in next Tuesday's primary, is running the ad in the Baltimore cable market, his campaign said. The ad, titled "Cardin-omics," plays off a recent television spot aired by Cardin. It is the first television ad in the Republican primary. "Cardin votes against the Keystone pipeline, gas prices go up," the narrator says in the 30-second ad as words are written on a chalkboard and images of a classroom are shown.

Once again, The Sun endorses its favored candidate, U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, by refusing to cover any of the other contenders in the race. The rest of us can just go pound sand. In 2010, The Sun tossed us underdogs a bone in the form of an online blog but no print coverage. This year, it's an equally worthless online election guide. So much for fairness and participatory democracy. With no surprises left, The Sun will endorse Senator Cardin over the GOP nominee again this fall, even if Mr. Cardin drops dead in the meantime.

Neil Simon's commentary, "Cardin stands for rights" (Dec. 13), correctly depicts U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin's steadfast pursuit to hold accountable violators of human rights in Russia with the killing of attorney Sergei Magnitsky. Our concern is that the U.S. Department of State will find excuses to avoid imposing sanctions or simply not acknowledge or respond to violations in Russia or elsewhere. This they have done often. For example, the British have just released a report admitting their security forces murdered attorney Patrick Finucane in Northern Ireland.

Recently, Sen. Ben Cardin proclaimed in that "we must put an end to racial profiling" and held a press rally along with sending out e-mails. I disagree with his position. We cannot afford to be unrealistic about who or what we are looking at to protect our American freedoms. That's how we end up with Transportation Security Administration agents frisking children and grandmas without any suspicion that they might be doing something wrong. We don't have enough police or the time to screen every member the public.

Cardin criticized for Wal-Mart stance The Maryland Republican Party is accusing U.S. Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin of hypocrisy, raising questions about why the Baltimore County Democrat appeared at a rally last week demanding that retailing giant Wal-Mart change its business practices and improve employee health benefits after accepting money from the company's political action committee. Federal Election Commission reports show Wal-Mart's PAC gave Cardin's campaign committee $1,500 in May 2001 and $2,500 in December 2003.

One killed, two injured in crash on Route 140 One person was killed and two were hospitalized yesterday after a chain-reaction crash on Route 140 northwest of Reisterstown, Baltimore County police said. The crash occurred about 3 p.m. near Glen Falls Road and the border of Baltimore and Carroll counties, involving a motorcycle, a truck towing construction equipment and a car, police said. Pronounced dead at the scene was the driver of a 1995 Saturn, Michael Durgala, 23, of Annandale, Va., police said Two others, including the driver of the motorcycle, were treated at area hospitals.

NEW YORK -- Quick, what do you think of when you hear these names:Paul Sarbanes. Ben Cardin. Melvin Steinberg. Agnes Welch. Iris Reeves. Joe Curran. Louis Goldstein. Barbara Hoffman. Tom McMillen. Steny Hoyer.That's right!PAR-TAY AN-UH-MULS!Here at the Democratic convention, the Maryland delegation has quickly established itself as the Fun delegation.And by elbowing through the crowds of celebrity watchers and autograph seekers who constantly surround them, I asked leading members of the delegation the same question:"How are you, zany madcap Maryland delegate, going to have fun in New York this week?"