Some veterans groups are demanding an apology from Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler after comments he made about a political rival.
Gansler said Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown's experience as an Army lawyer in Iraq was not a real job.
Gansler made the comment at a candidates forum Monday when criticizing Brown, an opponent for the Democratic nomination for governor, for mismanaging the state healthcare rollout.
"You know I'm running against somebody who has never managed anybody, never run anything,” Gansler said. “You know his ads are about how he was a lawyer in Iraq, and that's all fine and good, but this is a real job."
On WEAA radio’s Marc Steiner Show Wednesday, Gansler refused to apologize to veterans.
"I said nothing disparaging about veterans,” he said. “I don't feel anything disparaging of veterans. I think I admire our veterans, and I admire the lieutenant governor's service as a lawyer in Iraq and I wouldn't say anything to the contrary."
Former NAACP President Ben Jealous, who has not endorsed a candidate for governor, said Gansler needs to apologize.
“He brought up the lieutenant governor’s service in Iraq and then right after that said but this is a real job, but governor is a real job,” Jealous explained. “Since when did serving our country in Iraq, whether you are there as part of the permanent Army or you are there as a volunteer with our guard units and our reserves, not be a real job.”
State Delegate Heather Mizeur, who represents part of Montgomery County, is also seeking the Democratic nomination to run for governor. The primary is June 24.
