Politics is the ultimate blood sport to some, and fans of dirty, ear-biting, nose-tweaking contests will find a classic in the District 20 primary. Never mind partisan scraps … what some Democrats did to one of their own was brutal.

The target was Delegate Dana Dembrow, facing a primary challenge in his re-election bid. Seen as a maverick who bucked the system, his fellow incumbents sought his ouster. They got it, by spreading outright lies to a voter base not used to critical evaluation of campaign spin. They manufactured a track record that ensured he'd be panned by constituents, then worked a willing news media to fan flames from his personal life out of proportion. Example? They bashed him for opposing gun control - when his record shows he was with them 100 percent.

[Legislators take note: You can give the state Brady bunch (Marylanders Against Handgun Abuse) all they ask yet they'll work against you if another pol whose fealty they crave seeks your ouster. Think hard about this when you vote on a liberty issue. Ask why you should think they'll be there for you later if you risk a vote for gun control.]

The attacks on Dana came as if from independent citizen groups, apparently having broad support. Starting just before the primary, they weighed in hard against him. Only after his primary loss do we learn that all big expenses were run on a tab, and later paid by transfers from the other candidates' own accounts. No citizen groups stalked him, just the likes of Ida Ruben and Peter Franchot making it appear as such. They broadcast utter fabrications of his record, and gamed campaign finance reports so this only came out when it was too late for anyone to cry foul.

We have a strong respect for Dembrow. He may not have always voted our way, but we accept that he was driven by his perception of constituent wishes. He played politics with the best, yet his sharp legal mind took the wheels off much ridiculous legislation, to the relief of leadership and centrists alike. The dirty tricks played on him should offend all. Dana may have been our opponent on many bills, but he always did battle with us honorably, and that's something we hope others will believe about us: we stay true to friends, attacking others only based on their deeds or intellectual dishonesty. This is more than can be said about the victors in District 20. Our system is diminished.