Barletta Campaign: "Pull Down Your Blog"

I'm still waiting for the lawsuit Lou Barletta's Congressional campaign threatened me with two weeks ago.  Are process servers on strike?  Did someone in Hazleton realize how stupid this was? I wrote this article after press reports that Lou Barletta, running in the 11th Congressional District against incumbent Democrat Paul Kanjorski, declared the loan listed on his FEC reports for six years was personal and not a campaign debt.

Of course, if it was a personal loan secured by his home that may raise other violations... 

The article prompted an angry series of emails from the Barletta campaign.  They took issue with this statement:  "This was an illegal loan and he got caught with his hand in the cookie jar."  Their problem now is that they've crawled completely into the cookie jar.

John Keegan identified himself as "Lou Barletta's Lower Luzerne County Chairman for Lou Barletta For Congress Committee" (sic).  This means he was speaking, officially, for the Lou Barletta For Congress Committee.   He then quoted some comments I made about blogging in an online interview and said this:

That post demonstrates to me that you are aware of the consequences of posting false, inflammatory, and potentially libelous statements.  Before this issue becomes more than it needs to me I cannot impress upon you enough to contact me to get the FACTS.  My contact information is below.  In the meantime I ask that you pull this blog immediately.  I assure you that after you talk to me you will understand my demand.  Thanks for taking the time to read this communication.
  John D. Keegan R. Ph.

Lou Barletta's campaign is demanding I pull down this blog?  What kind of drugs are they on up there?   Hold on though because this goes on.  Mr. Keegan, a Hazleton pharmacist who signe dhis emails with his official Penn State Geisinger credentials,  continued defending the Barletta loan and included this:

One reports Mr. Barletta and his wife, Mary Grace, obtained a $75,000 line of credit Oct. 31, 2002, from the bank based on their “personal financial statements and net worth.”

I believe what Mr. Keegan is saying, on behalf of the Barletta campaign, is that Lou and his wife secured their personal home for a $75,000 line of credit which became a $65,000 loan.  Here's the rub:  that may mean Barletta's wife violated the maximum campaign contribution for her husband's campaign.  Oops.

Some of Keegan's other statements from the emails are interesting:

"Evidently you didn't research Lou Barlettta well enough.  First Lou Barletta didn't physically file his reports with the FEC, technically his treasurer and/or assistant did the electronic filings."

Yes, the law requires a campaign treasurer file all official reports with the FEC.  The candidate or candidate's committee, however, is legally responsible for these reports and is held liable for violations.  The FEC normally doesn't investigate unless someone files a formal complaint except for late filings.  The Barletta campaign is insisting this loan was being repaid personally by the Barlettas.  I asked for proof but they neglected to reply to those repeated requests.

This is all the campaign said:  " What evidence do you actually possess to back up such a statement? Lou Barletta has his checks, his statements, everything he needs to back up his position.  He has documents from Legacy Bank. "  No proof.

Keegan then went on to attack Congressman Kanjorski, made a sort of veiled threat around the fact he knew my personal email address (it's on our Berks County Democratic Committee website) as if this was going to disturb me, then insisted this:

"If you publish my statements of email it must be in its entirety so you don't put any spin on what I have written.  Digital Signature John D. Keegan"

 
When I explained to this person that he has no control over the editorial content of my blogs, much less the right to demand I pull them off the internet, he replied with this:

"Is that the best response you could have!   LOLOL  Did the truth hurt that much???"

What sort of campaign engages in such behavior?  Is this the kind of press/communications outreach Lou Barletta is engaging in?   This is utterly irresponsible and reckless conduct and a symptom of acute Castoritis.  What on earth possessed them to think they could demand I pull down my blog?  This tells me several things:  these people are exceptionally thin skinned and they have no discipline on their campaign regarding press contacts and official statements.  The idea Lou Barletta can represent the people of the 11th District better than Paul Kanjorski, after reading these emails, is laughable.

Comments

[Kirk Wentzel]

I'm shocked they didn't write "Nya nya nya nya nya" and stick their tongue out at you.

[John Morgan]

Funny, that's how I took that final email.

[Wyoming County Conservative]

Wow ! Who is dumb enough to believe that banks make loans to campaigns ? This loan was made to Barletta personally .. He loaned it to his campaign .. It is done all the time .. His mistake was putting the bank name on the reporting form..

Cookie jar ? You guys must relly hate the guy to drum up a theory like that .. or maybe you just don't understand how banks work..

I suppose you believe he is a pal of David Duke as well..

Focus on a real issue ,, Like Kanjo appropriating 9 million dollars for Cornerstone so his family members could pay it to themselves until it was all gone.. If the House Ethics Committee hadn't swapped an R investigation for Kanjo's, he might be in jail now ..

[John Morgan]

Banks do make loans to campaigns. In fact, John McCain is in some serious campaign trouble with the FEC over a bank loan. Barletta's campaign reported this as a campaign loan. Then, in trying to explain it to me they disclose information, from an official campaign source, implicating his wife for violating the law. How stupid can you get?

[Paul V]

I Voted For Hilary Clinton
But camparing Jeremiah Wright to John McCain Minister ,,You
Can not compare,,, John McCain,, the minister he know just gave him Money,,he does not Go to his church,,, He did not Baptise john McCain kids,,, he is not on John McCain Campaign,, Just gave John McCain money,,, to compare him with Jeremiah Wright is something the Media, and the Obama Camapaign,, doing,,Barack Obama Has a Racist man who worked on his Campaign,, Jeremiah Wright, ,, who helped Barack with the title of his book,,, who baptise his kids, Barack Obama Miinister, gave Louis Farrahkan life time achievement award, ,,, Barack Obama who went to this Racist mans church,,, for 20 years,

Whats even sad is Barack Obama, followers don’t even Care, He can run over a person right now ,,, and people will still follow him,,, but one thing is for certain Barack no matter what, just lost this election,,, even if he wins the primary,,, from Hilary,,, Barack can not win a big state, Hilary followers will not back Barack Obama,,, just like if Hilary wins the primary,,, Barack Obama followers will not back Hilary ,,,,,
Obama is definitely Muslim, but he is a closet Racist, who employed a racist,, of all Racist, ,,,,, he is done
Watch Obama weblink
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Prhnc2fxAzg&feature=related%20...%20http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4YxPBAkfp4&feature=related

[John Morgan]

I deleted one of your duplicate comments Paul V, please do not do that.

Barack Obama is NOT a Muslim. You only demean yourself when you try spreading vile, vicious rumors and lies. I never discussed John McCain's minister so I don't understand your accusation that I did.