The Pennsylvania Progressive

Eldorado

The raids at the Texas compound of the polygamous Mormon sect FLDS shows their true allegiance was to sex, not God.  The Fundamentalist Mormon religion had beds in their temple where older men consummated their polygamous multiple marriages with underage girls.  Right there in the temple.  Girls were married off to older men as soon as they reached puberty.

Four hundred children, many of them pregnant, were hauled off the ranch by child welfare representatives.  Documents proving these polygamous arrangements were seized by law enforcement authorities.   Of course we've all known what was happening in these compounds.  Law enforcement was powerless to do anything without probable cause however.  You cannot simply march into someone's home and conduct a search without a warrant unless your name is George W. Bush.  Oh wait, yes you can, this is our new national security state.  Just say it's national security and do whatever you please...

Reports say that many of the children taken from the Yearning for Zion Ranch cannot even say who their parents are due tot he confusing nature of one man and twenty wives.  It appears to me these men weren't "yearning for zion" as much as they were yearning to use the beds in the temple.  We need stronger enforcement of laws prohibiting polygamy.

News & Notes

A few notes on some short topics...

The jury in the political show trial of Cyril Wecht has resulted in a mistrial.  Pittsburgh US Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan went after the famous Coroner as part of the Justice Department's witch hunt of Democrats.  She had the temerity to accuse him of using his staff for personal business after doing the same thing herself.

A mine safety bill is finally winding its way through the State House.  Crafted after several mine accidents in Pennsylvania it has been slow to go through the process due to the inordinate influence of the coal mining industry in Pennsylvania.  Mine safety hasn't been addressed here since 1961.

Philadelphia collected 2,500,000 pounds of trash in a spring cleanup last week.  Traveling along our roads, especially after winter, reveals trash strewn everywhere.  Why is it people have no respect for others and toss their trash and cigarette butts out their windows?  Yes, cigarette butts are litter and drivers can be cited for tossing them out their windows.  Litterbugs can be reported by calling 888-LITTERBUG.  Perhaps if we let others know what we think about their polluting our environment they'll think twice the next time.

The latest Quinnipiac poll has the presidential race back at six points.  This is where it was at the beginning and underscores my point that, had Barack Obama begun campaigning here in earnest he could have won the state handily.

Milestone For Montco: Dems Outnumber Republicans

The suburban Philadelphia area, Delaware, Bucks and Chester Counties, are known collectively as Pennsylvania's "ring counties" because they surround the City of Brotherly Love.  Long a stronghold of moderate Republicans they've been trending Democratic in years as the GOP leaves its moderates behind.  At the same time the Democratic Party has become the Party of fiscal responsibility and many of these former Republicans frown at the social issue focus of Republicans.  Largely pro choice and tolerant, the recent direction of the GOP has been causing them to defect to the Democrats.

Now Montgomery County has become Blue.  Long a linchpin of Republican politics there are now more registered Democrats in Montgomery County than Republicans.  The other three ring counties have also been trending Blue and, with them, the state of Pennsylvania.  The metropolitan region of Southeast Pennsylvania is the tail which wags the dog in this state.  It's definitely a blue dog in more ways than one.

This didn't happen all by itself.  The Montgomery County Democratic Party has been rejuvenated under Chair Marcel Groen and leaders like Frank Custer and Joe Hoeffel.  They've sent legislators like Connie Williams and Josh Shapiro to Harrisburg and have worked long and hard to expand the Party and win elections.  This is a milestone which was hard won and hard fought and those Democrats in Montgomery County who have contributed to this success, from precinct captains and volunteers to Party officials, are to be congratulated on their achievement.

As a Party we win statewide these days based on Southeast and Southwest Pennsylvania.  The sheer numbers of votes cast in Philadelphia and the ring counties swing these elections and the County Committees have been working hard to achieve these gains.  Good candidates teamed up with dedicated volunteers and activists are winning elections where we  weren't competitive before.

Campaigns Ignoring Pennsylvania Latinos

Both presidential campaign seem to be ignoring the state's large Latino population in their quests to lose votes April 22nd.  This mystifies me and I don't quite understand why both the Obama and Clinton campaigns aren't responding to invitations to attend a major healthcare event in Reading.  Phila Back, who is organizing the event for the Pennsylvania Statewide Latino Coalition, Working Families Win and the Latino Coalition of Berks County, is running into stone walls trying to get each campaign to send a Latino surrogate to the event at Reading Area Community College.  This is the only event the PA Statewide latino Coalition has scheduled for this primary season.

I also understand little outreach is being done in some of our major Latino areas.  The community leaders seem baffled by the shunning and we're at risk of losing their support.  This population is crucial to our winning in November and we need to be addressing their issues, needs and concerns and involving them in the process.

If either campaign is interested in cooperating with this event contact me, you know how to reach me, and I'll get you in touch with Phila Back.

McDermott Ordered to Pay Boehner in Wiretap Case

Democratic Congressman Jim Mcdermott has been ordered to pay a settlement from his 1996 case when he released a wiretapped conversation by John Boehner.  The original amount of $60,000 has grown to $1.2 million over twelve years of interest, fines and penalties.  Gee, it's a good thing the IRS wasn't involved or we could be talking about real money.

The original case is interesting for several reasons.  Boehner was using his cell phone, which we all know isn't secure and can be intercepted by anyone with a scanner, to make a call regarding the ethical lapses of then Speaker Newt Gingrich.  The Florida couple who intercepted and taped the call gave it to McDermott who released it to the press.

Since it's common knowledge that cell phone calls are using public airwaves to transmit we all understand they aren't secure for confidential communications.  Boehner was a fool to use his for a sensitive conversation about the Republican's crooked Speaker.  Gingrich wound up being cited for serious ethical violations and we all understand how difficult it is for any Member of Congress to violate their weak ethics standards.

The larger issue here, though, is wiretapping.  Why is McDermott being cited and penalized for violating something George W. Bush is violating millions, perhaps, billions of times a day?  Why does this law apply to everyone else but not the president?  Are we a nation of laws or not?  Last I checked no one was above the law in this country, even George W. Bush.

News & Notes

William D'Elia, a reputed mobster from northeastern PA, pled guilty to lesser charges yesterday in a possible runup to the Louis DeNaples trial.  DeNaples, to whom a slots casino license was given despite his long rumored alleged mob ties, has been charged with perjury.   The D'Elia deal leads one to believe he will testify against DeNaples.  Anyone want a good deal on the Mount Airy Casino?  I'll bet it goes on the market.

Chelsea Clinton thinks her Mom will be a better president than even her dad.  Some are saying "close, but no cigar."  Sorry for the bad joke, I just felt this urge to inject a little levity into the scene.

Big Mo passed away in Pittsburgh.  The yellow footed tortoise was the Pittsburgh Zoo's oldest resident.  Soup's on folks.

I seem to have an irreverent attitude this morning....  In more serious news the Philadelphia Sheriff has put a freeze on home foreclosures to provide time for homeowners to seek assistance before losing their homes due to predatory lenders.  The Black community in Philadelphia was especially victimized by these immoral bankers and is hard hit by foreclosures.  Sheriff Green ran on a platform of providing relief to these residents.  Glad to see he's sticking by his word.

A car transport on I-80 in Venango County was searched and $274,000 was found hidden in two cars on the carrier.  Someone explain to the driver that I-80 doesn't have tolls...yet.

The Pelosi Dustup

Speaker Nancy Pelosi ticked off the Clinton campaign with her statements this week that problems could divide the Party if the will of voters is overturned by super delegates.  Hers is a very real concern.  Democrats are going to be extremely upset if, after going through a long, painful primary process the candidate with a clear majority of votes and pledged delegates loses the nomination.  Nancy Pelosi was stating the obvious.

This is one of those times when I adopt my "other shoe" test.  This test involves looking at an issue from the standpoint of the person standing in the other shoes.  If doing that forces me to change my mind then that means I should rethink my position.  In this case the Clinton campaign needs to adopt the "other shoe" test.  Would they be protesting the Speaker's comments if Hillary were clearly ahead in votes and delegates?  No.

A collection of Clinton supporters including Mark Aronchick sent this letter to Pelosi:

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi

Speaker of the US House of Representatives

Office of the Speaker

H-232, US Capitol

Washington, DC 20515

Dear Madame Speaker,

As Democrats, we have been heartened by the overwhelming response that our fellow Democrats have shown for our party’s candidates during this primary season. Each caucus and each primary has seen a record turnout of voters. But this dynamic primary season is not at an end. Several states and millions of Democratic voters have not yet had a chance to cast their votes.

We respect those voters and believe that they, like the voters in the states that have already participated, have a right to be heard. None of us should make declarative statements that diminish the importance of their voices and their votes. We are writing to say we believe your remarks on ABC News This Week on March 16th did just that.

During your appearance, you suggested super-delegates have an obligation to support the candidate who leads in the pledged delegate count as of June 3rd , whether that lead be by 500 delegates or 2. This is an untenable position that runs counter to the party’s intent in establishing super-delegates in 1984 as well as your own comments recorded in The Hill ten days earlier:

"I believe super-delegates have to use their own judgment and there will be many equities that they have to weigh when they make the decision. Their own belief and who they think will be the best president, who they think can win, how their own region voted, and their own responsibility.’”

Super-delegates, like all delegates, have an obligation to make an informed, individual decision about whom to support and who would be the party’s strongest nominee. Both campaigns agree that at the end of the primary contests neither will have enough pledged delegates to secure the nomination. In that situation, super-delegates must look to not one criterion but to the full panoply of factors that will help them assess who will be the party’s strongest nominee in the general election.

We have been strong supporters of the DCCC. We therefore urge you to clarify your position on super-delegates and reflect in your comments a more open view to the optional independent actions of each of the delegates at the National Convention in August. We appreciate your activities in support of the Democratic Party and your leadership role in the Party and hope you will be responsive to some of your major enthusiastic supporters.

Sincerely,

Marc Aronchick

Clarence Avant

Susie Tompkins Buell

Sim Farar

Robert L. Johnson

Chris Korge

Marc and Cathy Lasry

Hassan Nemazee

Alan and Susan Patricof

JB Pritzker

Amy Rao

Lynn de Rothschild

Haim Saban

Bernard Schwartz

Stanley S. Shuman

Jay Snyder

Maureen White and Steven Rattner

This has initiated a firestorm by Obama's campaign whose spokesman Bill Burton issued this statement:

“This letter is inappropriate and we hope the Clinton campaign will reject the insinuation contained in it.  Regardless of the outcome of the nomination fight, Senator Obama will continue to urge his supporters to assist Speaker Pelosi in her efforts to maintain and build a working majority in the House of Representatives,”

This tit for tat betweens the campaigns is what is angering Democrats everywhere.  Every issue, everything said, is fodder for the back and forth.  With no debates where the Senators can face off and have to face questions and respond directly what we have are dueling press releases.  It's getting old and we still have four weeks left until the Pennsylvania primary.  Will we survive?  Meanwhile I keep applying the "other shoe" test and hope the shoe doesn't wear out.

Rendell On the Air

I'm thinking something is wrong with my television.  Though I've watched very little of it the past two weeks it seems that every time I do Ed Rendell is on.  Is this a coincidence or is our lively, gregarious Governor doing more TV lately than ever?  The focus on Pennsylvania and the fact Fast Eddie is also quick on his feet and a good interview seems to have him on everywhere.  This is good for the state and the Governor is a good spokesman for his candidate.

He's been with Hillary Clinton at all three of the events I've covered.  At The Forum in Harrisburg he had the dubious honor of following Harrisburg Mayor Stephen Reed who gave a remarkably outstanding speech.  Even the jaded national press who can get rather bored at this point of the campaign after watching hundreds of similar stump speeches by the candidates woke up for Mayor Reed's eloquence.  The Governor took the microphone (remember this was the event where they had mike problems too) and asked Hillary if anyone had ever selected a Mayor for the VP slot.

He has a real knack for saying just the right thing at the right time in most (but not all, as we all know).  He's also humorous and always engaging.  I think he's representing us well.

Random Thoughts

The last two weeks have been busy but fun.  It's so unusual for Pennsylvanians to be in the thick of a presidential primary race it's exciting.  People everywhere are discussing the two candidates and I've heard from them in both camps.  I've also heard a good number who remain undecided.  I've also seen and heard some interesting things I'll share today as sort of background.

At Tuesday's Hillary event in Millersville I was sitting in the press section preparing for the beginning of the event and some of the final people were entering the gym.  A man walked by carrying a Ron Paul sign (why is this man still in the Republican race???) and the gentleman behind him looked overt to me and rolled his eyes, pointed to him and shrugged.  He couldn't figure this out either.

At another event I was entering the venue and there was a very heavy security presence.  A local cop muttered that it was "all a waste of money."  I was shocked by this attitude.  Since when is seeing and participating in our democracy a waste of money?  More people are involved, active, interested and excited with the races this year than in a very long time.  Engaging in democracy is never a waste of money.

I've noticed an interesting difference between the Clinton and Obama campaigns.  Hillary's communications staff is professional, knowledegable and incredibly good.  Their field operation is in chaos.  The opposite seems to be true of the Obama staff.

Quite a few people have expressed a desire to have more advance information about the campaign events and appearances.  It's normally just one or two days notice and many people need more time than that to plan and get time off from work.  The reason for this short notice is security.  Extra time for you also means extra preparation time for anyone wishing to do harm so it's for security concerns that news about these appearances isn't available earlier.

Easter weekend won't see as much activity so I'm going to get some rest this weekend in anticipation of another hectic week.  Both campaigns are putting on an effort to complete voter registration around the state.  Monday is the deadline if you want to vote April 22nd and are not registered as a Democrat.  The number of voters changing their party affiliation for this election is swamping election services offices throughout the Commonwealth.

I think Hillary Clinton's 12 point lead is the result of her campaigning actively and for publicly available events.  Senator Obama has primarily done closed events, major speeches designed to swing the momentum back his way.  Because people have been unable to see and hear him Senator Clinton has grabbed a distinct advantage.  Momentum swings happen constantly during long contests as this and it's often the candidate with the final momentum who wins.  Can Obama regain the momentum?  We have to watch and wait to see.

The Rev. Wright issue seems to be influencing the debate.  Obama has lost a good deal of support and the momentum as he grapples with this issue.  Where is the similar outrage over Sen. McCain's endorsement by John Hagee amidst the outrageous comments he has made?  Where is the outrage over the worse 9/11 comments made by Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson?  Oh, yes, they aren't Black.

Why did the  AP spend all their time digging through Hillary's First Lady schedules to report where she was during her hubby's trysts with Monica?  Does anyone really care about this?  What an enormous waste of time.  They missed the real stories buried in those documents because they were more concerned with the salacious.

The release of these schedules does reinforce the argument put forth by the Obama campaign managers that the Clinton team is hiding this from the public because releasing these documents could hurt her campaign.  These did in regard to NAFTA.  Conversely the Clinton campaign has a point about Obama's state senate papers.  It's a bit hypocritical of them to call for their release however until they release Hillary's records.

Home Sweet Home

I feel as if I've been living in my car for the past three days.  If you look at it you would too.  Well, essentially, I have.  I drove from Reading to Scranton Monday to cover Barack O'bama's St. Patrick's Women's Dinner, dropped in at Chris Carney's office the next morning, Congressman Kanjorski's office after that (they were closed so that one was quick) then drove to Millersville for Hillary's event last night.  Today I drove to Harrisburg for the House hearing on HB 1660, the single payer, universal healthcare coverage plan (more on that tomorrow).  Then I drove back to Reading for a meeting...

I apologize for not being able to respond to all the comments but it's tough to text while driving and the cops frown on it...  I have lots to catch up with, video from last night and news to comment upon, comments to read, and the regular blog management tasks that bit the dust all week.

This is what we political junkies live for though and it's been great.  I sat in my car after the hearing today listening to the Clinton campaign media conference call sitting in a parking garage outside the state Capital building.  Interesting stuff on that I'll also get to tonight.

All in all home looks pretty good right now, I have my desktop instead of the laptop, my dual monitors for doing the video and my comfortable chair.  I'm ready to dig in.