The state AG contest pits scrappy John Morganelli against blueblood Tom Corbett. But it's been really quiet. In one of my posts about that contest, for example, I had just one comment."Crickets."
It looks like the race is finally heating up. Capitol Ideas reports Corbett's claim that Morganelli is improperly using an anti-illegal immigration PAC while Morganelli is slamming Corbett's abuse of publicly funded PSAs.
All of this seemed like business as usual until I noticed one sentence in Micek's report.
Holy cannoli!
Morganelli is using Scissorhands Severson.
PMI (Precision Marketing), a Severson outfit, has been paid $6,400 to conduct, of all things, robo-calls.
Severson is currently under investigation by Corbett for possible elections law violations. Last Fall, he ran a series of anonymous robo-calls that viciously slammed Ron Angle and Peg Ferraro. Oh yeah, Severson is also a criminal defendant after he threatened to kill Northampton County Council member Ron Angle during a funeral mass.
When I contacted Morganelli, he confirmed he is, in fact, using Severson. He reminds me people are innocent until proven guilty. True enough.
I have one question for John - Are you out of your frickin' mind??? If you are running to lose this race, this is the best way to do it. You've just associated yourself a person who disrupted a funeral mass, of all things. You've hired a guy being investigated for sleaze campaign tactics, including those anonymous robo-calls.
Question: When does a D.A. stop holding press conferences that demonize defendants, poison jury pools, and puff up their Law & Order personna when the defendant is presumed innocent?
ReplyDeleteAnswer: When it's Morganelli, the ambitious little altar boy.
John and Severson are a perfect match. Morganelli is a vicious little phony who'll do anything, ANYTHING, to get the hell out of here. His naked ambition is only surpassed by his reputation as a desperate, soon to be four-time loser. He's clearly being served up as a sacrificial lamb again. He goes unchallenged in his own, one-party people's republic. But it's a different story where the electorate is not as favorable. I wonder if John has the wherewithal to earn a private dollar? Most career political climbers don't. We'll take him back again. He has a home here, where our county has very low expectations of its elected officials.
ReplyDeleteThe Severson/Morganelli love affair goes back many campaigns and has tainted everything they both do. I am repeating myself but I must restate that it is truly scary to think of Severson being in control of the AG's office.
ReplyDeleteI have one question.
ReplyDeleteIs there anyone involved in politics that is not corrupted by the system?
cck
It's a shame John feels he needs this slimeball. If Barrack Obama wins PA by 8+ points as polls now suggest, Morganelli will win on coattails. All JM would have to do is pay street money in Philly and run positive bio ads on Philly, Pitt, and WBS television. Severson's crap is a useless waste of money. Why do pols feel that they still need this ahole?
ReplyDeleteHope Julie Harhart, Pat Browne, and State Senate repubs are proud to see their paid consultant slime the Republican AG. Thanks.
Anyway when Corbett goes down, Toomey will have a clear shot at Gov in 2010. Go Pat!
Anon 6:52:
ReplyDeleteI think in a lot of ways, it's like Lisa Boscola rehiring Bernie Kieklak.
Nobody in the state even knows who the hell Severson is and I doubt that they care. As the last person mentioned if Obama wins big in Pa., and he will, John will win.It's that simple..Oh by the way, Toomey is a ******* moron.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a big mistake. John, who knows a little about politics, thinks it is not. We all know about Severson, but how many voters know or care? My point is that they will know by election day.
ReplyDeleteWho is Toomey?
ReplyDeleteWho is Severson? Isn't he the state Republican Party consultant for many years? I don't get the flap about this guy. What is it?
ReplyDeleteAnon 10:36,
ReplyDeleteThe people may not know who Severson is now, but they will if Corbett chooses to use him against Morganelli.
Also, I don't think it's fair to seal Morganelli's fate based on Obama's polls.
"Also, I don't think it's fair to seal Morganelli's fate based on Obama's polls."
ReplyDeleteAJ, I respectfully disagree. There has always been a certain amount of apathy from areas of PA to politicians unbeknownst to voters from other areas of the state.
This will be JM's best (and probably last) chance.
Anon 10:56,
ReplyDeleteTo answer that, I would need to be able to write several pages. Come to think of it, I have. If you go to the top of this blog, you'll see a search feature. Type in the name and hit search and all your questions will be answered. basically, he's a political consultant known for sleazy campaign tactics. He's been called the King of Sleazeball Politics. He's the consultant who sent out anonymous mailers that defamed a magisterial candidate last year. he's the consultant who conducted anonymous robocalls for some county council candidates. he is currently under investigation by the state AG and is being prosecuted for threatening to kill a member of NC Council.
You may be trying to prove John's point. I can assure you is well known in many circles and I believe Corbett can make him an issue.
I don't think John will use Severson that much bc most of his money will go to TV ads.
Isn't he the state Republican Party consultant for many years?
ReplyDeleteHe was. He played both sides of the fence.
ReplyDeleteThe next time someone you don't like uses Severson, will BO be so kind and easy going? Or will you do one of your crazy wig out routines?
ReplyDeleteHypocrite, embrace it love it!
Anon 11:54,
ReplyDeleteI don't like Morganelli's use of Severson. Why the hell do you think I wrote about it? I think it damages him. I think Severson represents everything wrong eith our political campaigns.
But I never would reject a candidate on one issue, even if that issue is Severson.
A lot also depends on the kind of campaign Severson is running. When John Maher uses Severson to run a sleaze campaign and lies about it, you can damn well bet I'll complain about it. When Severson sends anonymous mailers, I will complain and condemn the candidate.
You are finding fault with me when I have tagged John for his association with a despicable person. If I see any of Severson's trademark tactics, you can be sure I'll be freaking out.
It should matter in a race for Attorney General, if one of the candidates uses of a consultant currently under investigation for breaking election laws and about to face trial on criminal (terroristic threats, assault and disorderly conduct) counts, shouldn't it?
ReplyDeleteWhat's are the AGs responsibilities again? Something to do with upholding the law...