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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Monday, November 02, 2009

Don Cunningham, Infidel

Despicable.

That's how Allentown Republican Scott Armstrong has described Lehigh County Exec Don Cunningham's letter (via campaign manager Dan Kelly) complaining about opponent Scott Ott's living arrangements at a Zionsville church, especially since it includes a cc to the IRS. Armstrong was never a Cunningham supporter, but this has made him angry.

Now I support Cunningham, who is perhaps the finest County Executive I've ever seen in both counties. But even I would agree this letter is a mistake. On Saturday night, I was preparing a post to condemn this tactic when I started receiving information that Ott really is using the religious community to further his campaign. Even in the People's Republic of Northampton County, religious groups and home schoolers are getting Epistles from Saint Scott, entitled "Don Cunningham Attacks Lehigh County Churches."

Uh oh. Get the pitchforks.

Ott tells his religious audience that one reporter called Cunningham's letter a "big mistake," but then complains that the very same press is refusing to cover the story. He fails to tell his evangelical readers that most news organization impose a blanket on covering campaigns in their waning days. Moreover, aside from a response to Ken Petrini, he's made no attempt to reach out to the blogosphere.

If Ott is really keeping church separated from state, why is he trying to inflame religious groups as far away as Northampton County?

"Don Cunningham's camp must be rattled after yesterday's debate. In what one reporter calls a 'big mistake,' Don Cunningham has tried to create a side circus so he does not have to deal with the main issue of the campaign: avoiding the 2011 tax increase. Despite the copy list at the bottom of Dan Kelly's letter it is unclear who exactly received this letter. They did not send it to us, for example, despite the implication that they did. We only found out about it when a reporter asked for a response from us. So far only Ken Petrini has covered this story. Even though this could be a valid issue (though the facts, which Cunningham's camp must not have researched very well considering they addressed the letter to an organization that hasn't used that name for over 50 years, show that the allegations are baseless), there is no denying this issue was handled in a very unprofessional and un-executive way. Below you can find the letter and Scott's response to it. Sean

After yesterday's debate (10/29), Don Cunningham's campaign sent the following letter to my former employer (although he apparently doesn't know that the denomination changed its name back in the 1950s). I have included my response below the Cunningham camp's letter. I have also sent it to local reporter Ken Petrini (who first sent me the Cunningham letter), and to Bobby Gunther Walsh at WAEB 790AM, who has mentioned it, and may read it on air this morning. Feel free to circulate. Scott Ott"

I like Scott. I believe him when he says his living arrangements are part of his compensation package and not some sort of hidden political contribution form those damn Mennonites. But by the same token, sending missives to religious groups in Northampton County, entitled "Don Cunningham Attacks Lehigh County Churches," prove Cunningham was right to ask him about his living arrangements. He's clearly using his religious connections.
Update: The letter from the Cunningham camp is located here.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

For those of us hold-up in the bunkers, could you reprint the letter?

Bernie O'Hare said...

A copy is on my Mennonite post. I'll update w/ a link.

Anonymous said...

Ummm....are there Cliff Notes for this article? I've read it twice and I'm still confused. Ott lives inside a church? Is that bad or good to the Bible bangers? Is anyone sticking to County issues this year? Let's just burn a witch and get it out of our system and go back to tax increase debates.

Anonymous said...

Bernie O'Hare said:

"On Saturday night, I was preparing a post to condemn this tactic when I started receiving information that Ott really is using the religious community to further his campaign."


Bernie, a few questions:

1) If the Camp Ott worked for is made up of a group of 60 churches, isn't Ott's claim correct?

2) If Cunningham is trying to impugn an organization consisting of those 60 churches, shouldn't Ott inform those churches, their members, and others of what is going on? This is particularly relevant given the "blanket" that you mention regarding news coverage in the waning days. Career politicians know about the "blanket", and use it to smear their opponents at the last minute.

3) If you were going to condemn this TACTIC on Saturday night, what has suddenly made it right? The issue that Cunningham is trying to make is all about Ott's residency and that being some kind of political contribution. All the evidence points to the fact that Ott's severance package includes residency until year end. That means that Cunningham's charge is WRONG.

Ott is merely responding to Cunningham. He did not send his message out of the blue. Given the sleazy nature of what Cunningham has charged, I would imagine that this will get noticed by religious groups well beyond Lehigh and Northampton counties.

I realize that you will defend Cunningham until he is caught in bed with a child (and then perhaps only if it is YOUR grandson), but Cunningham is clearly wrong here.

Cunningham's actions are beneath him, beneath the office, and worthy of a public apology today - before the election.

Anonymous said...

Read the letter, Cunningham CHARGED nothing, His campaign manager ASKED the questions to ascertain if there was something improper going on. Honestly, I am a person of Faith and I just dont' get what the problem is here. If nothing wrong is happening, why get so upset? IF something wrong was happening the voters and the proper authorities SHOULD know about it, because IF something was improper it could taint other good Non-profit organizations.

Anonymous said...

I am sorry Bernie but I must disagree with you. Don Cunningham made Scott's church and residence an issue. Don't blame Scott. If Scott does not address an issue, Don would simply continue the attack on Scott and the ligitimacy of his living arrangement.
Obviously Bernie you do not agree with this comment, but to assign the church issue solely to Scott is disingenuou. Sorry
Bob Romancheck

Chris Casey said...

Here's a point to ponder:

What if Sun Yung Moon, David Koresh, or a Jim Jones type were running for office? And they were using church connections as a base of operations? The pitchforks and rope would have been out long ago.

Think this through, before we start the lynchings.

Anonymous said...

So Casey, you are now comparing Scott Ott with Jim Jones or David Koresh. Now that's inflamatory. Jeesh!

Anonymous said...

Just saw an email from the Lehigh Valley Christian High School.....their e-newsletter----reminding Lehigh COunty voters that they have the chance to vote out the incumbent and vote for a "godly" man.

Way to use the church and school for politics.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Incredible!

Bernie O'Hare said...

"Ummm....are there Cliff Notes for this article? I've read it twice and I'm still confused. Ott lives inside a church? Is that bad or good to the Bible bangers? Is anyone sticking to County issues this year? Let's just burn a witch and get it out of our system and go back to tax increase debates."

I apologize for my poor writing. I'm trying to get a lot of information out there. Ott lives inside a church-owned property.

I agree we should burn a witch.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Anon 12:05,

Cunningham's letter (sent via a campaign manager) was clearly a mistake. I say as much in this post. What is most offensive is not so much the body of the letter, which asks for an explanation, but the cc to IRS.

Ott has seized upon this mistake and has made one of his own, using the churches for political purposes. His misleading headline "Cunningham Attacks Lehigh County Churches," is absurd. To be frank, he has every right to know whether these arrangements are part of Ott's comprensation package or whether some segment of humans inside the church are ignoring the laws. But the cc to the IRS was over the top, I'll concede.

Ott has taken these legitimate questions and rephrased them into an attaqck on the church, and that's ridiculous. Moreover, he is encouraging inappropritae political activity y those churches, which is the very thing Cunningham was concerned about in the first place.

They are both wrong.

Anonymous said...

It wouldn't be "Lehigh Valley Ramblings" if there weren't at least one off topic wild eyed maniacal post about Bernie's sordid past.
And before I could finish this comment it disappeared!

Anonymous said...

Bernie you still miss the point. Why mention it at all except to gain some political advantage.
Bob Romancheck

Bernie O'Hare said...

Bob, I agree it was a mistake. It is also a mistake to send an email to all sorts of religious groups suggesting that Cunningham attacks Lehigh County churches. It essentiallt proves that Ott is doing exactly what Cunningham was concerned about - mixing rligion and politics.

Anonymous said...

Bernie my last post on the subject. With respect you are wrong. Ask yourself the question, "why did Chunningham and friends bring up hte subject????".
Bob Romancheck
I know you are in Cunningham's house, Bernie, but give me a break. I guess the post that you removed was right anyway.........

Bernie O'Hare said...

The post I removed was about a PAC that I mixed up w/ another, almost identically named PAC.

I'll agree that the letter was a mistake. Cunningham should have taken Ott at his word.

Anonymous said...

I would live inside a church, thus I would be closer to God. Only it must be hard to get cable....though I could put a Direct TV dish on the steeple. All Catholics burn in hell for worshipping statues. Amen.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I'd live inside a church, too. But everyime I start walking inside, lightning starts flashing everywhere.

Anonymous said...

All liberal secularists burn in hell for worshiping statutes.

Amen. Alleluia.

Anonymous said...

If you can't find a witch, burn Angle. God will be even more pleased!