Tom Dietrich is one of four Republican Northampton County Council candidates who decided he had to look out for himself instead of attaching himself to popular Peg Ferraro. Never mind that she's the one person from both parties who will clearly win on Tuesday.Tom and three other Republican Council candidates decided it was really, really important that we all know just how much they hate abortion and how willing these individual rights lovers are to interfere in a woman's right to choose. Never mind that this is an incendiary issue having nothing to do with county government.
Not a peep about the planned tax increase or county spending.
Dietrich is very quick to command women what they may or may not do with their bodies, but is a little more reticent when it comes to disclosing campaign finances. Asked how much he spent for his anti-abortion flyer and where it went, Dietrich told me to wait. "[A]ll my campaign's reportable expenses/contributions are, or will be, in all applicable CFR's, to the best of my ability in a timely manor."
So much for transparency.
I managed to get the information for you anyway, thanks to political consultant Bob Kilbanks, who shared his invoice.
INVOICE - 2009 County Council Candidates Prolife Postcard
What we know is that 2,000 Republican super voters - some of whom may not be socially conservative - have been targeted with a postcard. What we also know is that a political consultant was more willing to share this information than transparent Tom Dietrich, a candidae for elected office.
25 comments:
If they care so much about values and family, when are we going to make divorce illegal in Northampton County? and mandate that everyone return to their first spouses and any children from subsequent marriages be declared bastards? That will get my vote!
But what about their position on sending county deputies to Afghanistan?
Will they close Gitmo and bring them up to Bethlehem Township?
Jeez.. I never though local politicos held this kind of power!
http://thevoterguide.lehighvalleylive.com/race-detail.do?id=189124795&party=d
Abortions should be illegal. Who the hell in their right mind would want to kill a poor innocent baby, maybe these people should close their legs so these types of things wont happen. Only in the case of rape should abortions be allowed!!! This country makes me sick sometimes!!!
Steve, Whatever your feelings, this should NEVER be an issue in a county council race.
Express-Times Endorsements
DOn't worry, Steve. Northampton COunty Council will overturn Roe Vs. Wade if the Republicans are a majority.
Last spring, while working the polls during the primary election, one voter asked me if I was pro-life. I'm not sure what that has to do with school boards, either.
I have my own strong personal views on abortion. However, I think it is quite insulting to have politicians (who will have absolutely zero say on the issue should they be (re)elected) to attempt to manipulate voters' passions on such a non-County issue. And even on a national level, how many poor leaders get votes simply because of that one issue?
I know people who use that single issue as a litmus test... "That is all I need to know about the candidate as it is indicative of their values" and vote accordingly. The candidate could "stink" (being PC) otherwise, and be terrible in the "big picture", but Pavlov's "abortion" bell rung on that one issue....
Its nothing more than a "hot button" get out the vote attempt. I like Cusick, but have to wonder how much Williams Twp/Chrin politics play into his dive for "the base."
I have seen the postcard. NOWHERE does it even mention abortion or any such thing. This mailing was intended to bring out voters who will ONLY vote if they know a candidate is pro-life. The people it targeted do not care about taxes, good government NOTHING BUT Pro-life issues(yup idiots in their own right). It was an attempt to get them to vote for county council candidates. I am deeply involved in these campaigns and frankly I did not know how these candidates felt on the issue nor had I ever heard a discussion of the issue. Also NONE of the 4 candidates on that postcard knew who was and was not on the card until it came out. Was it badly done, YES and that means that the creator of the idea and the card should be taken to task not the individual candidates. I never espuse splitting a team and it could have been handles in a less obnoxiuos and divisive way,
They candidates meant no harm, althogh they obviously did some.
The most harm is being done by people who frankly have no idea of what was really going on. This is s ridiculous spin pure and simple, and the net result is that some great candidates will not be elected to help this county out of the hole it is in,we may just have more years with the same old game, and fewer good people will ever run for elected office.
Whaterver the post card sdays, it is by your own admission a blatant appeal and pandering to single issue voters.It purposely excludes the county's top vote getter. one of the R candidates - Dietrich - refused to tell me how much was spent or how many were sent, like a typical pol.
You may have picked yup a few Rs with this stunt, but how many Dems will you have lost by pandering as you've just done?
In you delusional world, are you appointed by the AG, or some FEC vigilante?
You must be aiming for a Pullitzer Bernie?
You said at least three times this mailer only went out to line the pockets of Bob Kilbanks. Thanks to your very effective Investigative journalism you have managed to prove (with a little help from Bob Kilbanks who willingly turned over the invoice) that he has lined his pockets from this mailing with about 10 cents!! WAY TO GO OHARE!
To increase your chances for the prize you now assert that even though a candidate follows all finance rules they should be criticized for not turning over their finance data EARLY to you, a a bitter member of the opposing party. That is pure genius on your part Ohare!
Why would the candidates lose D voters from this mailing that only went to pro-life republicans? I can only assume you are speaking of the two or three folks who read this blog?
Aren't ya glad you let Ron or Peg talk you into blasting Kilbanks for lining his pockets? I mean in this economy he can buy maybe a gumball or something with that extra dime! Again! Way to go with such stellar reporting. I am sure you are very proud.
I'm posting what Kilbanks gave me and what Dietrich, a candidate for office, refused to supply. Whether modest sum or not, Kilbanks is profiting from this. And I have no idea whether his invoice reflects reality. Don't go down that road w/ me.
"no idea whether his invoice reflects reality"
Reality has never stopped your thought process. So why even mention it?
Seriously, Bernie. Kilbanks made pennies - barely. His abortion views have been well known for ages, and this mailing is consistent with everything he's advocated previously. To suggest a financial motivation is indicative of your level of extremist delirium on the left side of this divisive issue. Not your best work here.
I'll take my chances. I don't consider this the Republicans' best work.
"I'll take my chances."
Makes sense, since you have nothing to lose. Your 'credibility' was sold off years ago.
Somebody's vewy angwy.
BERNIE
i HAD nothing TO DO WITH IT AND HAVE CONDEMNED IT MYSELF FOR THOSE VERY SAME REASONS. It is their right , however, to campaign to whomever they wish. I personally am standing beside that big R vote getter, and am the one getting a load of stuff from both sides.
My only assertion was that this has been spun into an antiabortion mailer, which it was NOT.
I admitted it was poorly done.
But I had nothing to so with it and it was against my best judgement when I finally heard
about it.
Bernie's a typical pro-abortion sentry on a trip wire for anything religious. It's likely repressed anger at the consideration that the person with the cure for all of his problems (as well as cancer, AIDS, etc.) may well have been aborted already. Karma makes the angry angrier sometimes.
Another man who knows nothing of being forced to be a mother:
"Steve said...
Abortions should be illegal. Who the hell in their right mind would want to kill a poor innocent baby, maybe these people should close their legs so these types of things wont happen. Only in the case of rape should abortions be allowed!!! This country makes me sick sometimes!!!"
Gilbert earned the tea parties highest raking...
So did Thierry!
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