Union Bullying of Boy Scout Volunteer: Dent Denounces, Callahan Cowers

Last Thursday, Bethlehem Mayor and Democratic Congressional candidate John Callahan wandered from city hall to participate in a health care reform demonstration outside Congressman Charlie Dent's office. He bravely announced he was "proud to stand with the hard working members of SEIU so that their voices can be heard." He even slammed Dent's refusal to support Pelosi care. But mysteriously, he ducked all questions asking him how he'd vote if it were up to him.

It's the thought that counts.

Right around the time that Callahan was hanging with his peeps from SEIU, they were bullying a 17 year-old Eagle Scout candidate, who had the nerve to clear a pathway at a local park. They made sure their voices were heard at Allentown City Council, where a local union rep declaimed "there's to be no volunteers." He's mad that the city laid off 39 of its members, although they refused to agree to wage concessions. "We'll be looking into the Cub Scout or Boy Scout who did the trails," the union rep threatened.

Amazingly, the very next day, Callahan was telling he press how proud he is of these bullies.

By the way, how many cub scouts does it take to do the work of 39 SEIU members?

One.

Yesterday, Congressman Dent sent a strongly worded letter to SEIU, suggesting that an apology to the Scout and the public is warranted. You can read his letter below.



Instead of posting this letter as soon as it fell into my hot little hands, as I'd usually do, I decided for some reason to try to be fair. So I called Callahan to ask if he is still proud of SEIU. His secretary, who was very nice, took my phone number. I even gave her my email address. I laid out what had happened and told her Congressman Dent had already condemned this greedy interference with a boy scout. Callahan and Dent may be on opposite sides in a congressional race, but I actually expected a bipartisan condemnation of this kind of union thuggery.

While I sat by the phone, waiting for Callahan's call, that no-good bastard, Scott Kraus, managed to beat me with this story at Pennsylvania Avenue. He even posted Dent's letter.

As you may have guessed, and as I should have expected, Callahan ducked me. Perhaps it's beneath him to speak to a blogger, although he did a blogger interview some months ago. More likely, he's afraid he may alienate the very union he praised the day after they bullied a boy scout. He might have to answer why scouts do no community service in Bethlehem's parks.

Are you beginning to see a pattern? Rather than leading from the front, Callahan hides in city hall, with a wet finger in the air, checking to see which way the wind is blowing. He's already refused to take a position on Pelosi care. Now, he's afraid to speak up for a 17 year-old boy scout.

Is this what you want in Congress?