Angle Schools Parsons in Debate at the Slate

Last night's "Debate at the Slate," featuring Northampton County races for Controller and Council, was unusually well attended. At one point, I counted fifty people, but they were still coming in the door to the Wind Gap Fire Company. Many were festooned in green "Save Gracedale" T-Shirts supplied by AFSCME, and union boss Justus James, a New Jersey resident, was corralled on one corner with the union crowd. The Fake Rev was there, too, hoping that someone would ask him to offer a benediction, but his prayer was never answered. In addition to the unionites, there was a smaller group proudly wearing "Gracedale Goon" buttons. Dem party boss Walt Garvin was there, too.

They smelled blood.

They wanted to see the Northampton County Bulldog, Ron Angle, fall flat on his face during his debate against Wind Gap Borough Council President Scott Parsons, sponsored by the Slate Belt and Nazareth Chambers of Commerce.

They were disappointed. Parsons repeatedly stated that Angle has done a "good job" on Council, which makes me wonder why he wanted to run in the first place. He claimed he wanted to restore civility to Council, but then asked a nasty personal question at the end of the debate, going into the very gutter he claims to detest so much. He had to acknowledge he has not even reviewed the County's proposed budget for next year, when he would be sitting on Council. It also became clear that he's attended no Council meetings and has very little understanding of County issues. If all of this were not bad enough, he acknowledged that Wind Gap, where has served on Borough Council for the last 8 years, has doubled its taxes in that time. "We have to provide the services," he lamely explained.

In contrast, Angle was polished. Admitting he is "not warm and furry," he told the unfirendly crowd that he is "big on getting the job done" and is as full of "snot and vinegar" as he was when voters first elected him 12 years ago.

Angle admitted he's "tough to serve with," and mentioned that the traditionally short meetings of County Council are much longer now that he's there because he insists on a "complete explanation of what they're ding with your money."

Although Parsons is certainly a likable person, and he has great ideas about regionalizing a countywide police force, he was no match for Angle. In fact, it seems to me that he'd be happier if he remained on Wind Gap Borough Council, where he is much more familiar with the issues.

Parsons was at one point asked for a status report for a lawsuit filed by a Wind Gap police officer. He was unable to say very much about it because the matter is in litigation. When Angle was asked for his comment, he joked, "It's not my lawsuit. I got my own."

When asked to express his greatest disappointment, Angle joked, "My biggest disappointment is that nobody loves me."

Although the crowd started off very pro-Parsons, their enthusiasm ebbed as it became apparent that Angle is simply better informed and makes more sense. Toward the end, Angle began getting applause from his own outnumbered supporters.

Fellow blogger Donald Flad came up from Bethlehem, and he must of brought some civility with him, along with the bottled water he provided for everyone.

At the end of the debate, right after Parsons attacked him, Angle pointed to his supporters in the crowd. "It's the union from Gracedale with the 68% benefits ...; it's the 'Save Gracedale' people, who convinced you that somehow the people buying Gracedale were gonna' close it, along with the unions who spent a lot of money they never accounted for. You talk about integrity, Mr. Parsons. You are in with a group of people who never ever had an ounce of integrity."

As Gracedale goons and union thugs shouted, Angle said, "I don't tell you what you want to hear. I tell you the truth."

And he does. They have no integrity. If you want to see what these people are like, read their always anonymous smears on the Save Gracedale blog.