Northampton County Executive candidate Lamont McClure is proud of what he calls "our" digitalized billboard along Route 22, advertising his campaign. His campaign webpage brags, "We hope to have this billboard up through the primary election." That's bad news for Palmer Township residents, who complained to Supervisors last week. One of them called the shining light "a form of torture." Lamont McClure is giving them sleepless nights. There's another problem with this billboard, too. It violates election law.
Under our Election Code, there must be disclaimers on all political advertising, from signs to mailers. Former political consultant Tom Severson found that out the hard way. McClure's sign lacks a disclaimer.
But I can tell you who is paying for it, and it's not Lamont McClure. Contrary to what he claims on his web page, it is not "our" billboard.
It belongs to Abe Atiyeh, and he told me yesterday that he's paying for it. He also promised to add a disclaimer.
When John Stoffa ran for Executive four years ago, Atiyeh put out giant signs and a billboard. But the difference between Stoffa and McClure is that Stoffa did not know what Abe was doing and did not call it "our" product.
Atiyeh gave McClure $5,000 last year, after McClure did an about face on his opposition to work release centers and even a child advocacy center, and voted for a residential treatment facility in West Easton that just happens to be owned by ... Abe Atiyeh.
Honesty!?
ReplyDeleteThe difference is you liked Stoffa and don't like McClure. Let's be real.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone believe that Stoffa had no clue Abe was doing signs for him... I have a nursing home in Upper Nazareth to sell you!
I was with Stoffa. He had no idea and found out about it thru phone calls from third parties. He never sanctioned them, and refused to take money from anyone, to say nothing of a County vendor.
ReplyDeleteYou are full of shit and that is why no one takes you seriously. Abe washes Stoffa hands with billboards and Stoffa fought like Hell to get him a sweetheart deal.
ReplyDeleteDid Stoffa swear on a bible. Or is it that he is just the most honest manin the world. Ask COAF about that.
What a crook of shit. This is a new low, even for you O'Hare. Pure bullshit through and through. Either that or a St. Paddy day prank.
Let's assume that Stoffa is the biggest liar in the world. That is no justification for a billboard that fails to comply with election laws ... or that annoys residents and prevents them from sleeping. I guess that doesn't matter to McClure. It might matter when they vote.
ReplyDeleteI think the big problem here is this billboard is right in the heart of the county. Several county residents drive by it daily. It gets Lamont's name out there. Not good for Callahan.
ReplyDeleteThat is why Bernie is upset.
I thought the heart of the County was Nazareth. Isn't that what you were saying when you opposed a centralized human services building?
ReplyDeleteBe that as it may, it's America and so long as election laws are followed, I have no problem with McClure shining lights into the bedrooms of Palmer Tp residents and then expecting them to vote for him. Maybe he should put up a few more.
All of those flashing billboards are not only a pain in the ass to residents but unsafe on the highways. How they are allowed in the state is amazing. Some palms got greased on that deal. They should be banned by state law. We already have cellphones, twiter and now constantly changing billboerads to contend with at 60+MPH.
ReplyDeleteThis is not a McClure problem, it is a safety issue.
As to the neighboirs, I doubt they are abngry at McClure but at the sign, they should be. Of course you are spinning it because you hate McClure and our pushing Johnny Casino. As to Stoffa he lied about the billborads jsut as he violated the Hatch Act when he ran for County Council in 2001, while still the Director of Human Sercies in Lethigh County.
Of course that can't all be true. It is John Stoffa we are talking about and not Lamont McClure.
You are a real hater O'Hare, and an innaccurate hater at that.
If he violated the Hatch Act in 2001, why did you never file a complaint? It seems to me that you only like to make these accusations when you can do so anonymously. And you talk about hate.
ReplyDeleteI am sure McClure will get votes from all the people pissed off by those lights shining in their bedrooms. Like I said, he should put up a few more billboards.
The point is you are making a big deal out of the very thing you defended Stoffa for. All based on Stoffa's "word". Abe puts up his "myserious" billboards for Stoffa and Stoffa gives him a fat contract. Stoffa is just a tragic victim of circumstance.
ReplyDeleteSorry, that word has no meaning to anyone but you and his hacks.
I happened to be with Stoffa when he first found out about the signs. He ha no idea and did not call them "our" signs. At the time, I pointed out that Atiyeh had an obligation to file an independent expenditure report.
ReplyDeleteIn this case, McClure does know about and embraces the billboard, referring to it on his web page. It violates the election code. It also is disturbing residents. He is accepting a major donation from a county vendor, who is angry that Callahan would not go along with his rehab projects in Bethlehem.
We now know that Atiyeh finds McClure much more malleable.
Everyihng you just wrote is your word against all evidence. Stoffa has lied to unions, lied to the COAF and you and Angle have done likewise. You have continuously attacked LaMonmt McClure and have been a political schill for Stoffa, as you are now for Callaham.
ReplyDeleteThis is the most transparetly bullshit entry you have done in a long time.
I guess the hefty contract Atiyah got from Stoffa is just a coincidence.
You are just embarrsing yourself now and casting an even darker shadow on Callaham credibility wioth you outrageous Stoffa story.
By the way, Callahan did go along with Abe's projects until Johnny decided to run for county executive.
ReplyDeleteJust ask Abe.
Pay to play. That's what it is all about. McClure gets in, who knows what schemes will be cooked up between him and his supporters.
ReplyDeletePalmer Twp. supervisors approved the annoying sign - blame them not Lamont. And what about yard signs? Do they have to have disclaimers as well? Let's get real.
ReplyDeleteIncumbents, from Panto to McClure to Pawlowski violate election rules every day. They say they're sorry and all is forgotten. They make, enforce, and pass judgement on each other, and regularly take care of their own. They make the rules that make challenging them as difficult as they can make it. The lesson here is that if you're an incumbent, the rules are suggestions that may or may not be followed, and, if caught, minimize your transgression and move on to the next transgression. If you're a challenger, any mistake is fatal. This is why incumbents are so arrogant and entrenched. This is why people despise politicians and the toadies who carry water for them.
ReplyDelete6:51am YES - All signs including yard signs are required to have a disclaimer on it. This type of mistake happens all the time but unfortunately for all the haters on this blog BOH is right on this issue. Is it an honest mistake, yes, can it be fixed very quickly, yes. Election lwas state very clearly that all advertisments or endorsments of a canidiate must have a disclaimer stating who paid for the ad. Have you not learned that after being bombarded in the last presidential election?
ReplyDeletePalmer Twp. supervisors approved the annoying sign - blame them not Lamont. And what about yard signs? Do they have to have disclaimers as well? Let's get real.
ReplyDeleteYard signs must have disclaimers.
Palmer Supervisors say the billboards are still being tested and have not issued a certificate of occupancy.
Knowing that this bothers residents, McClure should ask Atiyeh to pull "our" billboard until lihhting is adhjusted.
So whats the problem? Such is politics and Our system. Designed to be manipulated. Salute the flag,We're the best on earth despite our flaws.Been this way since day one so go and piss an moan.Pissing and moaning are number one favotite pastime.
ReplyDeleteWhile some residents have complained, many have no problem with the billboard and think McClure's kinda handsome. In the Callahan camp, as long as you are putting your opponent on the defensive about insignificant things, you are not being forced to answer substantive questions about shady financial dealings and cover-ups of family members who crashed city police cruisers and handed the bill to taxpayers. Callahan is about to take his sleaze county-wide and we're discussing billboards and lawn sides. Well played, John. You could get drunk and strangle your wife in front of the kids and you'll still be defended here. What's a police cruiser cost?
ReplyDeleteBernie, doesn't think such trivial matters as integrity on the job are worth discusssions. Now "billboards" are another matter. After all, Bernie was "with' Stoffa when he learned of all the Stoffa billboards and Stoffa was shocked, shocked I say, that they existed. Stoffa implored Abe to remove them.
ReplyDelete"Mr. McClure should ask Atiyeh to pull "our" billboard until lighting is adjusted." (I corrected some of your typos, hope u don't mind)
ReplyDeleteIf I understand you correctly Mr. O'Hare, you are saying that not just Abe should pulled the ad, but also every client being served by the sign. Am I Correct?
Is it the content of the billboard, or the existence of the billboard that angers residents?
ReplyDeleteThat said, McClure has been in politics long enough to know that the requirement of placing a "Paid for" disclaimer on any political advertising is there for a reason. It's so people know who's money is behind the candidate. If so much as a book of matches is distributed that advertises a candidate it must have the "Paid for" information.
McClure and Atiyeh either intentionally ignored the law, or didn't pay attention to the details when designing it.
Either way, it doesn't say much for McClure, or Atiyeh if they missed the most basic requirement election law requirement.
Like it or not, they may have made an honest mistake into a campaign issue of possibly trying to hide the fact that developer money is pushing the election of McClure for payback at a later time.
Actually, he was shocked. He never asked for this support. It was done independently.
ReplyDeleteMcClure is running for office, and I would presume he hopes to get a few votes from that billboard. It might actually be costing him votes in Palmer Township and among digitalized billboard opponents in cities like Bethlehem. For that reason, he should ask to have his name removed from "our" billboard.
Atiyeh is a businessman, and is expanding into the digitalized sign business. After hearing complaints that his sign is going into the bedrooms of residents, preventing them from sleeping, he would be smart to make adjustments to eliminate that problem. Atiyeh is smart, so I think he will do that.
Okay, so the sign loses ten votes from the annoyed neighbors. McClure is gaining hundreds by letting it there. No Brainer BO. The sign stays.
ReplyDeleteWhat does a Bethlehem police cruiser cost?
ReplyDeleteSomebody's angwy. vewy, vewy angwy.
ReplyDeleteThese LED signs are terrible. They've popped up in 2 places on a smaller scale in LMT. Like not large highway billboards but small scale commercial signage. They are terrible. Absolute safety issue and gawdy as all hell. Ugly.
ReplyDeleteI am not particularly bothered by them, if they are done right. But I'm a gawdy kind of guy.
ReplyDeleteSo starts the primary season and Callaham must be poleased at the nutty and slanted O'hare coverage. How many votes will it cost Callaham, as it did Angle?
ReplyDeleteBy the way West Easton, you would agree your concern about the law would extend to the Stoffa/Abe deal as well.
I guess the problem is that McClure is just to damn honest. He admits and appreciates the ads for him by Abe. Stoffa is shrewd and knows he gets a pass on things and laws, so expresses shock and absolute amazement at his Abe billboards.
Yes Sir, that Stoffa is a smart politican. But he is honest just like Angle and Callaham becasue Bernie O'Hare says so.
I saw the billboard, how many years old is that picture?? That is not the look from the most recent Council Mtgs. Actually, from the meetings I have attended over the years, it's normal for Councilman McClure to look like it's the last place he wants to be.
ReplyDeleteBy the way West Easton, you would agree your concern about the law would extend to the Stoffa/Abe deal as well.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. I also know, first hand, how an honest mistake by those who support you can be twisted (even when you had no knowledge of support signs being put out). The only thing to do is correct it as quickly as possible. Things like this don't just happen in the Lehigh Valley.
In this instance, there is knowledge. McClure brags about it on his webpage. In this case, there is also knowledge that this sign is offensive to many Palmer Tp residents, but McClure does not care about alienating them.
ReplyDeleteThe Callahan candidacy is considered offensive by many Palmer Township residents who prefer open government and accountability. Those Palmer Township residents are concerned about police cruiser crash cover-ups and want borrowing to meet city payroll explained in detail. Callahan is the anti-open government candidate and this is not a popular position in Palmer Township.
ReplyDeleteThen he needs to get his ass spanked by the Board of Elections and correct the sign. I just don't see it getting much traction as a major issue if McClure adds the disclaimer without delay.
ReplyDeleteOpen government and accountability advocates usually sign their name. Also, notice the bait and switch. In a post about McClure's shortcomings, an attempt is made to divert attention away to Callahan instead of responding to the accusations.
ReplyDeleteWhat Palmer Tp residents care about is seeing Lamont McClure in their bedroom at night. That would scare the hell out of anyone.
McClure and Abe, when a pair beats a full house!
ReplyDeleteThe funny thing is I happen to like Abe.
ReplyDeleteBait and switch my ass. You're wasting time on relatively unimportant election code violations.
ReplyDeleteThe larger issue is always open government and accountability. Callahan is a declared enemy of both as detailed by Bernie O'Hypocrite:
http://lehighvalleyramblings.blogspot.com/2010/07/callahan-cover-up.html
http://lehighvalleyramblings.blogspot.com/2010/08/other-callahan-brother-in-law.html
http://lehighvalleyramblings.blogspot.com/2010/08/callahan-cover-up-those-nonexistent.html
This blog purports to be about open and accountable government. Eat your own words. Then attack an anonymous poster for serving your own crown to you.
Callahan is a sleazy, untrustworthy, and secretive. This is my opinion and one shared just two and a half years ago by the author of this blog.
You've been caught in lies and hypocrisy before. But this is an all time classic, no?
The Disclaimer is on the bottom it has always been on the bottom, it is in 12 font but it is there dammit
ReplyDeleteYou have to climb the billboard and look real close.
"Bait and switch my ass. You're wasting time on relatively unimportant election code violations."
ReplyDeleteThose "unimportant" election code violations resulted in the criminal prosecution and conviction of Tom "Scissorhands" Severson.
Bernie,
ReplyDeleteThe 2:31 Anon was being sarcastic. 12 font is the size of the print on this site.
Got you. I deleted my own comment. pretty bad when i delete me.
ReplyDelete