About Me

My photo
Nazareth, Pa., United States

Thursday, October 31, 2013

State Republicans Pouring Money Into Brown Campaign

In his pre-election campaign finance report, Northampton County Exec candidate John Brown reported he only had $6,800 left in his cash register. But since that time, he's managed to send out four glossy mailers, each of way has to have cost $12,000, even with the reduced postage rate. Is he able to make money out of the thin air?

If he could do that, I'd vote for him myself. But he's got a not-so-secret donor, the state Republican party. Each of the mailers contain disclaimers indicating they're footing the bill. Brown has filed no 24-hour report to list these contributions, but the state party probably has not formally notified him of the in-kind yet. But the fact that the state party is pouring $48,000 into the Brown campaign leads to two conclusions.

First, Brown is one of the boys. Throughout this campaign, he's distanced himself from the Republican brand, but it turns out that he's bought and paid for by the state party.

Second, Callahan scares statewide Republicans.  

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

And the State Democratic Committee has done nothing for the county Democrats running for office ? I`d rather take money from State people then be owned and obligated by and to local contributors like the Callahan camp is.

Anonymous said...

Word on the street is the recent Republican poll shows Brown and Callahan virtually tied. the entire Republican county slate appears to leading at this point.

Anonymous said...

continue to kiss jc's butt, bo. win or lose he will kick you to the curb after your usefulness is gone

Anonymous said...

brown's up on TV too. along with the polling done earlier in the race (contrary to what "word on the street" says, there was no tracker) and the mail, the state republicans have easily dumped 70-80k into Brown.

who has bought and paid for this guy?

moreover, why are they trying to hide it from us?

I'm guessing it's Lehigh County developers

Anonymous said...

"Word on the street" is like a dead skunk in the middle of the road. The Express-Times
(10/31/2013) has the best letter to the editor. The writer sums up mayor Brown very well in few words. It's a good read.

danthemann

PS I told you firing the police chief was a bad idea. But you know Everything Brownie!

Anonymous said...

@ 12:54 AM:

It's Halloween not April Fools day you imbecile...

Unknown said...

I'd have to agree with the first comment...at least Brown isn't being bought in exchange for promised jobs and contracts like Callahan has done in the past in the city of Bethlehem. And haven't the Demo's done the same for their candidates? I would be more concerned if I saw that Brown took $$$ from Abe,Pektor,or any of the others that have bought Callahan in the past.

Anonymous said...

the point, "Bob Smith" (seriously...you couldn't come up with anything better than that?) is that all of Callhan's financial backers are exposed to public view and comment.

Why has Brown chosen to hide his?

Anonymous said...

This will all lead back to JB Reilly who hates Callahan because he wasn't a cheerleader on the NIZ. This has absolutely NOTHING to do with John Brown who has no chance of winning despite the money being dumped. It's all about smearing Callahan while they have the chance. Massive bullshit.

Anonymous said...

This is devastating to Callahan:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lvAFUGMeozg

Anonymous said...

Is it DEVASTATING bro? To who? All 50 people who will see it on WFMZ? A station whose viewership is made up of already-informed voters. I'm sure this ad alone, Brown's handful of weak mailers, and the voices in your head will surely sink the Callahan ship.

Anonymous said...

I am still dumfounded as to why Callahan has not called Brown on the carpet for his erroneous political flyers. He makes a lot of claims about what he has and has not done regarding taxes and a lot of other Borough business but the Letter to the Editor in today's Express is spot on. In a Borough form of government the ONLY responsibility a mayor has is the police department. He doesn't propose a budget, doesn't vote on a budget and certainly doesn't cut taxes on a budget. And yes, he has been able to screw up the one responsibility that he is supposed to be in charge of -- the police department. And the improper dismissal of the chief will cost residents plenty.

The choice is clear. Callahan has the intelligence the experience and the energy to move the county forward.

Anonymous said...

Amen, Brother! I couldn't have said it better myself.

Anonymous said...

I'm sure Brown is going to get his before the end of this. Callahan always reacts to negative attacks. And with Callahan sitting on $120,000, I wouldn't want to be John Brown right now.

Anonymous said...

I am reading a lot of old Dent information. Does Brown have anything more recent?

Lighthouse said...

12:46, I have had to shake my head with every flier I have received for the same reasons...yet average voter sees "mayor" compared to "mayor" and thinks apples are being compared to apples. Very deceptive, yet sadly effective (in their intent, not necessarily outcome). Despite several reservations many have with Callahan, he is by far the most qualified.

"Second, Callahan scares statewide Republicans." Yes, I have been getting a lot of junk mail paid for by both parties committees. Coupled with his larger than needed war chest, both parties clearly see him having higher aspirations whenever that opportunity presents itself.

BCM said...

There is a third option, Bernie. Now that Brown has campaigned and people know what he's about and what he knows, there is a buzz beyond the County which is earning him support. That is why I sent a recent check, which wasn't solicited by anyone. That doesn't make him bought and paid for, nor one of the "good ol' boys (if there even are any)."

Anonymous said...

Brown won't even win in Bangor. His numbers will show what kind of "mayor" he is. The Bangorians we talked to all think Brown is terrible and has set back the town a decade.

Bold prediction #1 Callahan wins the election with 65%.

Bolder prediction #2 Brown loses in Bangor boro by 70%.


Boldest prediction 3# Callahan does a great job and moves up. Brown goes back to being a house husband.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I disagree. Callahan will win, but the margin will not be huge in my opinion. But that's not my schtick.

Anonymous said...

But, you agree Brown will return to being a house husband?

Anonymous said...

To dantheman-The letter from the Express Times is from Alicia Karner's grandmother. Alicia has done nothing with economic dev county wide and knows when Brown is elected she will be out of there. She has been seen dragging Callahan through the county building because she wants to be allowed to stay under Kelly's reign. That letter was a Callahan plant if I ever saw one.

Anonymous said...

The letter was from a Bangor resident who has seen the damage done by Brown, first hand. Brown had his cousins', friends' girlfriend, give him a reach around. So what?