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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Why Liberal Dems Should Support John Morganelli for Congress

No Labels is a political reform group that consists of members of all political parties. "As long as they are intellectually honest, we respect conservatives, liberals, and anyone in between who has a sincere desire to address the nation’s problems.” But as two members of that group recently wrote in The Wall Street Journal, they were vilified by the left for supporting conservative Democrat Dan Lipinski in Illinois, even though he votes with his party 88% of the time. He was under assault in a primary by first-time candidate Marie Newman. She initially refused to concede because she “would like Mr. Lipinski to have a very painful evening.”

Intolerance in politics has reached epidemic levels. As No Labels explains,
Legislators in both parties have to worry too much about primary challenges from ideologues on the far left or far right. That’s why Democrats and Republicans are so unwilling to work across the aisle. And that in turn is why Congress is failing to address the biggest problems facing America.
The Lehigh Valley was at one time represented by centrist Charlie Dent. He did a great job, and his views really did correspond closely to those held by most of the people who live here. We are basically centrists. But Charlie's refusal to swear fealty to Authoritarian Donald Trump earned him the wrath of some very intolerant people within his own party, including NorCo GOP Chair Lee Snover,who actually participated in a rally opposing him. Charlie eventually got tired of the nonsense and decided to step down at the end of his term.

I would say you can chalk one up for the extremists, but they inadvertently left the door open for another kind of centrist. A Democratic centrist. A tough law-and-order prosecutor. John Morganelli.

Unfortunately, intolerance is a two-way street. It is just as prevalent on the left as it is on the right. So just as Charlie was bashed on the right, Morganelli is getting bashed on the left. He refuses to strike back, saying only that he respects his opponents and will support the ultimate nominee.

Tamara Greenfield
If you're a Lehigh Valley Democrat, and you're wondering who you should vote for in this year's Congressional primary, it's very instructive to consider who the Republicans would like to see get the nod. According to an article in Salon, NorCo GOP Chair Lee Snover would just love to see "the most liberal, the most progressive [as the nominee], because that's a great contrast for us." The Democrat she'd like to see least is Morganelli. She told Salon that he has "that Joe Manchin thing [a reference to the centrist United States Senator from West Virginia]. He talks like us but votes like them."

So it's simple. Be as liberal as you want. But if you want to see a Democrat represent the Lehigh Valley in Congress, vote for the candidate who is in the best position to win the race in November. The Republicans have made clear that person is centrist John Morganelli.

He's ready, like Dent was ready or Matt Cartwright is ready, to roll up his sleeves and work with both sides to solve this nation's problems. We've tried ideologues. Let's try problem solvers. And is you want to know what kind of person John is, talk to Tamara Greenfield.  Here's what she says.

"I am proud to be part of the groundbreaking history of Northampton County in 1992 as the first African American ADA appointed by DA John Morganelli. Under John’s leadership, all people in the criminal justice system were treated with respect and fairly, and not based upon their gender, race or ethnicity."

58 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mancrush Alert! Mancrush alert!!

Bernie O'Hare said...

Nothing substantive to say? Figures.

Anonymous said...

I get it he bought and paid for her support when he hired her years ago. Let's see how many of John's failed campaigns has she worked for him? Sad to see DA staff being used this way as it sends a much deeper message

Bernie O'Hare said...

She is no longer a part of the DA's staff, lives out of state, and has no reason to say anything that is not true. You are grasping at straws.

Anonymous said...

This pabulum piece is sweet. When are you going top report on the Northampton County bridges. I hear they are in trouble.

Anonymous said...

McClure is going to court.

Anonymous said...

Hell no. Susan Wild will keep our unions strong, fully fund our public education system, and do whatever it takes to protect our children and families from gun violence

Morganelli should run as a Trumpster, that's what he is

Anonymous said...

Is morganelli a stealth candidate of the trump supporters, will there be a real choice or will either candidate take us to the same place. Does morganelli support the progressive agenda or not?

Bernie O'Hare said...

I wonder how many of these anonymous comments come from Rss trying to disguise themselves as a part of the "progressive agenda," whatever that is. I know progressives do not use that language.

Bernie O'Hare said...

" When are you going top report on the Northampton County bridges. I hear they are in trouble."

I did. Can't help you if you can't read.

Anonymous said...

John's not afraid to differentiate between immigrants and illegal aliens. I like that.

Anonymous said...

Will not be supporting him. It's not just about his position on immigration. He's never pushed for bail or civil asset forfeiture reform during his tenure as DA.

Anonymous said...

Susan Wild will “do whatever it takes to protect our families from gun violence.”
What exactly does that mean?
Be specific, please.

Anonymous said...

Wasn't yesterday man crush Monday?

Anonymous said...

Do political candidates have to claim you Bernie as a donation or for your contribution to John's campaigns Bernie?

Anonymous said...

John and Trump. Say NO to both

Anonymous said...

Based on the make up of the new/old district, coupled with the national mood, Democrats would be smart to push a moderate candidate. Dent was/is hated by the far right, but would win because he could pull in independents and moderate Dems every 2 years.

A far left candidate could still potentially win in November simply because of the expected unfavorable Republican climate. That however is just short term thinking to expect that an unmotivated Republican base will still be in play come 2020. Incumbents are hard to unseat. In a swing/competitive district like the new 7th having someone who isn't too extreme will in general do well enough with independents and moderates to counter the other parties base voters.

Scott

Anonymous said...

8:47 Ban Assault Weapons. Ban high capacity guns that can hold lots of bullets. Register guns like we do cars. Make sure that gun owners are licenced. Keep guns out of the hands of anyone under 21

Stop the KILLING This is what needs to be done. Any canidate that doesn't support this is not going to get my vote

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the clarification.
I won’t be voting for Susan Wild.

Anonymous said...

Does this mean no one under 21 goes in the Armed Forced anymore, or will there be an under service unit that doesn’t involve gun and bullets, as you say?

Anonymous said...

Ive been around firearms for over four decades in many capacities, civilian and professional, and yet I’ve never heard of a “high capacity gun that can hold a lot of billets.”
Goes to show you learn something new every day.

Anonymous said...

How ridiculous to call Clinton, DLC, DNC, type Democrats “left” or “far left”.
Clinton received more Wall St. campaign cash ($) than any presidential candidate in American history!
Has Rev. Edwards or Attorney Susan Wild ever been union members or walked a pickit line even?
Other than the hysterical gun control ranting and raving these people are middle of the road centerist business as usual party types.
This is all a big joke.
Being black or being a woman may count for something, although I’m not sure what, but it doesn’t make one “left”.

Anonymous said...

Republicans left dent when he refused to support his parties nominee, not only not support but to trash him every chance he could. How could he expect support from his party, when many did not agree with his positions, but supported him for the party and control of congress, he was the one who broke with the base. Why don't you get him to run as democrat. Dent is hopng to run with or serve in a Kascich administration, forget it , just become a lobbyist like the yes of the swamp dwellers.

Anonymous said...

I’m going to vote for whoever promises to repeal the entire Bill of Rights.
Stop the killing.

Anonymous said...

Banning assault rifles is a no-brainer. Everyone knows that banning handguns in Chicago worked perfectly and making drugs illegal ended the drug problem.

Anonymous said...

Banning the AR15 makes everything better everywhere.
Everyone knows that.

Anonymous said...

12:43 Absolutely. No one needs a semi-automatic machine gun to protect themselves with. That's just stupid.

Anonymous said...

12:41 The problem is that the police don't enforce the gun laws in Chicago. If they did then that would stop all the handgun killings there

Anonymous said...

Does Morganelli support banning Hate Speech ?

Anonymous said...

anon 12:43, thanks for weighing in, surely you're correct and the rest of the country is wrong. Glad that your knowledge and lovely reasoning can be used to blanket 350 +- million Americans. You should be supreme ruler.

Anonymous said...

Morganelli's extreme views on illegal immigration and his Twitter posts in support of this position and in support of Donald Trump have eliminated him from consideration. Sorry. A Democrat will win in November, make no mistake. This is alarmist nonsense starting from the opening when the author came to his quaint anecdotal determination that the 7th is "centrist".

Anonymous said...

Hell no. Susan Wild will keep our unions strong, fully fund our public education system, and do whatever it takes to protect our children and families from gun violence

Morganelli should run as a Trumpster, that's what he is


Wild also lists "full legalization of cannabis" on her issues page. Morganelli wants to lock people up.

Bernie O'Hare said...

3:24, It absolutely is a centrist district, and you are badly confused if you think otherwise. The race is already listed as a "toss-up."

Anonymous said...

It was when Dent had a district that conveniently stripped Easton and part of Bethlehem and moved them into Cartwright's district.

Bernie O'Hare said...

That district was a safe R district. This one is a toss up. The best way to ensure a GOP victory is to run a liberal D.

Anonymous said...

The Cook Political Report: Lean Democratic
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales: Tilt Democratic
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball: Toss up

Anonymous said...

"Safe R" was "safe Dent". He was a good guy who won once again a no name grifter. Once an incumbent, he won like most house members win. Its certainly no reflection of his views - he hardly had any until Trump came around.

Anonymous said...

Is Morganelli against people who commit theft of service?

Anonymous said...

Morganelli retweets Breitbart and Donald Trump.

Is that a centrist? I know NO centrist Democrat, including myself, who would EVER endorse an article on Breitbart or a statement of Donald Trump.

If you call yourself a Democrat, it's best to vote for a Democrat that actually believes what our party stands for.

Anonymous said...

4:03 I don't either. Briebart in particular was run by that Steve Bannon. If he's not a Trump Nazi, I don't know who is. Morganelli is a wolf in sheep's clothing. I'm voting for Wild and suggest everyone read her website.

Anonymous said...

Matt Cartwright isn't a centrist. I have no idea where you go that idea. He earned his place in Congress by primarying a Blue Dog democrat from the left.

If anything, Cartwright representing that district is proof that democrats don't need to settle for Republican-lite in order to win.

Morganelli is a Fox News watching Trump-supporter. We already have one party for 'people' like that, and it is called the Republican Party.

Anonymous said...

John is a decent guy but he is very conservative. On immigration, women's rights and guns he is a Republican

Anonymous said...

I wanna vote for someone who will repeal the Second Amendment, like any good Democrat.

Ovem Lupo Commitere said...

In today's polarized hyper partisan politics of the L-R fringes, a so-called conservative Dem like Morganelli is a centrist, but viewed a DINO. Just like Dent, who still voted 90% Republican was somehow viewed as a RINO . The center is dead, long live the center! I no longer get too excited about any politician, but personally, for those in the race D and R, Morganelli is most appealing to me.

Patriot2 said...

Incredible that all the democratic candidates except Morganelli essentially support sanctuary status for illegal immigrants. This position alone tells you about the character of these people and their fortitude to support the rule of laws.

Morganelli is truly the only qualified democratic candidate to preserve our country both economically & from a security perspective. Illegal immigrants are paid under the table & take jobs from legal immigrants & American inner city youth.

Anonymous said...



As a service, I will educate this stooge and anyone else serving this bullshit.

In the history of the Constitution, 228 years, there has been exactly ONE amendment repealed after over 16,000 proposals. The repeal of an amendment requires 2/3 of both the house and senate OR 2/3 of state legislatures. After that hurdle, 3/4 of states must ratify.

So, save it. IT's not happening and any discussion of it is an intellectual exercise.

Anonymous said...

Marty Nothstein has my vote. He's the best candidate by far

Anonymous said...

Will he be debating? Will he clarify his views to the voters?

Anonymous said...

To be a credible democratic candidate Morganelli needs to vow to support impeachment of Trump.There is no way that he can be allowed to serve a full 4 years or god forbid 8 years. We must get him out now.

Anonymous said...

Impeach Trump.
Guarantee a Pence POTUS for 10 years.
Good thinkin’.

Anonymous said...

Honestly, Morganelli is a good guy who I think is good at is job, and with whom I agree with on a lot of issues (I'm pretty far left, but tend to be more civil libertarian leaning than most other progressives). But after reading through his twitter feed, I don't think I can vote for him after seeing that he gets cues on immigration from Michelle Malkin, of all people. It makes me nervous that he could take seriously someone who is so clearly unhinged, and most Democrats who check out his twitter will probably feel the same way.

Anonymous said...

After Pence and Trump get impeached following the massive blue wave, Nancy Pelosi will assume the Presidency.

Anonymous said...

Honestly, Morganelli is a good guy who I think is good at is job, and with whom I agree with on a lot of issues (I'm pretty far left, but tend to be more civil libertarian leaning than most other progressives). But after reading through his twitter feed, I don't think I can vote for him after seeing that he gets cues on immigration from Michelle Malkin, of all people. It makes me nervous that he could take seriously someone who is so clearly unhinged, and most Democrats who check out his twitter will probably feel the same way.

Correct. A stable person does not look to Michelle Malkin for insight on anything. This makes me doubt Morganelli's intellectual ability and critical thinking. Probably great as a law enforcement person but not one to write public policy.

Anonymous said...

@6:39:
1) Did you even bother to read the rest of that post?
2) I'm not sure what you think I lied about. Perhaps if you could elaborate on your thoughts a bit more, we could have a useful discussion.

-11:41

Bernie O'Hare said...

I disagree with Michelle Malkin about just about everything, but will read her bc she writes well and it is important to seek out opinions that differ from mine.

Anonymous said...

I agree with that, generally, but there are a handful of conservative commentators that I think are not acting in good faith. Malkin is one of them. Same with Coulter and Hannity. They are just blowhards without the thoughtfulness of a David Brooks or George Will.

Anonymous said...

Michelle Malkin is a dangerous radical voice. There are far more credible conservative voices. She is certainly no Peggy Noonan or Bret Stephenson. She is purposefully divisive and markets in rhetoric that is only unhelpful and demonizing.

Bernie O'Hare said...

This post is NOT about Michelle Malkin. Stick to the topic, if you can. You are just proving you are close minded and intolerant, a trait common among extremists on the left and right.