As you may have guessed, I have no respect for Panto as a person. I consider him both egotistical and a liar who surrounds himself with people who tell him only what he wants to hear. Despite this, he has been a good Mayor. He ran on a "clean and safe" platform and has followed through. True, his High School Hall of Fame and 100' tall Vitruvian man were ideas right out of a cuckoo box, but finances are stable. Whether it's because of him or in spite of him, Easton has improved under his watch. So he really is Mayor for Life.
So this should be an easy victory for Panto. I suspect, however, that a recent mailer attacking Melan might cost him a few votes. One side of the mailer has Melan dangling from puppet strings with a WARNING to Democrats to vote NO because Peter is supposedly a Republican who only switched sides to run against Panto.
This is false. Peter has been a Democrat since 2014. That's long before he decided to give it a go against Sal.
The flipside of the mailer contains a similar WARNING to Democrats. This one contains a strange picture of Melan that attempts to make him look like the Sheik of Lebanon. It tugs at our xenophobic heart strings, hoping to bring out the worst in us.
A bigoted mailer like this might work in Severson's slate belt community or Lehigh Township, but it has just pissed people off in Easton.
Peter is by no means blameless here. He has sent out four mailers, and in one of them, claims to be the "real Democrat." So did he deserve a shot across the bow? Yes. But Panto has pretty much hurt himself far more than he hurt Peter by both being dishonest and attempting to demean Peter because of his ethnic heritage.
Panto and the Italians have long hated the Easton Lebanese community. Sal knows his dog whistle. Meanwhile, you may still be stabbed or shot in the Circle after dark.
ReplyDeleteThat about ethnic slurs. It was not too long ago that Panto was promoting Christopher Columbus.
ReplyDeleteNot my circus nor my monkeys, but I didn't get the Lebanese thing. Honestly I just thought the picture made him look like stupid.
ReplyDelete"A bigoted mailer like this might work in Severson's slate belt community or Lehigh Township, but it has just pissed people off in Easton."
ReplyDeleteHey Bernie, as a Slate Belt citizen, can you please elaborate on what you mean here? Sadly to me, it sounds like you are calling people in these areas bigoted. That's a broad brush and should be followed by an apology.
To set the record straight, Sal has from day one of this mayoral race, been running around the City, insinuating that Peter is not a real democrat. I think Peter’s mailer was warranted. The mayors on the other hand, disgusting
ReplyDeleteTotally agree, and Sal attacked Peter’s mailer and stated when they go low we go high!!! What a total joke he is, he needs to be put to the curb with the trash
DeleteI just read Panto repeat the Michelle Obama statement. “When they go low we go high” Regarding a statement Peter made. The man really has a short memory!!! Lol
ReplyDelete7:13, the more urban you are, the more diversity there is. Easton and Bethlehem are fairly diverse and include huge numbers of various ethnic groups. Although bigotry exists everywhere, it is less prevalent in communities that have more diversity. Tom Severson is the political consultant who designed that mailer. He is from the slate belt. He designed an ad that would appeal to the mostly white population of the slate belt and northern tier. Those communities have very few persons who are different, and that means there is more racism and more xenophobia. I know this for a fact bc my grandson has cousins who attend schools up there. They are Asian Americans, and both have been openly taunted bc of their heritage. They also note that the students there tend to make ugly remarks about moist minorities. These kids get this from their parents.
ReplyDeleteI love the slate belt. I consider it the moist picturesque oart of the county. love the unusual people who live there, which include my good friend Ron Angle. You yourself may be enlightened, but there is more xenophobia and overt racism there than in more urban area.
So I pretty much meant what I said. I did not mean to insult you personally. We all have racist tendencies, including myself.
"Not my circus nor my monkeys, but I didn't get the Lebanese thing. Honestly I just thought the picture made him look like stupid."
ReplyDeleteIt certainly does that as well. Take a look at the contrast in the photo on the mailer and the photo from Facebook. In the mailer, the skin tone is darker and it appears that Peter is wearing some sort of Arabic head cover. It was designed to tug at our xenophobic tendencies.
History may repeat itself, Panto lost to Tom Goldsmith because of negative mailers. Never underestimate an opponent.
ReplyDeleteYeah the ethnic reference here is a super stretch. Melan posted the photo on social media so he has no problem with people seeing it. Also, the hat is a Took and since Melan is obviously not Canadian I don't see the ethnic reference here.
ReplyDelete"Those communities have very few persons who are different, and that means there is more racism and more xenophobia. I know this for a fact bc my grandson has cousins who attend schools up there. They are Asian Americans, and both have been openly taunted bc of their heritage. They also note that the students there tend to make ugly remarks about moist minorities. These kids get this from their parents."
ReplyDeleteWow. This is the most stupid thing I will read today.
What you are saying is because you know people that are taunted in the Slate Belt, that they are bigoted.
So if I know kids in Easton or Bethlehem or Allentown who are taunted, I can make the same conclusion.
What an A-hole. Bigotry occurs everywhere. It is not a rural thing or a urban thing. It happens everywhere. Wanting to blame the practice on rural America is throwing a blind eye at that which occurs under your elite, holier than thou attitude.
Problem
ReplyDeleteThe problems with a “One Party State” is precisely Easton City’s issue. No Republican would be elected to anything ,and more than Peter swapped out to stay on council. The “twisting “ of photographs or statements are perceived by the viewer. Question is, Are they astute enough to know the difference between real or nonsense. If it’s viewed as nonsense will they use it as a guide not to vote for “nonsense “? Leadership is an art form, it is not bestowed upon one because of their rank in the tribe. Political Poor judgment effects the economic, behavioral and wellbeing of communities, states and nations.
12:18, Bigoted people will often deny it exists. These children are being taunted precisely because of their racial identity, not because of the usual taunting that occurs everywhere. I have,. over the years, covered several stories noting the racism that is very prevalent at Bangor Area School District. You must have missed those stories.
ReplyDeletehttps://lehighvalleyramblings.blogspot.com/2017/05/bangor-school-district-to-form.html
"Get in your car. You need to leave. You and your brother are n-gg-rs here,and we don't want your kind."
https://lehighvalleyramblings.blogspot.com/2017/05/naacp-wants-moon-cricket-lesson-from.html
"a student at the high school donned KKK garb - some say it was ISIS - and shouted "F-ck n-gg-rs!" A mother of biracial children pulled them out of the school, and they may be home-schooled for the rest of the year."
This is not mere taunting. This is blatant racism.
Panto lost my vote due to this shameful mailer. He turned a lot of people off - especially his own supporters. It’s time to make some changes. His old school tactics are not future forward thinking. He should be striving for an inclusive and approachable city government. Sadly, I think it’s time for him to go.
ReplyDeleteSal's still the same punk from Southside. I love when guys who claim college degrees lose their daily bouts with the King's English. It's also good that he's stuck in Easton. While he's probably unelectable outside Easton, area citizens should be glad that he stays right there. Easton's Lebanese community is generations old and has delivered many towering figures in the city's history. This mailer is insulting to the Lebanese community and to Easton's heritage. An apology is in order. This goes way beyond sharp-elbow politics.
ReplyDeleteBig fish in a small pond
DeleteLook up 2S deferment! This is what we have , a 2S . Yup everyone was scared that the Vietnam War would consume their sons. Yup, I outsmarted myself , I enlisted in the god forsaken U.S.Marine Corps .0311 was my MOS . Later I understand, politics in Easton were about “ If your stupid enough to go there “ or something to that effect, and stuff like that. This is why few men teachers in grade schools today ,no draft. What does this say ? Political people want be in charge but they avoided draft because the NEA had a deal then for them. Kish in Easton was a fake Marine for example . Tell me I’m wrong .I know the story . Character, obligation and grunting it out was to much for them and now they want to run stuff . I sign my name because I can .
ReplyDeleteI’m no fan of Panto but the photo in question is hardly a shot at Melans ethnicity. It’s a winter cap for crying out loud.
ReplyDeletePanto is a liar. He lied four years ago when he stated that his current term would be his last. He lied this past week when he stated that he has wanted for years to move the Heritage Day fireworks to Hacketts park. What a bunch of BS. He wants to move it because there was gunfire at the conclusion of last years display. Sal knows that everyone involved in that shooting incident was black. Young black people. But Sal in afraid to say it because ever since he entered politics he has made it a habit of kissing the butts of black folks to get their vote. I dont know if Sal knows how tall he is. Sal knows he can no longer guarantee the safety of people downtown after dark so he is moving the fireworks far away from his cherished downtown. And why is Sal putting out a mailer putting down Republicans when a certain city councilman who sometimes eats breakfast with him is a Republican. Maybe because he is a useful stooge.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything you’ve said, moving the fireworks to Hackett park will solve nothing actually could be worse for the police. I foresee many neighborhood block parties in the Wild West ward now include alcohol it’s going to be a wild night
DeleteThe lack of integrity shown by Sal is really disappointing. I’ve been an Easton resident for just over five years and I just don’t understand why some Easton residents treat this man like he walks on water. Sal should have backed away last election cycle and left his legacy intact. Peter is right, the time for change is now. It’s also making me question the city council candidates - Frank was out knocking on doors with Sal today (during work hours no less - shouldn’t Sal be working, not campaigning?) on College Hill. I had been thinking about voting for Frank but he has tied himself too tightly to Sal for me to feel comfortable doing that now. Like attracts like and if this is what is ok with Sal, I don’t like the idea of voting for someone else that would also be ok with this sort of action. I guess that also removes David O’Connell, Ken Brown and Ken Greene from my consideration since all have been endorsed by Sal. Easton needs some big changes if this is what the Democratic Party is prioritizing. Guess I’ll be taking a closer look at the other city council candidates now.
ReplyDelete11:20 pm, you make some good points. Council should be a check and balance on the mayor, therefore, the mayor should not endorse candidates.
ReplyDeleteScissor hands is a legend, he made your patrón Ron "Dark" Angle defecate in his tightly whites at the funeral and is nobodies punk a tough cookie who was in the shit liquidating Charlie.
ReplyDeleteCool how you attack a mailer for your perceived xenophobia which is what happens when you stereotype people from other countries negatively due to the acts of a few, yet you stereotype people from Lehigh Township and the Slate Belt the same way.
ReplyDeleteBut I'm sure you don't see it that way.
I'm pretty sure Sal stole the marionette imagery from a campaign in Warren County. Last year I swore I saw a puppet-based billboard mocking an opponent driving down River Rd in Phillipsburg a few times. Anyway, I don't live in New Jersey, so I don't remember the exact details, but anyway, let's go Sal! Four more years, four more new parking deck that will be half filled.
ReplyDeleteHe’s at it again new mailer from Mayor here,Bernie.
ReplyDeleteI’m about to tell the Charle Chrin story., upon release of new mailing about Peter Milan . I know the story. Get ready.
ReplyDeleteThe stuff the public doesn’t know about both of them - Coming soon on here. You had to live on College hill at the time.
ReplyDelete