Barletta/Kanjoski race heats up.
I haven't really followed this but know that Hazelton's mayor Barletta is running for Congress against this guy. I think he ran against him before and lost, not sure. Anyway, this piece is pathetic, laughable, sad, and typlifies politics. I've said it before and I wish more would understand it: RARELY, if ever, is a politician in a higher level race going to be elected on one issue, especially if that issue is immigration. It usually ranks 3rd or 4th on priorities with people. Yes, they're fired up BUT if you don't also hit the right notes on other issues then it doesn't really matter. Me? I won't vote for ANY candidate that is weak on illegal immigration. But that's because it's MY hot button and has been for some time.
As we've seen in other races some candidates try to out hard-ass each other but it often means nothing after they get elected. Look at Cannon in Utah. He talks out of both sides of his mouth.
Kanjoski compares Barletta to David Duke.
U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski told a political news Web site that Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta is using immigration the way former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke has used civil rights legislation.
“What David Duke was to civil rights, my opponent has done that with immigration,” Kanjorski, D-11, told Web site reporter Josh Kraushaar. “He’s used that issue the same way Duke used the civil rights issue.”
Elsewhere, Kanjorski said he doesn’t believe illegal immigration is not as critical as other issues facing the nation.
“Immigration is not the most important issue in the whole United States. It is one of many core issues,” Kanjorski says in the story. “Too often in the past, my friends on the other part of the aisle have used hot-button issues to stir prejudice up. And I don’t think it’s healthy. And I don’t want to see the immigrant issue used that way.”
Politico.com was co-founded by Jim VandeHei, a former reporter for Roll Call, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post, and John F. Harris, author of the 2005 book “The Survivor: Bill Clinton in the White House.” That should tell you something about his leanings. The Washington Post and WSJ are pro-illegal as hell.
It also mentions the story in Wednesday’s Standard-Speaker about Duke and what the Kanjorski camp claimed was his endorsement of Barletta.
“Kanjorski continued to push the issue on Tuesday, suggesting that his opponent’s positions on immigration tread closely toward being racist,” the Politico.com story reads.
The National Republican Campaign Committee quickly responded to the remarks.
“After repeatedly claiming that he knew nothing about the Democrat attacks coming out of Washington, we now know that Paul Kanjorski was calling the plays all along,” committee Press Secretary Ken Spain said. “For a long-time sitting member of Congress like Paul Kanjorski to resort to such a defamatory and libelous attack just goes to show how fearful and desperate he has become. Not only do Kanjorski’s hate-filled remarks have no place in American political discourse, he has exposed his disdain for the thousands of Democrats, Republicans and independents who overwhelmingly voted for Lou Barletta, but also support his efforts to secure our country’s borders.”
Ed Mitchell, Kanjorski’s campaign manager, declined to respond to the apology demand. He instead steered talk back to several hot-button issues.
“We’re glad that Lou Barletta has finally rejected the support of a racist anti-Catholic like David Duke,” Mitchell said Thursday night. “Lou Barletta says he wants this campaign to be about issues and we take him at his word. Let’s talk about the issues because there are clear differences between Congressman Kanjorski and Mayor Barletta.” Evasive, spinning, little worm.
About a month ago, Kanjorski sent constituents a flier touting his opposition to illegal immigration.
His Web site still makes reference to his co-sponsorship of the Secure America with Verification and Enforcement (SAVE) Act, which a release from his office states, “aims to halt illegal immigration in the United States through stronger worker verification and increased enforcement of America’s borders.”
A Nov. 7 release regarding the SAVE Act quotes Kanjorski as saying illegal immigration is an issue of utmost importance to Pennsylvania and America.
“I have consistently voted to bring an end to illegal immigration, and this bill follows such a course to rectify our current immigration policies through multi-pronged, thorough, and bipartisan action,” Kanjorski said.
What's obvious to me is that Kanjoski is worried and may not be as tough as Barletta on the issue. Hence, why he'd attack him even though he's taken a tough position, perhaps more bark than bite. Maybe doing the Cannon talk out of both sides of your mouth routine.
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