Give me a break! This is the year of independents. While Hafer’s actions may appear to some insiders as irreverent and disrespectful, the reality is that both parties needs to be careful how they force candidates upon constituents.

Increasingly, constituents will be skeptical of anyone endorsed by either party. So Hafer and all other non-endorsed candidates may have the last laugh just yet.

While all regions and districts in this country are indeed different, this is not something that either party should take lightly.

To the Mayor of Donora, Lignelli, Hafer was specifically pointing out problems with Critz, I am sure Hafer understands, Murtha RIP.
I understand you are grieving the loss of Murtha, but do you want to pick the wrong choice and lose the election.

Josh Morrow’s abilities served her well here.

Oh Pul-eeeeze!! This is just an excuse the people on the executive committee are going to use because they want someone who will continue with the gravy train of corruption status quo. Murtha exonerated?? Give me a fricking break! Everyone knows what a sham that “exoneration” was. Rendell & TJ Rooney aren’t going to give a nod to Barbara for that position because it’s the old boys club. It’s politics as usual in PA.

Intelligent Voter, Brett and Judy are absolutely correct. As a party leader in the 12th, I can’t believe the politically tone-deaf response of many local party leaders to Hafer’s comments.

An insider, ethics committee exoneration of Murtha and others means nothing to voters. Voters are fed up with the deals and the influence of shady characters in the defense industry. We are ready to move on.

As far as Josh Morrow is concerned–he totally misplayed Hafer’s campaign for the nomination. This isn’t South Philly. He needs to go if Hafer wants to stop annoying the party while trying to appeal to primary and general election voters. Its a balancing act that can be done, but Morrow is like a bull in a china shop.

Critz wants to run on murthas record. Critz cant have it both ways. Its that simple and mr. critz’s role is fair game.

Lignellis shouting was theatrics. She showed much more class than the critz supporters did…. hafer apologized.

The real issue is the tax man!

The real issue is picking a Candidate who can win and Mrs Hafer, who in 16 years in HBG did not have any ethics problems but was admired as a strong person and an excellent administrative leader, as well as a charismatic woman of moderate views really fits the bill.
The second issue is the fact that the “12th Congressional Convention” was a shameless sham set up to favor Critz. that the State Ex Bd shall take into account the recommendations of the County Committees of the counties involved. It does not say local elected officials, or County Chairs shall appoint, or anything but that the local ELECTED Committeepeople meet and be heard.
Somehow in their HASTE to fill this Nomination, the Party Chair found time to call a “Convention” in the 12th Dist, consult the Governor, have the County CHairs “appoint” people. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE VOICE OF THE ELECTED LOCAL COMMITTEOPLE?????

Note that part of the previous was “lost”-I said that they did not follow their own Rules which are filed at the Dept of State which say that the Local Committies–elected Committeepeople–make a recommendation-not a “Convention” of people chosen by County Chairs. Mr Critz should have objected to the procedure, but since it was set up to favor him–why bother objecting. Unless they are sitting at their computers most Members of Ex Bd are working on getting people filed for the thousands of local,County and State Petitions that are due today—there are thousands of local Committee people in Pa — Why couldn’t they consult the 12th Congressional Dist local Committeepeople.??? A lot of ?-one answer-You know the answer…..

Anyone who calls the convention a sham clearly has no idea what he’s talking about.

I agree… the process was rigged. The county chairs made selections … that were very selective. In fact, they knew who someone was voting for as a “pre-condition” to their selection as a delegate.

That is highly unethical.

Stories are also coming out now about duress and undue influence in Greene county. People worried that they are not going to get contracts already “in the pipe” if they didnt support critz. That is duress and undue influence.

Critz admitted the vote was fixed before the delegates were even selected. The convention was set with the understanding the candidates would have the same opportunity to contact the delegates. That clearly DID NOT happen.

Just now received an email from state committee (10:10 AM, Monday) saying we (executive committee) would be contacted today between 10-1 to vote on this endorsement.

Also in the email was we are being asked to vote on House Reps for the 20th, 138th and 147th districts. There were no candidate names included, let alone information about the candidates. Does anyone have any insider info from these districts as to whom is running and who the logical choices are???

Critz and Murtha. Two unethical birds of the feather that flocked together.

Time for some new blood in the 12th.

I agree with Brett…

The taxman is going to getta!!!!!!! This guy is finished, the GOP will butcher him, as will anyone else in the primary.

http://www.pennsylvaniaprogressive.com/

This information is extremely damaging. He should probably step out of the race.

Critz is not the “local favorite” people outside party insiders dont even know who he is, and when they do, they will be meeting someone with a damaging resume.

A lot to say, but didnt get it posted…

Neither candidate deserves the nomination. The problem is there is no new outsider, a fresh face that wants to LEAD with new ideas and no ties to the past or to the party to consider. The best solution, abolish the district entirely and wait until the 2010 census is completed. The district was so gerrymandered anyway. What’s the difference?

Critz has a clean record. There is no “tax” situation. It wasn’t his company, he was not an officer, he had no liability or fiduciary responsibility. Critz stepped in after the fact to help right the situation, just as any good ethical american would do.

When’s the last time Josh Morrow won a major election for one of his candidates? This guy is simply sling mud that shouldn’t be slung. Mark Critz has a clean record. The only allegations against Critz are coming from Hafer’s campaign.

I feel bad for Ms. Hafer, as she has made bad decision after bad decision. She first announces her intent to run, and says “if Mrs. Murtha runs I will drop out”. The next thing you know Hafer is bashing Mrs. Murtha’s husband, our late Congressman. What kind of person does that?

The american people are sick and tired or dirty politics Ms. Hafer… Mr. Morrow!! You of all people Mr. Morrow should know it doesn’t work, especially when its not true!! The ignorance of the Hafer campaign amazes me.

BOTTOM LINE… Critz has a clean record. He as never done any wrong. Hafer is too old and her campaign has to result to spreading lies and defaming our late Congressman. I wonder if she would have said all of this to Jack’s face when he was alive??

Hey MacIntosh, go pound sand, you’re boring and your argument sounds like something out of the junior high debate team!

I don’t understand…wasn’t the process set up before Critz announced? How could it be rigged for him then?
The Hafer campaign blew it. Totally stupid thing for them to have done, the sort of ugly politics we should be moving past. Know what I haven’t heard Barbara Hafer talk about? Why she should be elected, only why Critz shouldn’t be. Another genius move by Josh Morrow.

Just for information sake. The convention was Hafer’s idea. Her supporter Jack Hanna insisted on it. See one of the previous posts for his memo to the State Party. Now Hafer’s folks, Hanna included, are railing against the process that he created. Talk about hypocrisy.

The democratic ticket will be as follows: Critz, Shestak, VodVraka, and Crinic.

But I have some inside sources that tell me that the tea party grass roots will only support two of the candidates. So the question is, will Hafer break the impossible insider status of Crits, and his commanding presence sufficiently to be the new darling of the moderate wing of the democratic party?

There are a number of ways that the insiders predict that this can happen. And I have worked on many democratic campaigns from McGovern through Clinton, and I am confident that my sources will be correct.

First, VoVraka is a strange blend of populism, socialism, and old-fashioned paleo-conservatism. These things fly very well with the tea party crowd.

Secondly, Specters anti-abortion hard line conservative reputation will be hard to overcome in central and southern PA where the voters tend to be fairly liberal.

Also, Toomey really wont allow any of these candidates to outflank him on women’s issues, because he has that support tied up in a lock-box.

So ultimately we will wind up with a Specter, Onoratio, Hafer (and maybe VoVraka) ticket.

Unless he runs as an independent.

No one can argue with the logic. I seen a few try….and fail.

Mancini-
Seriously, Dude, what are you smoking??

“Secondly, Specters anti-abortion hard line conservative reputation will be hard to overcome in central and southern PA where the voters tend to be fairly liberal.”

Specter is NOT “anti-abortion” nor is he a hard line conservative.

also:
“Toomey really wont allow any of these candidates to outflank him on women’s issues”

Umm… Toomey has practically a zero rating on women’s issues.

I’ve determined that you must come from the cubed-shaped planet of Htrae, which is the home base of Bizarro Superman.

Diano:

The hippies of the ’60s have now grown up and their doing one of two things; their either running the country and the universities, or theyre at the tea party protests.

Dont believe me? Well, expand your harazions: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/05/opinion/05brooks.html

Believe me Di-Diano, teh world is not flat, and you wont fall off if you head outside of Chester county Pennsylvania.
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[...] defense industry earmarks. Former state treasurer Barbara Hafer was pushed out of the race, criticized for “attacking the Murtha legacy” after she pointed out that association with a DC ethics scandal [...]