Patrick Closes The Gap

I just had a feeling that when the latest numbers came out they’d be good…and they are (from this Kos link):

Fitzpatrick 40%
Murphy 44%

This is from the Grove polling service commissioned by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Caucus among registered voters in the 8th district. Given that the statistical margin for error is 4.9 percent, what we have here is basically a tie (actually, Mikey still has a razor-thin lead, but considering that he was once up on Patrick by 14 points, I don’t know how anyone can say that this isn’t trending in Patrick’s direction).

As everyone who knows these things keeps saying, there are two issues in play here above all others: the Iraq war and the failed presidency of George W. Bush. And it pains me to say this, but as great a candidate as Patrick is, Mikey would definitely be leading if either one of these issues weren’t so catastrophic for the Repugs.

I only say that to point out what a bedrock Republican area the 8th district basically is; also, I know I’ve linked a million times to Mikey’s quote from last May about how he’d be leading by 10 points if Dubya had a 50 percent or better approval rating – tee hee – but there is somewhat of an element of truth there. My main purpose in highlighting that quote is to highlight Mikey’s arrogance also.

Also, given all of this, we can count on about three more weeks of truly venomous garbage from Mikey until this thing is settled on November 7th since he has, aside from fluffing hosannas from the Repug die hards, nothing else to run on. And to prove that, some really awful screeds attacking Patrick appeared in the Courier Times this morning (all “in play,” unfortunately, though they are gross misrepresentations of Patrick…it’s always a drag when we have to play fair because we should though the Repugs never do).

However, there were a few good letters supporting Patrick (I’m sure it will be 50-50 in that department from here on out also), and here they are:

As the mother of a 14-year-old boy, I am very disturbed by the Republican Party’s stance on Mark Foley’s involvement with male pages. That it was apparently known for years leads me to believe that Republicans chose holding onto a seat in Congress over the welfare of children. How can anyone approve of or ignore this behavior?

I am also concerned that Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick has accepted $20,000 in campaign contributions from House Majority Leader Dennis Hastert. He has also accepted contributions from Congressman Tom Reynolds, head of the National Republican Congressional Committee, Majority Leader John Boehner and Congressman John Shimkus, chairman of the House Page Board. Taking these campaign contributions from people who chose to ignore the situation as soon as they were notified would make Fitzpatrick beholden to men who overlooked what went on.

Would we allow a known predator to teach our children? What if a judge knowingly received campaign contributions from someone who covered for a child molester? Would we re-elect that judge? I would not!

These congressmen are supposed to protect children that go to work as pages in Washington, not look the other way when they knowingly hear of sexual interaction between a 50-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy.

Debbi Kalstein
Upper Southampton, PA

Being a Vietnam-era veteran, I really resent the Republicans for slinging mud on military service, from Bush doing it to John McCain, to the swift-boating of John Kerry. Now, we have vets who spoke at a Mike Fitzpatrick press conference smearing Patrick Murphy with the swift-boating technique again.

At least McCain, Kerry, and Murphy have served. Murphy was a paratrooper. Paratroopers are always the first to participate in a combat situation.

Jack Sussle
Middletown, PA

Last election cycle, Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick promised to keep an “open mind” about embryonic stem cell research. Well, apparently his mind wasn’t open for too long, as he’s been a staunch supporter of the president’s policy. Now he’s trying to sell himself as someone who opposed Social Security privatization, despite his statements on several occasions in favor of the Bush privatization plan. Fitzpatrick is also trying to pretend that he suddenly has a new position on the Iraq war.

How can we trust Fitzpatrick? We can’t.

The voters of the 8th congressional district deserve a representative who doesn’t flip flop – like former Army Capt. Patrick Murphy.

Christina Spitzer
Northampton, PA

If there is one thing Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick is good at, it’s writing letters.

He wrote a letter to (Philadelphia Mayor) John Street supporting the discriminatory actions of the Boy Scouts.

He wrote a hollow letter to House Majority Leader John Boehner applauding Boehner’s laughable efforts at bipartisanship. This is the same John Boehner who can’t decide what or when he knew about Mark Foley’s sexual antics towards congressional pages.

Fitzpatrick also recently wrote a letter to House leaders “demanding” accountability in this scandal.

Bucks County residents do not need any more patronizing letters devoid of substance.

We need someone who will take charge, stand up for what is right and do something. Patrick Murphy, an Iraq war veteran, is a man of action. Fitzpatrick is a rubber-stamp Republican who cannot think for himself, and he proved it by caving in to Republican leadership on the CAFTA legislation by flip-flopping his vote at the last minute.

It was an act of betrayal that will siphon even more jobs away from hard-working Pennsylvanians and hand them to Third World countries.

Let’s leave Mike Fitzpatrick to his word processor and give the job to someone who is not afraid to take action.

Someone with guts and a spine. Someone like Patrick Murphy.

Matt Slavick
Middletown, PA

(I forgot about Mikey's CAFTA vote - glad someone else remembered.)

And as always (this is a LONG way from being settled, people), to help Patrick, click here.