Just Yell Kids for Cash

Longtime local political consultant/media guy Ed Mitchell has a blog on tumblr. That's probably not the best best platform if you want to reach a wide audience. I'm sure that Ed isn't aware that I did some volunteer work for him when he ran for Congress in 1976 with the slogan President Carter/Congressman Mitchell. Joe McDade won big in that one.

NEPA McCarthyism

In the 1950s there was a wing of the Republican Party that terrorized American politics by labeling political enemies Communists through guilt by association. It was named McCarthyism after it’s main practitioner, Sen. Joe McCarthy of Wisconsin.

Recently we’ve seen shades of a new McCarthyism in Northeastern Pennsylvania campaigns through guilt by association with the “Kids for Cash” judges who are serving prison terms for their corrupt practices.

It started by blaming anyone who served on the Luzerne County courts or in the district attorney’s office while the scandal took place. “How could they not know it was happening?” was the question asked.

The one who suffered most publicly over these charges in her reelection fight two years ago was former DA, Jackie Musto Carroll.

This year, Atty. Jerry Mecadon ran for District Judge. He was attacked by his opponent for hiring me to work for him because 20 years ago I helped elect the judges who later turned corrupt.
Fact is, none of the sitting judges on the current court, Jackie Carroll, Jerry Mecadon or I had any clue of the no good Michael Conahan or Mark Ciaverella were up to. They didn’t consult with any of us.

But Jerry Mecadon’s opponent’s campaign employed the new NEPA McCarthyism and tried to link him to the scandal.

I don’t know if it worked. We don’t have exit polls for local races. I suspect the fact that Alexandra Kokura had the Democratic nomination and voter registration edge is why Mecadon lost.
The “Kids for Cash” scandal was a terrible chapter in Luzerne County judicial history. But it shouldn’t be wrongly exploited by any individual or political party for electoral gain. These were the crimes of a few bad men, not an entire system.

Hopefully, voters in the future won’t be fooled by innuendo or guilt by association either. We should believe people are innocent if they’re not proven guilty.

Kokura hits back

Why can't we all get along

It was nice while it lasted when both candidates stayed positive.  The Pittston District Judge  race was described by PAPolitics as just plain fun local NEPA politics.

Now it is really fun NEPA local politics with dueling attack ads as we get closer to the election. Jerry Mecadon slammed Alex Kokura for her lack of courtroom experience and tied her to the hiring of Red O'Brien by the Pittston Area School District inferring a relative engineered it after he lost the primary by 8 votes to get his support. Red trashes Mecadon in the CV. You tell me.

The Kokura camp had been running positive spots but responded immediately. In politics this is one of those ads that you keep in the drawer that you really don't want to use unless you have to.

It yells KIDS FOR CASH because Ed Mitchell handled the media for Conahan and Ciavarella and complains that a campaign tracker videotaped her at a public event.






When this is over I expect them to kiss and make up after some time for the loser to lick the wounds. They are both good people.

Pittston District Judge candidates on the air

I didn't pay much attention to this race previously because  Magistrates don't decide public policy but I have met both candidates and like them and as PAPolitics said because it’s just plain fun local NEPA politics.

Alex Kokura won the Democratic nomination by a whisker over Red O'Brien with Jerry Mecadon coming in a close third.  Democrat Mecadon bested Kokura by just 26 votes to grab the Republican nod. Results at this link. I think they should do away with cross filing. So now 2 Dems are in the finals. The overwhelming  registration advantage favors Kokura as  5594 votes where cast in the Democratic primary versus only 982 for the GOP. On the other hand Mecadon pulled 1284 votes on the Dem side. So the aggregate primary result was Kokura 1626 to Mecadon's 1570. This a barn burner but Kokura has to be be the favorite because of the registration edge in the district.


 The TL:

Northeastern Pennsylvania politics for sure, the race is ripe with rumor and accusations, according to PA Politics:

• Mecadon’s camp was spotted videotaping Kokura at an event.

• Kokura is using the office as a stepping to stone to Luzerne County judgeship.

• Mecadon wants to move the district judge’s office out of Pittston City Hall.

• Kokura’s cousin, Pittston Area School Board President Charles Sciandra, helped get James “Red” O’Brien, who lost to Kokura by eight votes, a job at the Pittston Area School District warehouse in exchange for support.

In separate interviews on Tuesday, both candidates distanced themselves from the innuendo that has surfaced in local news reports, blogs, talk shows and message boards.


You can get the real skinny on this race at PittstonPolitics.com

Alex has a positive spot up:





Ed Mitchell has been polling the district and cut one of his contrast ads:



Jerry has an event tonight: Free Home Stretch Rally at the Duryea VFW at 492 Stephenson Street, Duryea this Wednesday October 30th from 7-9 p.m. Food and Beverages will be provided. This will be our last event before the election.

Alex has a get together on Sunday: 
Attention Ladies: Please join us and Michelle Bednar for an "Autumn, Wine & Women" event on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013 from 2 pm to 4 pm at Tony & Deno's located at 295 Parsonage St., Hughestown, PA.

Corey O'Brien gets some national press

The New YorkTimes story a day before President Obama's visit to Scranton created something of of a buzz. It says that this is Hillary Clinton country full of Reagan Democrats who may vote for a Republican this time around. Despite what the Professor thinks Barack Obama will win Luzerne and Lackawanna counties in 2012 but our area but it will be a battleground as it always is. Expect the President and VP Biden to visit us in the run up to the election and the Republican nominee will also make a few stops.

At first I focused on this quote “For many people here, Obama is too liberal,” said Ed Mitchell, a Democratic strategist based in nearby Wilkes-Barre. Sorry Ed, Obama is not liberal enough, if he was he would hire retiring Congressman Barney Frank as Press Secretary or maybe Bernie Sanders or at least listen to their advice.

Lackawanna County Commissioner Corey O'Brien's remarks got the most attention “Enough with the soft approach,” said Corey O’Brien, a Democratic Lackawanna County commissioner and early backer of Mr. Obama. “He’s got to say, ‘I’m in charge, and I’m going to get it done with or without Congress.’ ”

A few people chastised Corey for not knowing how the the Federal government works.

Where Campaigns Work Well

No, Barack Obama is not Harry Potter

FOR SOME REASON, a lot of people think after that his inauguration, President Obama was handed a top secret magic wand.

Kevin Drum: Republicans have to be chortling at this. It's exactly the response they've been hoping for as we head into election season...

Political Animal: Just to be clear, my point is not to pick on Corey O’Brien, an Obama supporter. He’s very likely frustrated and concerned, and knows plenty of people in his community who are equally frustrated and concerned. I don’t blame them in the slightest — given the larger economic circumstances, their anxiety is well justified....The public likes to think of the President of the United States, no matter who’s in office, as having vast powers....Americans hate Congress, overwhelmingly dislike Republicans, and the notion that the GOP is sabotaging the economy just to undermine Obama is widely believed. And yet, the president may suffer politically because many voters expect Obama to succeed — despite unprecedented Republican obstructionism — by “getting it done with or without Congress.”

The Plume Line

Why GOP benefits from blocking Obama’s jobs policies




I thought it would be worth checking back with O'Brien to get a sense of how widespread this sentiment is in that region, a bellwether area that Obama is set to visit today.

Turns out it is widespread, and that this dynamic may well be in full force. O’Brien said that many voters from the region are fully convinced that Republicans are deliberately trying to block Obama policies that might help alleviate joblessness — but that in their minds, the buck still stops with the president.

“People see that Republicans have been the party of blocking progress — that’s clear,” O’Brien told me. “The people of northeastern Pennsylvania, who will help decide who wins the state, all understand what’s going on.”

But he added: “They still look at the president and say, `the buck stops with the president.’ And that’s something the president has to overcome.”

O’Brien predicted that Republicans would not be rewarded for their obstructionism in the end. But he depicted an extremely volatile political environment, in which people are enraged by government’s failure to alleviate people’s economic suffering. He said Obama still needs to find some way of either securing some GOP support or making it even clearer that he grasps the depth of pubic rage over gridlock and that he’s the one fighting to make things better.

“The frustration is boiling over,” he said. “There’s an awareness here that the president can’t do this alone and that’s never been more true than it’s been now.” But he again characterized public sentiment by saying: “The buck stops with the president.”

And there you have it.


UPDATE: O’Brien got in touch with me after Obama’s speech today, and he sounded convinced that Obama was striking the tone he needs to strike. He said he thinks Obama “scored a lot of points” with eastern Pennsylvanians.

Luzerne County DA

The hottest race this cycle has unexpectedly been the contest for Luzerne County District Attorney. In the spring incumbent Jackie Musto Carroll looked like a shoe in without a primary opponent and no Republican had circulated nominating petitions. She even mounted a write-in campaign trying to also snag the Republican nomination but Stepahanie Salavantis got into it at the last minute and secured enough write-in votes to become the Republican nominee. Like most political junkies I hate uncontested elections and welcomed her entry, I always like a choice in an election.

To the surprise of most political observers Salavantis is running hard spending some big bucks on radio and TV ads. Her campaign finance reports show that she has received some financial support from individual donors but most of her money has come from her parents. Carroll also got money from her folks but not as much. I didn't find the name of her Uncle Ray in any of the reports.

Stephie Sal has had 3 spots on TV so far trying to tie Jackie Mo to the Juvie Brothers (cash for kids) scandal implying she could have somehow prevented or stopped it. DA Jackie Mo is not on the air yet that I have seen but I'm told that will change shortly. She has hired local legend Ed Mitchell to do her media.

PittstonPolitics.com has been all over this race and even made an ad for Carroll.





Update: Jackie Mo on the Air

Back and forth in the 11th CD

The fur sure has been flying in the Pennsylvania 11th Congressional District race between incumbent Democrat Paul Kanjorski and Republican challenger Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta and it's only July.

The Republicans smell blood in the water after Kanjo polled only 49% in the primary against a underfunded challenger and a fringe candidate who got 17%. If that 3rd name wasn't on the ballot I may not be writting this post and we would be discussing Corey O'Brien's fundraising/poll numbers, etc. Add in the history of the President's Party losing seats in the mid-terms during his first term

Since then Kanjo has said some things that gave ammunition to his opponents such as the "minorities and defective" flap that was taken way out of context and his decision to conduct telephone town halls instead of the real thing then saying “We will do everything we can to meet with people, but I’m not going to set myself up for, you know, nuts to hit me with a camera.” In 2008 his campaign hired a guy with a video camera to follow around Barletta hoping to catch a Macca Moment so he knows the danger of the video/internet age.

The Kanjorski camp has been on the attack the last few days about Barletta's management of Hazleton's pension plan and the unemployment rate in the city.


"Makes you wonder how much more the people of Hazleton can take. They have the highest unemployment rate in the state, skyrocketing city taxes and fees, reduced services, arguably polluted sludge being dumped in their landfill, broken down infrastructure and now, unfunded pensions for their workers. Lou is a one man wrecking crew," Ed Mitchell, Kanjorski campaign spokesman, said.

This brought a furious response from Barletta spokesman Shawn Kelly:


Once again, the Kanjorski campaign is stretching the facts in a desperate bid to stay in power.
Kanjorski spokesman Ed Mitchell lied to you about the City of Hazleton’s pension fund. Mitchell said Tuesday: "Other cities have pension problems, but like the jobless rate, Hazleton's is the worst.”
Completely false.

Here’s what the Scranton Times published today:
“Scranton, compared to cities of similar size, has one of the most poorly funded pension plans in the state, the report states, while 55 percent of pension systems in the region are in some form of distressed status. … Scranton has $64.3 million in its pension fund, but obligations of twice that, $138 million, for a funding ratio of 47 percent. Any funding ratio under 50 percent is deemed severely distressed by the Public Employee Retirement Commission.” (“State: 55 percent of NEPA municipal pensions distressed,” Scranton Times, July 28, 2010)
Hazleton’s funding ratio, for comparison, is 52 percent, and the city is considered “moderately distressed” by the state. (“Pa.: 28 pension plans distressed,” Times Leader, July 27, 2010) ...
Mitchell continues to lie on behalf of his desperate boss, and reporters continue to report their bogus claims as fact.
I know it’s easy to get drawn in by the lies of Kanjorski and his spokesman. Kanjorski and his Mitchell-led spin machine are getting incredibly desperate.

Charlie's money

Just about every campaign has a few of these give the money back squabbles.

In 2008 Paul Kanjorski's camp demanded that Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta return a contribution from crooked Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens. I don't think that he did. Kanjo got some cash from NY Congressman and Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel who is under fire for ethical violations and the Republicans are apopolectic “It comes as no surprise to the residents of Pennsylvania’s 11th Congressional District that Paul Kanjorski has once again chosen personal greed over ethical and decent behavior,” GOP Executive Director Renita Fennick said in a PR. Ed Mitchell says the Kanjorski campaign hasn't decided to give back the money or donate it to charity or just keep it. Democratic primary opponent Corey O'Brien piled on “Decisions like these, to not return or donate the money, are why we’ve lost confidence in our leaders.”

A few days ago Malcolm Derk sent out a release demanding that Congressman Chris Carney "should immediately return this tainted money” from Rangel.

TL: U.S. Rep. Chris Carney will send $21,000 from his campaign war chest to a local charity, keeping a promise that if embattled U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel were ever found to have violated House ethics rules, he would return the money.

“I have long said that I would give to charity any contributions from Mr. Rangel if the ethics committee found wrongdoing. I will be donating the contributions my campaign has received from Mr. Rangel to the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute,” Carney said

I've received emails from the Derk camp and others taking credit for Carney's decision to dump Rangel's money like so many others across the country.

Another 10th CD Republican candidate Dave Madeira says:“Chris Carney may parade himself as a bipartisan fiscal-conservative, but the truth is revealed in his sources of income. Even without the scandal, what is Carney doing taking money from Rangel,” Madeira
asked “Better yet, what does Carney owe Rangel for that $21,000?”

Most of the time these inside baseball arguments are don't register with voters. Maybe a public financing scheme for Congressional campaigns is the best way to get past it. An added benefit would be that the "special interests" won't be able to buy legislation.

Barletta is running again

Borys is reporting that Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta will try to knock off long time Democratic Congressman Paul Kanjorski in the Pennsylvania 11th District. This will be his third try to win the seat. I got an email from the Luzerne County GOP telling me that he would make his announcement on his website but when I try to go there I'm getting all sorts of error messages and requests for passwords.

You try it


http://www.loubarletta.com/

Here's the video




Reaction from Kanjorski spokesman Ed Mitchell:


“Hearing that Mr. Barletta is running for Congress again reminds me of what Yogi Berra said: This is like deja vu all over again.’ Having been rejected by the voters twice, I guess Barletta is looking for strike three and you’re out.

“The Congressman is busy reforming the financial industry, bringing jobs to the district and providing for affordable health care that protects Medicare. He also remains a champion for preserving Social Security, so we have no further comment at this time.”


And Republican candidate Chris Paige:

So, the real question is why would we believe that Barletta can win this race? The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results, and expecting Barletta to win after losing so many times before is just plain nuts.

Democratic primary challenger Corey O'Brien:


Earlier today, Hazleton's Republican Mayor Lou Barletta announced his candidacy for Congress in Pennsylvania’s 11th Congressional District. Despite higher taxes and rampant crime in Hazleton, Mayor Barletta will - for a third time - run for U.S. Congress and attempt to return us to the failed Republican policies of George W. Bush.

Our district needs new Democratic leadership to stave off Lou Barletta in 2010 and to keep PA-11 in Democratic hands. As a Lackawanna County Commissioner, I worked to balance three budgets without raising taxes, instituted a Code of Ethics which prohibits me from even accepting a cup of coffee from a county vendor, and replaced our fleet of inefficient, gas-guzzling vehicles with hybrids.

We need a Congressman with executive-level leadership experience and a long-term vision for the future of the district. A Congressman who has balanced budgets during difficult economic times, while still finding ways to invest in our communities. A Congressman who will focus on finding ways to create jobs, improve educational opportunities, restore confidence in our elected officials, and promote energy independence.

Will he or won't he

Shira Toeplitz reported yesterday in CQ Politics that Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta will make an announcement next Wednesday about his plans to run yet again for Congress.


Vince Galko sent out an email yesterday:


“In recent days many of you have reached out to me or to Mayor Barletta directly to inquire about his potential candidacy in Pennsylvania’s 11th Congressional District. Thank you for your interest and patience. This is an important decision and Mayor Barletta is giving it the strong consideration it deserves. As he has said many times, Mayor Barletta is focused on the City of Hazleton and its budget. He is also working on some very exciting projects for the city.”


Congressman Paul Kanjorski's longtime campaign adviser, Ed Mitchell, confirmed Monday that the 13-term Congressman has yet to make a statement about his re-election plans -- although he added that he's campaigning as if he is running for re-election.

"The Congressman has not made a statement about running next year, but I can tell you he's raising funds for a campaign and working very hard to represent his district by creating jobs, fighting for affordable health care for all Americans and protecting Medicare and Social Security."

My bet is that he makes the race. Why hold an event to say you're not running?

Kanjo responds

Statement by Ed Mitchell on behalf of the Kanjorski campaign (PA-11) on O’Brien announcement:

“Congressman Kanjorski looks forward to a full and thorough debate of his record and the issues in the primary election.“He believes that in today’s tough economic times we need a Congressman who has a record of fighting for veterans’ benefits, protecting Social Security and Medicare for seniors and pushing for job creation and affordable health care for all working families.

“Congressman Kanjorski is the best person to do that.”

Kanjorski's campaign website is

Kanjorski Democrat Standing Up For Us

His government site is

Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski Proudly Serving the 11th District of Pennsylvania

Corey O'Brien for Congress

This story in CQ Politics has been all the buzz the last few days. Lackawanna County Commissioner Corey O'Brien has filed the required paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to run for the Pennsylvania 11th Congressional Disctrict seat held by Congressman Paul Kanjorski "out of an abundance of caution at this point, just to ensure that we're following all the appropriate procedures with respect to looking very closely at getting into the race."

The guys at CQ keep an even closer eye on FEC reports than AAJ.


He also put this up on his Facebook page,
I wanted to let you know that I have formed a federal campaign committee to run for the United States Congress. As I continue to evaluate the race, I thought that it would be prudent to form a committee to ensure that I comply with all appropriate federal rules

The FEC disclosure lists Michael Dougherty as the campaign Treasurer. He has a big hill to climb financially as Kanjo's 2nd quarter FEC report shows that he has $614K cash on hand and raised close to $400K in the 2nd quarter. 3/4th's of that came from various Political Action Committees, McGruff has a list of all the PAC's that have contributed to Kanjo just this year. The next FEC filing deadline is October 15th so we will get an inkling if O'Brien can raise the money necessary to take on our long time Congressman.

I talked to Corey yesterday and he had this to say:

I'm very seriously looking at the race and have been humbled by the response of people urging me to run. I think we have to seriously look at both fiscal and ethics reform. It's time to look after the needs of Main Street instead of the needs of Wall Street.

He said he will make a definite decision before the end of the year.

I also asked longtime Kanjorski spokesman Ed Mitchell for his reaction:

The Congressman is not focusing on politics. He's continuing his efforts to reduce unemployment, bring the economy back, re-regulate the financial industry and reform health insurance for all. There'll be enough time for politics next year.

When I first reported that Corey was considering a race against Kanjo in April many people alluded to a deal between them that I can't confirm and seriously doubt. I interviewed O'Brien shortly after that and he sure sounded like a candidate and still does.

For all his human failings, that we all have, Kanjorski, has been a good Congressman. It's tough to follow an act like Dan Flood. I know many of you will bring up the Conerstone thing that was investigated up and down and in and out (probably including cavity searches) by the Navy and the Karl Rove Justice Department but no charges were ever filed. Everytime I drive down River St. in Wilkes-Barre and look at the dikes that protect us I think of him. All the former coal wasteland in Hanover and Naticoke that now have ballfields and houses you can thank Congressman Kanjorski for getting the money to reclaim the land.

Face it, we expect our Representatives to bring home the bacon and he has excelled at it. Just ask any local Fire Department that needed a new pumper truck that costs a couple of hundred grand that they couldn't raise so Kanjo found the money someplace and got them equipment that they needed.

The Scranton Times has the rundown of the race.

Corey O'Brien may not be an official candidate but he sent out this photo to all the local media outlets and they are using it.

PA's top hired guns

pa2010.com has ranked Pennsylvania's Top 10 Political Consultants and our own local Guru made the list.


8. Ed Mitchell (D)
One of the Pennsylvania’s most effective political spokesman, Mitchell has guided some of the state’s most embattled Democrats through reelection. He works for both Congressman Paul Kanjorski (D-11) and Congressman John Murtha (D-12), both of whom have found themselves the favored targets of Republicans over the years. Kanjorski, in particular, was widely expected to lose last year. And while coverage of Kanjorski is rarely glowing these days, Mitchell can chew out a reporter on the phone as well as anyone. Yours truly would know.


Dan admits that it is an inexact science to rank who are top guns and is threatening to name the best-dressed political consultants tomorrow.