The red flags are flying!

My first concern is Mr. Kelly’s occupation as an owner of an auto dealership. After the government bailout blunders of the auto industry – that cost the people of this great country billions of dollars – I wonder whose interests Mr. Kelly would be representing in Congress??

My second concern relates to Mr. Kelly’s statement that, “citizens should never have to settle in choosing their candidate.” But in the next paragraph it is stated that, “he is also considered to be the Republican candidate with the deepest party support.” And when Mike Kelly kicked off his campaign he was “accidentally” introduced by the Mercer County GOP Chairman David King as “our” candidate. (http://thatsrich.blogspot.com/2010/02/mercer-county-gop-accidentally-reveals.html) Is this what we call an open primary in which the PEOPLE choose their candidate? Or is the entrenched party leadership deciding for us?

My third concern is Mr. Kelly’s ability, or lack there of, to distinguish himself in this crowded field. He stated, “You learn very quickly how to distinguish yourself, and how to take advantage of the market you are in. I don’t want to sound arrogant, but I don’t think I am going to have a problem proving that I am the best candidate in the crowd.” Then why is it that when Mr. Kelly was asked this very question his response was that he was not exactly sure what distinguishes him as a candidate yet. (Sharon-Herald, February 3, 2010) Where is your web site or any documentation as to where you stand on the issues and how this makes you a better candidate?

I do believe that it is arrogance. Arrogance that the big Party Machine wants to shove yet another candidate down our throats and think we won’t notice. PLEASE I urge you to get involved and learn where the candidates stand on the issues. Don’t settle for another candidate that the professional politicians put on the ballet. The choice is still ours.

The Republican Women of Butler County will be conducting a town hall platform, that will educate the public about each of the candidates positions, for the 3rd Congressional District. The town hall will be held at the Zelienople American Legion on March 21, 2010 beginning at 1pm. The duration will depend on the number of candidates confirming attendance. Please plan to attend and let your voice be heard!

Wow, red flags are not flying. If the Republicans were really that smart they would not be backstabbing their premiere candidate. If the Republicans were really that savvy, they would get behind the Republican that can WIN against Dahlkemper. But you know what, the Republicans are not as smart as the Democrats. If you visit any of these websites, I would guess you would not notice any negative comments about Dahlkemper, who also owns a business(es), isn’t it funny that the Republicans are supposedly against class warfare, but yet the comments that are negative against Republican candidates are obviously from fellow Republicans. Jill, I feel sorry for you, you are obviously ignorant (please read the Wall Street Journal and get a clue). If you wanted your party to win, you would go with the best possible candidate instead of trying to tear down a respectable person in the Butler Community. It is a shame that you have so much time on your hands to criticize someone who is confident not arrogant. When did confidence become a negative quality in America? Oh, I forgot you probably received a trophy for doing nothing in life becuase you simply showed up. Maybe you should consider changing parties based on your response, Jill; it seems to fall in line with the Democrats…but wait they stick together.

Tom Trevorrow is not from Erie. Why does this website keep claiming that he is? He’s from Indiana.

The personal attacks on me are irrelevant. It is the issues at hand that need to be addressed. The Democrats will not have a choice. They will be represented by the incumbent, Dahlkemper. This is a primary election for the Republican Party. The general definition of the term primary means preliminary, first, or most important. It’s really no different in regard to a primary election, which is the preliminary step in the process of electing a candidate running for office in the United States. Many voters don’t seem to realize that the primary election is the most important phase. This is when each vote counts the most, because it gives people the ability to decide who the best candidate is. And don’t misunderstand my questioning of the events that have surrounded this “endorsement”. We (The Republicans) will rally around whoever is elected as our candidate. And that candidate will be victorious over Dahlkemper.

I am questioning the GOP’s backing of Mike Kelly. As I stated above, the primary election is where our vote counts the most. The GOP should stay neutral until we the people decide who will best represent our interests. I realize that this is a deviation from the norm, but this is where change is needed to be made to the political process. This is why I am urging people to get involved in this primary election. Let the entrenched party leaders know that we will NOT accept status quo. Their arrogance in thinking that they know who best will represent our interests will no longer be tolerated.

Republicans expect their candidates to be prepared. They need to know where the other candidates stand on issues and what issues are important to the people. But most important, the candidate needs to communicate their position on the issues and how they can best represent the people. What distinguishes them from the other candidates? This is something that should be done BEFORE you decide to run for office not after you have been wined and dined by the party elite.

I have heard that Mike Kelly is a “nice guy”. But I don’t want to date him; I want him to represent my interests in Congress. Given the events surrounding the auto company bailouts, his occupation in the auto industry is jaded. I am not questioning Mr. Kelly’s abilities as a businessman. The personification of businessmen in the auto industry is failure. Is this the type of candidate that is best suited to defeat Dahlkemper? There are other candidates in the 3rd District that are also businessmen. They built their businesses from the ground up and have been successful – and for this I applaud them.

Please don’t feel sorry for me. I am a well educated Republican that understands the changes that need to be made in the political process and I am not afraid to question the Party Machine. If my opinions can strike such a strong response from a Democrat then hopefully my fellow Republicans will recognize the importance of these issues. People who take their vote seriously need to get involved in this primary election so they have a voice in selecting their candidate.

Obviously, you are not well educated. If you were aware of how much money car dealers pay in taxes and donate to various nonprofit organizations, you would realize that your child’s or children’s public school education would no longer be in existence in Butler County if it wasn’t for car dealers paying enormous taxes. By the way, did you ask Mike Kelly how he feels about the auto industry bailouts? Uneducated people would immediately point to auto dealers because they have never heard of the UAW. By the way, since you need some education, the UAW does not include Hyundia and KIA. Did you ask him how “businessmen in the auto industry are regarded as failures”? I wonder how Rob Cochran or Baierl would respond to such a comment?
Oh my, did you ever notice how many car dealers support your child’s or children’s activities in your area? Wow, for a Republican, you have about zero foresight – you need to change parties. I agree with Dana. I wonder if Mike Kelly would want to date you? That’s kind of a funny comment that you made, considering that you are such “a traditionalist,” that stays at home while your children attend school. Furthermore, I would doubt Mike Kelly would give you the time of day because I am certain he is a faithful husband with children, who owns a business and devotes his time to improving Butler (coaching midget football and serving on various boards in Butler County). In the famous words of a fellow Democrat, John F. Kennedy, “Ask not what your country can do for you–but what you can do for your country.” Jill, what did you do for your country today besides prove that self-proclaimed, well-educated Republicans are completely jealous of successful businessmen in their community, men who pay for their child or children’s sports teams and other extracurricular activities. In the famous words of Hilary Clinton, “it takes a village to raise a child.”

The auto bailout money went to GM in exchange the UAW got stock in GM – the dealers were left out. Once again, Jill, you continues to make ignorant statements. By the way, you refer to personal attacks on you – what’s your problem with Mike Kelly? Who is your candidate, and what has he done for the Butler community? I can guarantee that he has not done as much as Mike Kelly. Jill, I continue to feel sorry for you because you are ignorant and obviously, not an informed Republican. Your prejudices are blinding your view of the truth. You should read the great Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex.

As we continue to battle this bitter cold and worry about those who are less fortunate in our community, it may be of interest to you that Mike Kelly through his business collected over 600 coats as part of the “One Warm Coat” initiative through the Lighthouse Foundation to keep our children warm this winter. I know this because two of my students received those coats.

Mike Kelly has done many things for the community of Butler.

He has donated both his time and money to help those less fortunate, yet never blows his own horn about doing so.

He owns and operates a successful business. SInce whne is that something wrong? He’s an auto dealer. That is a very honorable profession.

As for auto dealers being considered failures as businessmen…that is so ridiculous and stupid, it only shows the ignorance of the individual posting such tripe.

Apparently you also think Jim Moran, Bill Baierl, Rob Cochran, et al, are abject failures in life? Pshaw! They have been very successful.

Hate to break it to you, but dealers did not benefit from the bailouts personally.

Would you rather the industry had gone down the toilet, leaving millions of workers unemployed? Do you have any idea whatsoever how many branches there are in the auto industry tree?

Why wouldn’t you be for someone who has strong backing from the party? Would you rather a weak candidate, with no strength behind them?

As for Mike Kelly being arrogant? That is the most laughable thing I’ve heard in a long time! He is far from arrogant. Confident? Yes, he is. Arrogant? Not in the least.

Anyone who has heard Mike speak, or who has had the opportunity to spend any time with him, knows he is a sincere individual who only wants to best for his country. He has great ideas and knows where he stands on the issues. He is prepared to answer any and all questions anyone has about his views and his platform.

Instead of getting themselves all atwitter over something *supposedly* said by Mr. King when he was introducing Mike, we should all get behind the candidate who has the best chance at winning and making the seat GOP.

“I like Mike!” and support his campaign to the utmost of my abilities.

GOP Gal-

I think you need to reread what has been written.

- Jill called the GOP bosses arrogant, not Mr. Kelly.

- Jill said the public image of the auto industry is that of failure, not that auto dealers are failures.

I have heard Mr. Kelly speak. He has said a lot of great things. I probably agree with him on nearly all issues. But you (and other posters) do him a great disservice when you attack others who have the nerve to ask questions about him.

As for the GOP bosses, yes they are that stupid. Endorsing (in public or private) is a kiss of death if the candidate wants to attract conservatives. Conservatives are sick of the PAGOP (and local counties) forcing RINOs and subpar candidates upon us. No, I’m not saying that Mr. Kelly is either a RINO or subpar…but when the GOP bosses plant a big kiss on him, it surely taints his image with conservatives and independents.

As far as the auto industry, yes, they should have been allowed to declare bankruptcy. Except they took the bailout money THEN declared bankruptcy. No company is too big to fail, but our wallets are too small from which to keep stealing. Any Republican worth his/her salt would never defend government bailouts.

But through the attacks, Jill’s concern has gone unanswered. Mr. Kelly would stand to make a profit with continued government funding of GM. If he is elected and the government dumps more money into GM, that’s clearly a conflict of interest. It isn’t a slam against Mr. Kelly, it’s simply the way the system is currently set up, thanks to the first bailout (thanks Bush and McCain and the inept GOP “leadership”).

At the very least he would have to abstain, but at the very most he should vigorously oppose any further government intervention into private enterprise. Period. If he isn’t willing to make that stand, then he’s no different than Ms. Dahlkemper in that regard.

The Constitution is clear. The next time I talk with Mr. Kelly, I’ll be sure to ask where he stands.

What people seem to be missing here is that all the PAGOP wants to do is win. If the candidate is a conservative so be it. If the candidate is a RINO, that’s a consideration, but in light of losing it may be acceptable to them.

In this case, if the PAGOP wants Mike Kelly, who has been a lifelong conservative Republican, we have a winning combination of party support and conservative values. As a conservative I embrace this because it brings the Republican Party back to its roots. Embracing more candidates like Kelly, who can win, will ensure our ascendancy in the party hierarchy and garner us much needed leverage for ensuring the party doesn’t jam candidates down our throats in the future.
No other candidate in this primary has both conservative credentials and the ability to win. Paul Huber is not a conservative. He’s a democrat looking to capitalize on Dahlkemper’s weakness. Jill would better serve the conservative cause by directing her questions there.

Aside, I respectfully disagree with Rich; Jill’s tone and format was accusatory – not asking questions but making declarative statements and then following-up with rhetorical questions about disparate facts that have no linkage.
We need to begin our fact finding by going to the heart of the matter by exploring these two questions: (1) who can win?; and (2) who is a true conservative that can execute?

Whoever that person is, party support or not, should be the candidate that gets our vote.

Good post, Peter.

I’ll just add one thing to your opening statement: The PAGOP wants RINOs to win. They have a glorious track record of pushing RINOs as often as possible.

We conservatives are pretty lucky this race. There are several conservatives from which to choose. We’ve been stuck with Phil English for far too long – now we can finally get a conservative into that seat.

I intend to do my own research and not let the party dictate who should get my vote. I’ve met with three of the gents so far… I recommend that others do the same.

DID FANNIE AND FREDDIE SAY IN ONE OF THEIR BLOGS STUDENTS…O!O!O!O! NOW I THINK I UNDERSTAND ,,,,WAS MIKE KELLY ON THE SCHOOL BOARD??????? THESE ARE JUST QUESTIONS…. IS HIS WIFE A TEACHER?????IF SO WHEN DID SHE GET HIRED????JUST QUESTIONS…AND IF THE CAR DEALER IS SOOOO GREAT FOR DOING SO MUCH WITH HIS TAXES FOR THE SCHOOLS THEN I SURE HOPE I GET MY SCHOOL TAXES BACK…WE NEED A GOOD PERSON FOR THE 3RD DISTRIC THAT HAS NO PREINTERESTS…AND WILL FIGHT FOR ALL NOT JUST THE WELL EDUCATED LIKE SOME ARE TRYING MAKE THEMSELVE OUT TO BE…EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN SKILLS AND ARE NEEDED IN THIS COLUNTRY

Fannie and Freddie and Peter, You are all on the wrong tract.

WE DO NOT WANT THE PARTY PICK……….HE WAS ONLY CHOSEN BECAUSE OF NAME RECOGNITION!!!!!!

It’s sad when a party bends over backwards just to find a name the people are familiar with.

HE IS BY NO MEANS THE BEST CANDIDATE….

and by the way, how did his wife get her teaching job? What an interesting question.

Once again, a pathetic posting by a Grabb supporter. Can’t you and your fellow fans post anything that is actually relevant. Why don’t you focus on the issues? Why do you and other Grabb fans have to constantly put down other candidates personally? First, it’s Kelly is arrogant and then there’s something about his wife then his brother; second, it is Martha Moore is stupid (which she’s obviously not – you don’t get through medical school being stupid, so that was another ignorant, non-relevant comment); and third, it is something about Huber having money and a feminine voice. Your Internet smear campaign is totally ridiculous. Grabb supporters game plan: let’s smear all the candidates personally, so we can gain votes. That sounds pretty Christian to me.