Dent calls ‘hypocrisy’ on Callahan over financial reform

Congressman Charlie Dent’s (R-15) campaign on Tuesday responded to a series of attacks from Democratic challenger John Callahan, calling out the Bethlehem mayor for criticizing Dent’s vote in favor of the 2008 financial bailout even though Callahan says he also would have supported the unpopular measure.

Citing a pa2010.com interview with Callahan’s campaign manager, Dent’s campaign said Callahan was trying to have it both ways.

“While Callahan has been engaged in confusing political double-speak, Congressman Dent has been fighting to ensure federal resources are used sparingly and responsibly,” Dent campaign manager Shawn Millan said in a statement.

“It’s obvious John Callahan has zero credibility on our nation’s financial services infrastructure,” Millan added. “This is an example of phony outrage from a phony candidate. Callahan’s hypocritical stances make it clear he is only interested in partisan pandering, not serious policy discussion.”

In seeking to tie Dent to Wall Street, Callahan’s campaign has spotlighted his initial vote against the bailout package that was followed by support for it, as well as his more recent opposition to financial reform legislation moving its way through Congress.

Callahan campaign manager Justin Schall said the important issue is Dent’s actions following the bailout vote. Callahan’s campaign also started an online petition Tuesday to pressure Dent to support the current reform legislation, which has passed both chambers of Congress but still needs to go through conference committee negotiations.

“Why wouldn’t [Dent] vote for reform legislation that would ensure that [a bailout] would never happen again?” Schall said. “It makes no sense.”

The issue has quickly become a focal point of the Lehigh Valley race, which is currently No. 5 on the pa2010.com Congressional Power Rankings.

“While John Callahan has engaged in rhetoric, Congressman Dent has been engaged in problem-solving,” Dent’s campaign said. “He’s talking with people in the community who understand the issue and how it will affect everyday Americans.”