Tammy Alonso's Blog
Tammy Alonso's Blog
Left of Centre
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Will the real Tom Corbett please stand up?
At first Republican gubernatorial nominee Tom Corbett was echoing GOP orthodoxy that suggests extending unemployment benefits to the long-term jobless will only give them an excuse to sit back and collect their checks instead of going out and accepting the work that, in Corbett’s world, exists. Now, his campaign spokesman has “clarified” his boss’ remarks and insists Corbett actually does believe that “the vast majority of people on unemployment are looking for work and want to find a well-paying job.”
Well, if that’s what he believes, why didn’t he just come out and say so instead of saying he “heard that only 10 percent of the people that are on unemployment” are looking for work, that “the other 80, 90 percent” are “a problem,” and that extending unemployment benefits will allow the jobless to just “sit there.”
Apparently, Corbett’s spokesman is trying to convince us that whether it’s a politically-motivated lawsuit challenging the new health care reforms, a subpoena to obtain the identities of Twitter users, or a remark about the unemployed, what he says or does and what he believes are entirely different things.
Now, while I understand that constantly having to defend a man who seems to suffer from a terminal case of foot-in-mouth disease can’t be an easy task, defending his statements by suggesting that we should just forget what he said and trust that he actually believes the opposite, as spokesman Kevin Harley has done, doesn’t exactly seem like a winning strategy.
So how, exactly, am I supposed to know who the “real” Tom Corbett is and what he believes?
Maybe I can dig out my old Magic 8 Ball, or consult a new crystal one.
Better yet, maybe Keith Rothfus, the Republican nominee here in the 4th Congressional District, will lend me his astrologer, who can then cast me a chart giving me all the juicy details.
Or maybe the “real” Tom Corbett can just tell me himself who he is, what he believes, and what his plans are, should he have the good fortune of being elected governor, for the future of my state.
Inquiring minds want to know.
July 21, 2010 at 9:46 am
Tags: Tom Corbett
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Bio: Tammy Alonso is a freelance writer and progressive activist in Westmoreland County.
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Anonymous
Jul 21st, 2010
It has been established that Tom Corbett has two sides to his mouth and that he talks out of both of them. Your guess as to where he stands is all you are going to get frm him.
Loved the comment in another story by a Republican operative who observed that Corbett is “not ready for prime time”.
michael livingston
Jul 21st, 2010
Anyone who has seen Corbett in person knows that he is, well, not exactly Winston Churchill as an orator. I think his campaign would be wise to keep him to more scripted appearances. A few comments like this and a 10 point lead can go pretty fast.
Tammy Alonso
Jul 21st, 2010
Anonymous – you are too funny! Thanks for the laugh.
Michael – that may be true from a purely political standpoint, but I want to know who a candidate is and what they really think before casting a vote for – or against – them.
Sun Tzu
Jul 22nd, 2010
How about the Corbett comment in the story “Corbett says he favors alternatives to public schools” where he states “By ninth grade, you know who are going to make it and who isn’t going to make it” in life Corbett Said. Wow, by the ninth grade our life is pretty much sealed according to Corbett. This good insight to the kind of half-baked legislation Corbett would push for if elected-governor.
BB
Jul 23rd, 2010
Neither Tom Corbett nor Dan Onorato are fit to be governor in this state. Period. The losers in this race are the taxpayers in the 67 counties that make up the Commonwealth. Zero leadership. We need a third party (and other) candidates and an end to the two party system in this country, and we also need a constitutional convention in Pa. in the worst way so the voice of the people can be heard. Enough already with total bureaucrats and zero leadership.
jay albert
Jul 24th, 2010
…I understand Corbett has two cell phones. One for each side of his mouth. It must be confusing having to remember what he said and when and where he said it. Pennsylvania doesn’t need any more confusion. But, I agree they need a constitutional convention and a third party free of the other two.