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LEFTOVERS: RJC on Sestak, Onorato on corruption, labor for Callahan

Democrat Joe Sestak continues to take hits on the Israel issue.

The Republican Jewish Coalition unveiled the latest anti-Sestak ad this week. It revives a common complaint Sestak has faced from conservatives: that during the most recent war in Gaza, Sestak signed onto a letter calling for more humanitarian aid. But it seems to go a little far in implying that Sestak wasn’t on Israel’s “side”—the letter in question made the signers support for Israel clear, and Sestak has since voiced support for various parts of the country’s military blockades of Gaza.

Anyway, we’re going to give the ad a more complete fact-check soon. But in the meantime, you can check it out at bottom. It’s airing on cable. On a related note, stay tuned, loyal readers, for a new TV ad fact-checking policy that we’ll soon be unveiling.

Meanwhile, Democrat Dan Onorato’s campaign continue its efforts to build the argument that gubernatorial rival Tom Corbett is politicizing the attorney general’s office. In this case, Onorato seized upon a complaint filed by activist and thorn-in-politician’s-sides Gene Stilp, who is running for state House in Dauphin County. Stilp is peeved about robo-calls run by GOP state House incumbents, calls that are apparently taxpayer funded. The state Senate has already banned the practice; the House hasn’t.

So Onorato used Stilp’s complaint to allege anew that Corbett is holding the prosecutorial fire on his Republican allies. The so-called Bonsugate grand jury impaneled for Corbett’s legislative corruption probe has indicted Republicans like former House Speaker John Perzel. But Onorato’s campaign revived accusations that Corbett used taxpayer-funded public service announcements on TV in the run up to the 2008 general election, and recalled that a newspaper analysis found an increase in his office’s press releases and his official public appearances as Election Day approached that year.

“Tom Corbett’s actions—or inaction—fundamentally call into question his judgment,” Onorato campaign spokesman Brian Herman said in a statement. “Dan Onorato is the only candidate for governor who has a record of reforming government, balancing the budget and turning around the economy, and a positive vision for Pennsylvania’s future.”

A spokesman for the attorney general’s office said the office doesn’t comment on “dubious political attacks.” A campaign spokesman for Corbett scoffed: “It’s the sign of a desperate campaign when you have to rely on Gene Stilp to generate your news.”

And finally, there were some not-so-surprising endorsements in the 15th Congressional District Tuesday, when Democratic challenger John Callahan rolled out a string of supporter in organized labor. It’s hardly unexpected for union folks to line up behind the Democrat as November looms. But anyway, Callahan’s campaign boasted a list of 31 labor organizations that are backing the Bethlehem mayor in his bid against Congressman Charlie Dent (R-15), including the AFL-CIO, government employee unions, construction unions and more.

“Mayor Callahan has made putting people back to work his top priority and the Building Trades is proud to stand with him,” Mark Snyder, president of the Lehigh Valley Building and Construction Trades, said in a campaign statement.

August 17, 2010 at 11:10 pm

--Dan Hirschhorn

Tags: Charlie Dent, Dan Onorato, Joe Sestak, John Callahan, PA-15, Tom Corbett

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