PA Senate Democratic nominee Joe Sestak has nothing to hide and did nothing wrong. Why he has joined the Obama Administration's strategy of stonewalling a non-story is baffling - and it is damaging him here in PA when voters are forming first impressions. The goodwill from his primary victory May 18 is being overtaken by the doubts caused by the Obama Administration "job offer" story. Sestak should issue the following press release immediately.
Proposed Draft Press Release for Joe Sestak:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
From: Congressman Joe Sestak, Democratic Nominee for U.S. Senate
I share the public's frustration with the continuing press focus on the non-story about an Administration official's comments to me last [month].
Here are the facts:
I did nothing wrong. I shared all the facts I know with Attorney General Holder [or whoever Sestak told] months ago, on or about [X date]. The Administration has thus known all that I know - the who, what, where details - for months. To clear the air, I want to share these same facts with the voters of Pennsylvania and the American people.
Someone with the Obama Administration contacted me on [date] by phone [in person?] and made comments to me that I interpreted to be an attempt to encourage me to drop my Democratic Party primary challenge of the White House-endorsed favorite, PA Senator Arlen Specter. No one else was present for this discussion. [Or, Also present at this discussion was A, who may not have been in a position to overhear the comments.]
I do not know if the person was speaking for anyone but himself. I do not know if the President or anyone else in the Administration was aware of what the person discussed with me or had approved it, in advance or afterwards. I do not know if Senator Specter was aware of this. I have no information to indicate that either the President personally or Senator Specter was aware of this.
I know how I interpreted the comments but I do not know for certain what the other party intended by the comments. That is for him, and for others, to interpret.
I immediately rejected the comments and informed the person that I intended to continue with my campaign for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senator for Pennsylvania.
The person did not contact me again on that subject.
Let me repeat: I did nothing wrong. I have nothing to hide. When asked months ago by Attorney General Holder [or whoever Sestak told] about this matter, I reported what I know.
If anyone still wants to know anything more about this matter, I suggest the person contact Attorney General Holder [or the person Sestak informed] or White House Press Secretary Gibbs.
I have nothing more to add and instead will continue to focus on what is important for the people of the Keystone state - jobs, a stronger economy, protecting our seniors and children and protecting the nation.
As this incident proves so well, it is important to change the political culture in Washington, DC and I pledge to do that if the voters of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania elect me on November 2.
[end of press release]
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It is really important for Sestak to get beyond this. I already have people who voted for him May 18 at my urging asking "Tell me again why you wanted me to vote for this turkey". Stonewalling and saying "no comment" is making the matter appear worse than it is and that Sestak has something to hide.
Joe Sestak has nothing to hide. He needs to make that clearer - and NOW!