Here is an opportunity.
A special election to replace a Glenn Grell in the PA State House. Grell, is along-serving moderate Republican.
The 887th district sits across the river from the PA State Capital. It is a Republican dominated district, but not a tea-party hot spot. This will be a low turnout election. The district is home to many state employees and retirees. The Commonwealth is currently in the midst of a budget crisis manufactured by the GOP leaders in the Legislature.
4 weeks until special election day.
On the Republican side, thhe County GOP Committee has (spoiler alert) nominated the chairman of County GOP Committee. You know, this guy:
Greg Rothman. A College Republican prankster who has never grown up. His hero is Rick Santorum (not a widely shared opinion in the 87th), his enemies are science, women and public sector employes (again, not widely shared opinions in the 87th).
Here's a classic, representative quote from Rothman:
In Rothman's own words, "Beginning with his first trip to New Hampshire in April 2010, I traveled regularly across the country with Rick Santorum on his remarkable campaign for president. I spent nearly every day with him in 2012." Greg Rothman's platform is Rick Santorum's worldview in miniature-er, anti-gay, anti-women, anti-science.
Also, From the Harrisburg Patriot News Archives:
.."Rothman was sentenced by Cumberland County Judge Kevin A. Hess in March 1994 to 5 months of probation and a $2,000 fine as well as 160 hours of community service on one count of conspiracy to commit forgery in relation to a campaign mailing.
Rothman, who was 27 at the time, pleaded guilty. according to the archives:
The mailing in question attacked former county commissioner candidate William F. Kane, calling him, among other things, "a Democrat in Republican clothing" and a school-strike promoter. That letter bore a bogus return address, though, and was falsely attributed to the Conservative Republican Committee, based in Virginia.
Rothman would have escaped a criminal record by entering the county's ARD program, but prosecutors pulled him out of the program when they discovered he had concealed the fact that he arranged to have the letter printed in New England.
At the time, Rothman said others were involved, though no one else was charged. The judge told him he had no doubt Rothman was just a minor player."
What the Patriot News fails to note is that several of those not charged in that 1994 incident still sit on the GOP County Committee that nominated Rothman for this special election.
What have the Dems done with this opportunity. They've nominated retiree Robert W. Charles. I will vote in vain for Mr. Charles, Probably a nice fellow, but geez. If the Dems aren't willing to step up and go on the offensive for this special election, then where...when? You aren't merely letting this district stay in the R column, you are handing it over to the worst of the GOP. State Senator Pat Vance, another long serving moderate Republican, is retiring next cycle. Her senate district overlaps the 87th House district. Is this special election going to be a preview of future missed opportunities and losses to Santorum acolytes?