Welcome to the 737th original “Crazy/Stupid Republican of the Day” profile, where today we’ll be discussing Rick Saccone, a former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and two-time loser in attempts to run for Congress. Saccone’s background is almost immediately terrifying, as he was not just a consultant to those who worked at the Abu Ghraib prison when folks lwere tormenting and torturing Iraqi detainees, (and no, he had no regrets, as in his own book he defended waterboarding) but it’s also alarming that Saccone’s opinions are informed by known fraud and supposed historian David Barton. Yes, THAT David Barton. Which probably would explain why as a state legislator, Saccone continually would submit legislation to challenge the separation of church and state, including his need to force public schools to display “In God We Trust” inside, and that he sponsored legislation to declare 2012 “The Year of the Bible” in Pennsylvania.
Oh, and on gun rights? Saccone once criticized Chuck E. Cheese because the pizza chain placed restrictions on customers to not bring guns into their establishments. Because it’s important to pack heat to defend yourself from potential attackers and open fire if anyone should accost you among all the children playing skee ball.
Rick Saccone originally won office back in the 2010 Tea Party Wave by only 151 votes, and was re-elected in 2012 by a whopping 0.4% of the vote. Once he made his attempt at getting elected to Congress in the 2018 special election for Pennsylvania’s 18th Congressional District against Conor Lamb, he ended up on the opposite side of a narrow contest, losing to Lamb by 755 votes. Saccone then tried running for Pennsylvania’s 14th Congressional District a few months later, but lost to Guy Reschenthaler, getting only 44% of the vote there.
With two losses in such a short period of time, it seems unclear what Saccone’s political future might be. We’re content to just point out he’s a torture-endorsing, gun-nutty, theocratic loon and point and laugh while we can.
One Year Ago, March 10th, 2018: Sean Donahue (PA)
Two Years Ago, March 10th, 2017: Cresent Hardy (NV)… 2017 Update
Three Years Ago. March 10th, 2016: Cresent Hardy (NV)… 2016 Update
Four Years Ago: March 10th, 2015: Cresent Hardy (NV)… Original Profile