Republican congressional candidate Joe Rooney (right) stands outside U.S. Representative Allyson Schwartz’s office, in a rally accusing her of being a “chicken” for not debating him, Wednesday, October 10, 2012, Philadelphia, Pa. (Maria Pouchnikova)
There will be three debates this fall between President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney, but none between U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz and GOP challenger Joe Rooney.
“If Romney and the president have time to do it, I can’t believe she doesn’t have the time,” Rooney said.
The Schwartz camp has noted that the congresswoman and her opponent will be appearing together at several forums across the district.
Frustrated, Rooney last week held a news conference outside Schwartz’s district office at 7219 Frankford Ave. Joining him was “Chicken Lady.”
The candidate’s daughter Sunny, a sophomore at Bishop McDevitt High School, dressed in a chicken outfit to highlight Schwartz’s refusal to debate.
Rooney, a retired Marine who is now a pilot for Delta Air Lines, pointed out that Republican Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick of Bucks Country has agreed to three debates with his Democratic opponent.
“Allyson Schwartz is too chicken to debate and a coward when it comes to facing the taxpayers, families and seniors who sign her check each and every week with the federal taxes they pay,” Rooney said.
Rooney isn’t the only local GOP congressional candidate frustrated that he cannot square off with his opponent.
John Featherman wants a crack at U.S. Rep. Bob Brady. On Sept. 4, Featherman responded to a Philadelphia Inquirer editorial board letter that he would meet Brady at any time and date that is good for the congressman. The newspaper could not get Brady to agree to a sit-down.
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A Commonwealth Court judge ruled that Libertarian candidates have the required 20,601 nominating petitions to earn spots on the statewide ballot for the Nov. 6 election.
Republican activists had challenged the signatures.
The Libertarian Party candidate for president is Gary Johnson, a former governor of New Mexico who served as a Republican.
The Libertarian U.S. Senate candidate is Rayburn Douglas Smith, who shares the same surname as Republican candidate Tom Smith.
Other Libertarian candidates are Marakay J. Rogers (attorney general), Betsy Summers (auditor general) and Patricia M. Fryman (treasurer).
“Voters in every state deserve real choices in this election, and it is clear that the Republican Party, not only in Pennsylvania, but in key states across the country, will go to any lengths to keep liberty, non-intervention and smaller government off the ballot,” Johnson said.
“The rotten Republicans in their eight-hundred-dollar suits used every trick in their playbook to try to short-circuit the democratic process and defeat us,” said Tom Stevens, chairman of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania.
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A bunch of local political activists turned out last week as Samantha Pawlucy returned to Charles Carroll High School in Port Richmond.
The 16-year-old sophomore stayed away from school for a few days after geometry teacher Lynette Gaymon ridiculed the Mitt Romney/Paul Ryan T-shirt she wore on dress-down day.
Gaymon told Samantha that Carroll was a “Democratic” school. Gaymon, who is black, likened the student’s wardrobe choice to the teacher wearing a KKK shirt.
Among those who attended Samantha’s Oct. 9 return were state Rep. John Taylor; City Councilman Mark Squilla; city elections commissioner Al Schmidt; David Christian, a decorated Vietnam War veteran and Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in April; retired Marine and educator Richard “Doc” Junod, of Somerton; John Featherman, Republican candidate in the 1st Congressional District; Joe Rooney, Republican candidate in the 13th Congressional District; Dave Kralle, Republican candidate in the 169th Legislative District; Mayfair’s Joe DeFelice, an official with Romney’s Pennsylvania campaign; Parkwood’s Steve Boc, chairman of the Philadelphia Federation of Young Republicans; and Don Adams, of the Independence Hall Tea Party.
Veterans activist Joe Eastman led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance. Samantha carried a small American flag and recited the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the Preamble to the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
The group sang God Bless America and The Star-Spangled Banner.
Samantha did not complete the day at Carroll and is looking for another school.
The following night, Romney telephoned her at home, but she was not there to take the call.
Last Thursday, the Pawlucy family traveled to the United Republican Club to watch the Paul Ryan/Joe Biden vice presidential debate. There, Samantha was made an honorary member of the Philadelphia Federation of Young Republicans and the GOP Riders, a motorcycle-riding club.
Taylor, the state representative, and his office staff continue to work with the Pawlucy family to find a positive resolution to the saga.
“Hopefully, this kid finds some peace,” he said.
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The public is invited to a candidates forum at Congregations of Shaare Shamayim, at 8768 Verree Road in Bustleton, on Sunday, Oct. 28, at 9 a.m.
The hostess will be lawyer and educator Ruth Horwitz.
Light refreshments will be served. ••
