Northeast Philadelphia residents discuss the GOP, priests and Tom Murt in this week’s letters to the editor.
Republican hypocrisy
The following Letter to the Editor is in response to an article, “FOP Lodge 5 endorses Patty-Pat in 177th,” published in the Northeast Times on Sept. 12:
The Campaign Chatter section of the Sept. 12 issue might as well have been another Republican political ad, filled with all the same old, tired arguments, albeit this ad was gratis, courtesy of the Northeast Times. Extensive quotes from prominent Republican officials, slamming Sen. Bob Casey, without counter-balancing quotes is outright partisan. A tip: be fair, be balanced.
This is what the paper failed to report: the real reason Casey wouldn’t consider a vote on Kavanaugh is because the White House won’t release extensive documents on Kavanaugh. As the GOP loves to say, “The American people have a right to know.” Indeed, we do. So where’s the transparency? Release the documents. Act according to your words. Meanwhile, the GOP is trying to jam Kavanaugh’s nomination through. What’s the big rush? Afraid of a little midterm election? For the last 25 years, the GOP has been breaking all the rules and principles they claim to cherish. Obstruction has been their strategy since naughty Newt started employing it against Clinton in the ’90s. So when local GOP officials say Bob Casey is obstructing, he’s not. That’s their hypocrisy laid bare. And I’m glad Sen. Bob Casey is catering to liberal, progressive, Democratic voters like me, who want those documents released, who want to have Christine Ford’s story investigated, and who want a fair hearing. Because I vote.
And there are a lot of people like me in Northeast Philly who aren’t buying any of the GOP’s malarkey. And that’s an inconvenient truth the GOP can’t change.
Michael A. Podgorski
Fox Chase
Priest abuse hits home
The following Letter to the Editor is in response to, “Good priests have been tainted by editorial cartoon,” by Patricia Birney, published in the Northeast Times on Sept. 19:
The “sincere Catholic” who is “greatly outraged” and a “disgusted and angry” parishioner’s howling Sept. 19 letter on pedophile priests would carry greater import weren’t her own former pastor at St. Martin of Tours not placed on leave for alleged misconduct with minors.
Perhaps the “deeply concerned and disappointed” writer presumes these are Kentucky coal miners. Archbishop Chaput pulled the good pastor from his flock in March for allegedly neglecting to protect his flock. He was pastor there under a year. She should attend church more often. She’s missing some good dish.
Jerry Briggs
Mayfair
Showing support for Pennsylvania’s Tom Murt
I have been watching the race in the 152nd Legislative District closely, as Rep. Tom Murt, one of Pennsylvania’s finest public servants, is running for re-election.
Rep. Tom Murt is known as Pennsylvania’s Champion of Human Services for the work he has done in caring for adults with special needs, Pennsylvanians with autism and anyone with a disability, including our veterans. Rep. Murt has also stood up to special-interest groups and powerful lobbies and has insisted that children with autism be afforded insurance coverage for their diagnosis and treatment. He also has been courageously defending victims of child sexual abuse, and holding their abusers accountable, despite attacks from special-interest groups. He is also a decorated veteran of the war in Iraq and is hailed as Pennsylvania’s Voice of Veterans for his devotion to helping veterans and their families and his ongoing support for veterans’ issues.
Tom Murt is truly one of the commonwealth’s greatest public servants. When I served with him as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, I saw his devotion to public service and not politics. I saw him in his Capitol office working away until midnight most every night, while most others were being entertained by lobbyists. Tom Murt has cast his political lot in helping the homeless, people with disabilities, disabled veterans, families fighting addictions and struggling families. He has always been there for his constituents and has earned another term.
I strongly and respectfully encourage the residents of the 152nd District to support Rep. Tom Murt on Nov. 6.
Dennis O’Brien
Former Speaker, Pennsylvania House of Representatives
