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Democratic Officials Line Up To Endorse Altmire; John Paul; Beaver Countian; January 10, 2012.
Less than 15 hours after I published my critique of a Paul piece entitled “Monday Musings Volume 8,” Mr. Paul removed the article from his website. I don’t know if the removal had anything to do with the critique.
Below is a detailed critique of excerpts from the subject opinion piece.
What’s next, a story entitled “The Sun rises in the East?” Mr. Paul didn’t indicate if he verified the list was correct.
That said, Mr. Paul missed or spiked at least one story in the list of endorsers. The list includes “Robert Schmetzer, South Heights.” Mr. Schmetzer is VP of Progressive Democrats of America – PA 4th Congressional District Chapter (aka Beaver County Blue, aka Beaver County Reds). BCR leadership includes at least three members who are/were members of various communist parties and at least four who are associated with a group that began as a splinter group of Communist Party USA.
It’s common knowledge BCR doesn’t like Rep. Altmire and constantly bashes him (Here’s only one example.). Commenting on that piece, Mr. Schmetzer wrote, “It appears the Democrat party has gone conservative and the Republican party to the extreme right. Electable Progressive candidates need to be sought out and funded early.” According to a piece written by fellow BCR member Carl Davidson about a meeting with Mr. Altmire, “Schmetzer delivered the warning of the hour from labor. Referring to both the outgoing and expected incoming presidents of the AFL-CIO, he added that ‘both John Sweeny and Richard Trumka have been very clear. We’re going to examine every vote in Congress, and those that don’t come through for us shouldn’t expect any support when reelection time comes around.’”
Given his and BCR’s supposed dissatisfaction with Mr. Altmire, the alleged endorsement of Mr. Altmire by Mr. Schmetzer is curious. First, if Mr. Altmire truly doesn’t represent the positions of Democrats in his district as claimed by BCR, why would Mr. Schmetzer endorse him more than three months before the Pennsylvania primary? Shouldn’t BCR be pushing a true “progressive Democrat” to challenge Mr. Altmire in the Democrat primary?
Second, could all the BCR carping about Mr. Altmire being a “Blue Dog” be a smokescreen?
Finally, should local voters – Democrat and Republican alike - be concerned Mr. Altmire appears to have the endorsement of a group whose leadership – and perhaps general membership - is dominated by members with extensive links to communist groups?
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