Elect Mayor Lou Barletta (R, PA-11) To Congress

For a Conservative Congress, Part 8

This will be part of an on-going series, which will identify key races where we either need to retain strong conservatives or to elect strong conservatives. My personal feeling with being faced with two inferior candidates for President offered by our major political parties, we must turn our attention to insuring more conservative American-values oriented persons are elected to the U.S. Congress.

Cleaning House in Pennsylvania

Mayor Lou Barletta

THE RACE

Previously we commented on the need to defeat John Murtha, staying in Pennsylvania we turn from the 12th to the 11th congressional district. I suggest that all conservatives in Pennsylvania’s U.S. Congressional District 11 and elsewhere support Mayor Lou Barletta, Republican challenger to the incumbent Rep. Paul Kanjorski.

Mayor Barletta espouses a strong pro-life and an is for reigning in of the illegal alien problem. Barletta would be an antidote to Rep. Kanjorski's growing leftist leanings on a far range of issues.

THE RATING

Lou Barletta is one of the key candidates for Congress this year. He will fight to secure the nation's borders. This is especially important, since Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) is retiring from Congress after this year. Lou Barletta, is the courageous Mayor of Hazleton who boldly stood up to the threat illegal aliens presented in his town: higher costs for social services, health care and public schools and opportunities stolen from American citizens. He gained a measure of national attention for his efforts. He would be a candidate to possibly replace not only Rep. Kanjorski but also Tancredo as a champion on the important illegal immigration and lax national border issue.

Congressman Kanjorski is rated as a Liberal Populist on

According to On the Issues dot com Kanjorski, has been in Washington for more than a quarter century and been one of the strongest supporters of the illegal alien lobby anywhere in Congress. Kanjorski supports Guest Worker Amnesty for Illegal Aliens. Kanjorski believes our tax dollars should pay for government services for illegal aliens. Kanjorski even thinks illegal aliens should receive taxpayer subsidies to go to college.

According to an email I received from the Minutemen HQ, which monitor and advocate for secure borders and a strong stance on stopping the invasion of illegal aliens, they said that what has made this race competitive is a scandal where Kanjorski was caught funneling federal tax dollars to his relatives! In this hard-working district of conservative blue collar families, that doesn’t go over well.

THE REALITIES

Lou Barletta has a real chance of beating this entrenched 12 term congressman, who has gradually morphed from being moderate to becoming a radical leftist in his views and positions.

According to the September 17, 2008 Scranton (PA) Times article posted on Barletta’s website:

“. . . Barletta has opened a substantial lead over U.S. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski in their battle to represent Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton and other local municipalities in Congress, according to a Franklin & Marshall College/Times-Shamrock Newspapers poll.

”In a survey of 547 registered voters, Mr. Barletta had the support of 44 percent to 35 percent for Mr. Kanjorski, a Democrat, in their 11th Congressional District race. Another 21 percent were undecided.

“The poll is the clearest independent confirmation that Mr. Kanjorski’s re-election is seriously at risk in a year most political experts expect Democrats to do most of the winning.

“The poll confirmed Mr. Kanjorski faces by far the stiffest re-election test of his 12-term congressional career from Hazleton’s anti-illegal-immigration crusading mayor.”

According to RealClearPolitics.com, Barletta’s opponent, Kanjorski, negatives include: “Ethics issues, questionable earmarks and an unremarkable record, coupled with a near-celebrity opponent, put Rep. Paul Kanjorski atop national Republicans' target list. Kanjorski hasn't faced a real race in decades, and John McCain is likely to win the Scranton-based district, aiding Mayor Lou Barletta. It's one race in which the "change" mantra may benefit Republicans.

THE RESOURCES

The DCCC is pouring great amounts of money to prop up Kanjorski and to help retain this unresponsive and wayward representative. Barletta really needs the support of conservatives everywhere. To support Mayor Lou Barletta, which I urge you to do, see his website to learn more about him, to make a campaign contribution, to volunteer your service, etc.