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July 5, 2008

Barletta blasts Kanjo remarks

Congressman quoted on Politico.com as comparing foe to former KKK leader.

By Bill O'Boyle boboyle@timesleader.com
Times Leader Staff Writer
Bill O'Boyle on Facebook   |   @TLBillOboyle on Twitter

HAZLETON – Lou Barletta Thursday blasted U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski for remarks made by the 12-term congressman that claimed Barletta and those who support his fight against illegal immigration are borderline racists.

In a story posted on the political Web site Politico.com, Kanjorski was quoted as comparing Barletta to former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke.

“What David Duke was to civil rights, my opponent has done that with immigration,” Kanjorski is quoted as saying. “He’s used that issue the same way Duke used the civil rights issue.”

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee this week issued a press release that claimed Duke had endorsed Barletta. Duke denied making any endorsement and chastised anyone who would use him to defame a candidate.

Barletta issued a press release that demanded an apology from Kanjorski.

Kanjorski declined to be interviewed. He did not issue a comment on the Politico story and did not issue an apology to Barletta.

Ed Mitchell, Kanjorski’s campaign spokesman, did not address the Politico report and said: “I wasn’t present during that interview. I don’t know what Congressman Kanjorski said.”

Mitchell, responding to Barletta’s press release, said “we’re glad that Lou Barletta has finally rejected the support of a racist and anti-Catholic like David Duke,” Mitchell said. “Lou Barletta says he wants this campaign to be about issues and we take him at his word. Let’s talk about the issues because there are clear differences between Congressman Kanjorski and Mayor Barletta.”

Barletta called for Kanjorski to denounce what he called “vicious and defamatory acts” being waged at him by Washington Democrats. When he learned of Kanjorski’s remarks, he demanded an apology from his opponent.

“I call on (Kanjorski) to recant his statement and it is my hope that he will apologize for his remarks,” Barletta said. “By attempting to link me to an individual who has spent his entire life conjuring up hatred and preying upon racial and religious division in America, Paul Kanjorski is not only insulting me, but he is attacking those who have supported me.

“Securing our nation’s borders is a responsibility that our elected leaders in Washington have neglected to uphold. To marginalize the frustrations of Pennsylvania voters at Congress’ negligence on this issue by drawing parallels to one of America’s most infamous disseminators of hate is not befitting of a member of the United States Congress.”

Mitchell said Kanjorski is committed to saving Social Security, and said Barletta wants to privatize the program and end guaranteed benefits.

“Congressman Kanjorski voted to raise the minimum wage; Mayor Barletta doesn’t believe workers deserve better wages,” Mitchell said. “Congressman Kanjorski has focused on helping the middle class in northeastern Pennsylvania, which is quickly disappearing under the policies of the Bush administration.”

Barletta said he welcomes the opportunity to discuss the issues, but said he was disappointed Kanjorski did not apologize for his remarks.

“I have never raided Social Security one time – he has,” Barletta said. “Social Security is in trouble because of Congressman Kanjorski and his friends in Washington.”

Barletta said Kanjorski has been in office for 24 years, saying he has been a part of what has been happening to the middle class.

“He really shouldn’t be bragging about that,” Barletta said.

Barletta said Kanjorski has said that immigration is not a central issue to the people of his district.

“He truly believes that,” Barletta said. “That shows you how out of touch he truly is with the people of his district.”

11th District

• The 11th Congressional District includes parts of Luzerne and Lackawanna counties and all of Monroe, Columbia and Carbon counties.

• The district extends east to the New Jersey border, west past Bloomsburg, south past Shamokin and north to Blakely.

• In Luzerne County, it includes Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton, Pittston and Nanticoke and most municipalities on the east side of the Susquehanna River.

Bill O’Boyle, a Times Leader staff writer, can be reached at 829-7218.

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