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July 2, 2008

Barletta vexed by McCain snub

Hazleton mayor wants candidates to come to city to address illegal immigration issue.

By Bill O'Boyle boboyle@timesleader.com
Times Leader Staff Writer
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HAZLETON – U.S. Sen. John McCain has declined Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta’s invitation to visit the city to discuss illegal immigration.

Barletta said he was troubled by McCain’s rejection.

McCain is the presumptive Republican nominee for president.

“I think the candidates are purposely avoiding Hazleton and the issue of illegal immigration,” he said. “That’s why I’m running for Congress. We need to get this issue at the top of the national agenda.”

In a letter faxed to Barletta’s congressional campaign headquarters, McCain’s campaign said the senator appreciates the invitation but passed on the offer because he does not “foresee an opportunity to add this event to the calendar.”

The letter was signed by Jo Black in McCain’s scheduling department.

Barletta sent letters on March 14 to senators McCain, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama inviting them to Hazleton to talk about the issue that put the city in the national spotlight. Clinton, former first lady and New York senator, and Illinois Sen. Obama are in a close race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Barletta said neither Clinton nor Obama have responded to his invitation. Calls and e-mails to both national campaign headquarters were not answered.

Barletta said he does not understand how the three could justify avoiding Hazleton and the issue.

“Especially when they are spending so much time in the state,” Barletta said. “That tells me how they are going to deal with illegal immigration when they become president, and I believe they won’t deal with it.”

Barletta is unopposed in the Republican primary in the 11th Congressional District race. U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, is the lone candidate for his party’s nomination. The two will meet in the Nov. 4 general election.

“Hazleton would provide the perfect forum for the candidates to talk about this issue,” Barletta said. “None of them have addressed the issue in a manner I feel that is clear to the American people.”

He said declining the offer sends the wrong message to “the millions of Americans who want their next president to address illegal immigration.

“I’ve had to stand up to President Bush and other elected officials who don’t want to address this national problem.”

By snubbing Hazleton, the candidates are sending a similar message to other cities across the country faced with the same problem, Barletta said.

He said he remains hopeful that Clinton or Obama will take him up on his offer and he has asked McCain to reconsider.

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

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