Click here to subscribe today or Login.
PLAINS TWP. – With November’s election just over a month away, Republican candidates and their supporters gathered at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Sunday evening for an event billed as Thunder & Lightning’s Deplorables Run for Trump/Trump Fest.
To many attendees, among which were about 300 motorcyclists who had ridden to the event from Hazleton, the opportunity to hear former Marine Lt. Col. Oliver North speak about party priorities was a highlight of the event.
“North represents the last great era, the Reagan era,” said Bill Gagliardi, who made the trip from the Poconos, “a time when the economy was booming for both individuals and businesses.”
Bill Monk, of Dallas, also expressed his support for the party and the current president.
Speaking abut U.S. Senate candidate Lou Barletta, Monk said in addition to Barletta’s platform, which includes immigration reform and business deregulation, the candidate also supports the president and his policies.
“Its huge that Mr. Barletta supports President Trump,” he said. “But I think that he would support any president in a show of support for the country.”
When Barletta took the stage to thunderous applause and shots of “Lou, Lou, Lou,” he reminded the audience of the roots of the term “thunder and lightning,” originating during the 2016 campaign when President Donald Trump deemed Barletta and U.S. Rep. Tom Marino “thunder and lightning.”
“He’s a best friend and a colleague,” said Barletta. “If I was in a foxhole, the one person I would want to be with is Tom Marino.”
Barletta credited Trump with improving the economy, greatly reducing unemployment and raising morale among Americans.
“We had one more chance and we took it. We can’t let them take it back,” he said, referring to Democrats and the upcoming election.
Barletta also addressed last week’s testimony by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, alleging that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her decades ago.
“They used her as a political pawn when she wanted to stay quiet, ” Barletta said. “And they destroyed a good man.”
Marino, who had participated in the motorcycle ride and was clad in a biker’s garb, addressed the bikers at the conclusion of the ride, saying it was good to get on a bike again and spend time with his constituents on the road.
Later in the day, Marino again addressed the crowd saying he embraced the terms “deplorable” and “despicable” given to the Republican party by Democrats Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi, saying it increased solidarity among party members.
Marino warned that it is important for Republican voters to get out in November, even though it is a mid-term election.
“We did great in 2016. It was a presidential election year,” he said. “But we need your vote on November 6.”
Also addressing a crowd of more than 400, were gubernatorial candidate Scott Wagner and U.S. congressional candidates John Chrin and Dan Meuser.
