The LuLac Edition #609, Oct. 21st, 2008

PHOTO INDEX: CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE LOU BARLETTA AND ELECTION TOP 40 LOGO.

BARLETTA RESPONDS

The campaign of U.S. Congressional candidate Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta said his opponent, Congressman Paul Kanjorski, is a hypocrite when it comes to addressing the Congress's role in the banking scandal and the credit crisis that followed.
“It is the height of hypocrisy for Paul Kanjorski to publicly rebuke AIG while privately taking thousands of dollars from the company's lobbyists for his re-election campaign,” said Vince Galko, Mayor Barletta's campaign manager. “This is nothing new, as Mr. Kanjorski has taken millions of dollars in campaign contributions from lobbyists and special interest groups that represent the financial industries he was responsible to regulate.
“In his latest attempt to confuse the public, Mr. Kanjorski refers to AIG as 'a pig at the taxpayer's trough,' but it's clear that Mr. Kanjorski has done his fair share of abusing the taxpayers by taking what he calls 'free money' but is, in reality, the hard-earned tax dollars of the people of northeastern Pennsylvania,” Galko added.
According to the Federal Election Commission, Kanjorski accepted campaign contributions in the 2007-08 cycle from American International Group (AIG). (www.fec.gov)
In the House in this cycle, Kanjorski received the second-highest amount of lobbyist cash that AIG paid out, and AIG ranked sixth on Kanjorski's list of political action committee contributors. (www.opensecrets.org) In September, AIG received an $85 billion federal bailout, then the company came under fire for lavish events days after receiving that bailout.
“AIG has acted disgracefully by holding top-shelf parties after the taxpayers bailed out the company, but Mr. Kanjorski is trying to cover up his complicity in the banking crisis, especially since he has taken thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from AIG,” Galko said.
“Congress needs to limit the amount of money its members can take from the industries they're supposed to be watching,” Mayor Barletta added. “We cannot trust members of Congress to investigate or oversee the same people who give them millions of dollars in campaign contributions.”

LULAC LAYOFFS

It appears both counties, Luzerne and Lackawanna County are going to be doing some belt tightening in terms of the budget. In Luzerne County, the layoffs arrive to make certain the budget is balanced at the end of the year. In Lackawanna County, more long term projections appear to be the order of the day streamlining county government for the next fiscal year and beyond. The major political difference, Lackawanna Commissioners Washo and O’Brien are solid in their resolve to work as a team while Maryanne Petrilla continues to govern (quite masterfully) by coalition government.

LATEST POLL

The latest NBC News Wall Street Journal Poll shows Senator Obama with a 10 point lead over John McCain, 52% to 42%.

ELECTION TOP 40

MEDIA PACKAGING #11

McCAIN

McCain has packaged himself as an authentic America hero. All of his ads take the tact that “America Comes First”, service above self. Where the McCain campaign has fallen short is the packaging of Sarah Palin. By not putting her in conservative friendly venues early, the campaign did her a disservice by not building her confidence. Although she redeemed herself and then some in the debates, the McCain camp should have lent the Senator’s gravitas to her image. Also at the same time, her energy could have helped the McCain effort with his wooing of the base.

OBAMA

Obama has been a brand from day one. Carefully calculated, the campaign has positioned Obama as the candidate of change. As economic factors weigh heavily on the country, the image of change is now indelible. By accident or design, the packaging of Obama has caught up with the issues of the day. As far as Joe Biden, well let's just say the effort to team the two up fell apart given Biden’s loquacious style. Talk about a Maverick, Joe has been off the reservation often but has stayed close to the Obama message. Small favors.