The LuLac Edition #2472, July 14th, 2013

Our “In Focus” logo. (Photo: Gort 42) 

CARTWRIGHT’S EVENT 

Congressman Matt Cartwright had his Second Annual Summer Picnic at the Mercatilli and Segila Park yesterday. From 11am to 3pm more than 125 to 150 people stopped by, passed through and greeted the first term 17th District Congressman. There were the political types there, all staunch supporters of Cartwright. From a delegation from Monroe County to some people from Pottsville, it is safe to say there was a good cross section of constituents. The base of the crowd came from the Wilkes Barre/Scranton area. Cars lined both sides of the small access road to the park as music played, kids played in a bounce house and Cartwright supporters stood in line for an ice cream cone. (We stayed for part of the event due to other commitments in the day) Wyoming Mayor Bob Boyer was slinging the hash but this wasn’t just hash. Hot Dogs, Fetch’s Sausage, Fresh Fruit and soft drinks were available for people to enjoy. One of the things I noticed about the crowd was the number of working, middle class families there. The conversations I heard at the various tables had to do not primarily with politics but with policy. People talked about Health Care, cuts in social services and how Cartwright’s GOP Congressional colleagues seemed ready to block anything this twice duly elected Democratic President had to offer. It seems like the more resistance that comes from Washington on basic issues like compromising on a Farm Bill are getting people, at least the people I talked to angry. No working person I encountered was worried that if an Immigration Reform Act passed was concerned they would lose their jobs. There was a crowd but unlike past political rallies, no one seemed to be looking for something. They were looking to help Cartwright and his Democratic minority help save what is left of the middle class. 
As for Cartwright, I believe that he has the potential to be one of the best Congressman this area has ever seen. Not to diminish Cartwright’s convictions and how he stands for them, but the bar on “Best Congressman” from our area is pretty low. I mean we have small government booster Lou Barletta wanting to make an immigration overstay a felony (who does he think will police that, you can’t farm that to private industry) and Tom Marino doing an audit on every poor person who has an Access card to see what they are eating! Cartwright can be a Dan Flood/Frank Harrison without their respective baggage. Paul Kanjorski was a technocrat and big dreamer in a time when those ideas weren’t being funded as much as he might have liked. But Cartwright in his short time has inspired people to get the middle class back to the middle and off its precarious cliff. 
Personally I’m getting increasingly annoyed when I hear people refer to Cartwright as “The Millionaire Congressman”. What a person has in his bank doesn’t mean as much as what he has in his heart. Rich men like Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and George H.W. Bush proved that beyond a shadow of a doubt. If you look at every action this Congressman has taken, it is geared toward working people who just need a break. It takes a special person to recognize that. Cartwright does and I knew it when we’d have conversations on the set of the old WYOU TV Interactive News. That’s why LuLac endorsed him over Tim Holden because we didn’t give a rat’s ass about what his assets were but rather how he’d work like hell for those people who are just getting by. There are more people in the latter category and Matt Cartwright knows that. Too bad other members of Congress can’t…..or won’t realize the same thing. 

Congressman Matt Cartwright, this blog editor and Attorney Marion Munley Cartwright. (Photo: Mrs. LuLac).

State House Representatives made the scene representing the Lu and the Lac. From left, Sid Michaels Kavulich, (114th District) this blog editor, Michael Carroll (118th District) and new comer Marty Flynn ( 113th District) (Photo: Mrs. LuLac).

I had the opportunity to meet up with a loyal reader of LuLac as well as a Face Book friend. Here I am with Joelle Barnes who is a tireless and enthusiastic volunteer for various Democratic candidates in the area. (Photo: Mrs. LuLac)

Former Scranton Mayor and Ed Rendell Governor’s Office Coordinator Jimmy Connors and I joked that if Home Rule stalls in both counties, we’d be more than happy to be the benevolent leaders (we changed that from dictators because we’re too old to be dragged through the streets) of both Luzerne and Lackawanna County. (Photo: Mrs. LuLac)

A shot of some of the early crowd arriving around 11:15AM.(Photo:Mrs. LuLac).

And the band (duo) played on. (Photo: Mrs. LuLac)