Posted on 07/27/2005 7:52:00 AM PDT by Born Conservative
Until now, Catherine Baker Knoll seems to have been Pennsylvania's version of the Teflon candidate.
She survived a bond-refinancing scandal during her second term as state treasurer to beat out an eight-person field for the Democratic nomination as lieutenant governor in 2002. And while some snicker about her occasional misstatements on the Senate floor and in public, other people find them endearing.
But the 74-year-old grandmother made national news with her unsolicited appearance at the funeral of Marine Staff Sgt. Joseph P. Goodrich, a reservist from Allegheny County who died in Iraq. Her attendance angered the Marine's family, and with coverage by Fox News and CNN, it has become Knoll's largest controversy as lieutenant governor.
It has earned a very public apology from Gov. Ed Rendell and provoked outrage from veterans and others in the military community, who said Knoll should resign.
As of yesterday, Knoll was still standing. The governor is backing her. Some political observers say he can't afford the time and money it would take to back another candidate as he seeks re-election.
Rendell said he does not consider Knoll's latest misstep a firing offense, though he did criticize her for going to the funeral without an invitation from the family and for misrepresenting his administration's position on the war in Iraq.
Rhonda Goodrich, the Marine's sister-in-law, said she was upset that Knoll reportedly stated that the Rendell administration opposes the war.
"State government doesn't take a position on the war. It's not our business to do so, but it has been abundantly clear that this administration supports the men and women who are fighting," Rendell said.
At a news conference yesterday, Rendell offered this defense of his oft-maligned lieutenant governor:
"I have no doubt [she] was there not for politicking; she was there because she takes these things extraordinarily seriously and extraordinarily to heart and she wanted to express her sympathy as a representative of state government."
Asked if he expects Knoll to be on his ticket in 2006, Rendell added, "I have no reason to expect differently. ... Sure she occasionally makes some malaprops, including introducing me as Edward G. Robinson, but if malaprops were a disqualification from office I submit that we would be looking for a new president of the United States.
"I think Catherine has conducted herself in this office with dignity. She cares very deeply about Pennsylvania and the people of Pennsylvania."
Knoll, who has not made any public appearances in Harrisburg this week, could not be reached for this story. She has indicated she plans to seek a second term in 2006.
Some critics say that Knoll should go. Some veterans see Knoll's attempt to sympathize with the Goodriches as tantamount to telling them she felt Goodrich died in vain.
"To me, she's in the category of Jane Fonda," said Joanne Silva, a 53-year-old resident of Monroe County, referring to the actress who gained notoriety for her protests of the Vietnam War.
Silva, who belongs to the Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association, a group of writers, photographers and broadcasters with a special interest in telling Marines' stories, wrote to Knoll this week to ask her to resign.
"I'm a citizen of Pennsylvania, and I'm not against the war in Iraq, and she had no right to speak for me," Silva said. "And if Governor Rendell keeps her on, he'll never be president, because this will never go away."
"Rendell should do everything in his power to get her out of there," said Eugene Atkins, an incensed 69-year-old veteran from Fairview Twp.
But most political observers reached this week said that while the governor has little choice but to back his partner publicly, they agree that Rendell is still better off backing Knoll than engaging in a primary fight to remove her.
In Pennsylvania, lieutenant governor candidates are nominated in a separate primary.
"I'm sure he'd rather have somebody of his own choosing ... but the political reality is they wouldn't want to expend the political capital to defeat her in a primary," said Larry Ceisler, a longtime Philadelphia-based Democratic Party campaign consultant.
The cost in both dollars and party division is not necessary, Ceisler added, because the 2006 election "is going to be about Ed Rendell and his agenda anyway. ... He overpowers and overshadows everything else."
However, Pittsburgh-based political commentator Jon Delano said Knoll might have left herself open to a primary challenge independent of any action by Rendell, "because people may well remember this gaffe, which has now been all over the national news."
Many think Knoll, from Allegheny County, brings assets such as geographic balance to the ticket with Philadelphian Rendell, plus popularity with senior citizens. Given her track record, they're not sure the latest furor will stick.
Other Democrats, many of whom have known Knoll for years, say that her intentions probably were good. They said that unless the governor seeks a change, other Democrats won't push for it.
"We will take our cue from Ed Rendell," said state Sen. Robert J. Mellow, the Democratic floor leader from Lackawanna County. "He's the leader of our party."
This is the excuse the left ALWAYS makes "intentions were good". Using that, they attempt to justify almost ANYTHING...
Isn't it "malapropisms" not "malaprops" in this context?
At any rate, the LtGov of PA is a meathead.
And we all know where the "road of good intentions" leads.
Just like a RAT, change the topic, and somehow find a connection to Dubya.
I'd love to hear Quinn's take on all this!?
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