Murtha's GOP foe snubbed

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ^ | 9/24/06 | Robert Novak

[smokeyb]

Murtha's GOP foe snubbed By Robert Novak

Sunday, September 24, 2006

WASHINGTON

The long-shot Republican chance to defeat anti-war Democrat Rep. John Murtha got longer still when Pennsylvania Republican State Chairman Rob Gleason canceled a Monday fundraiser for Murtha's GOP opponent, Washington County Commissioner Diane Irey.

Irey's staffers accused Gleason of being too close to Murtha, a fellow resident of Johnstown. They claimed the Republican chairman has been talking down Irey's chances in Republican circles. Irey has reduced Murtha's big lead but still is far behind.

"I told her that I spend all my time and effort having fundraisers for the Cambria County GOP," Gleason told this column. "So to go back to the donors would be difficult." He said the Irey campaign was asking too much of party donors and did not understand "the way we operate up here."

[LibLieSlayer]

I am supporting Santorum, Irey, Allen and several others directly. I also gave to the RNC.

LLS

[Shery]

Maybe Irey will win on her own, without the party's so-called help. Considering the republican party of Pennsylvania, anyway, why tie yourself to a dead horse? Most are far away from republican values!

[Mrs. Ranger]

"I don't know how big of an impact it will really have."

Not much. Nobody in the 12th is surprised. ;) Are you aware that Gleason didn't become the GOP "leader" until *after* the April primary? ;)

It's "good news" actually, because it shows Irey is strong enough to make "the boys" mighty nervous. ;)

[Badray]

The GOP Party structure is pretty corrupt and very much RINO. The Republican legislature collaborated with the Dem Governor and the GOP majority Supreme Court to pass a middle of the night, illegal pay raise that ranged from 16% to 54%.

When was the last time that you voted yourself a 54% raise?

Four months later, angry voters forced them to repeal it. Then some judges sued to reinstate it for just the judges.

Well surprise, surprise. The corrupt court said that it was legal for the judges (including themselves) to get the raise. This saga isn't over yet. New legislation is being proposed to rescind the raise and nullify the court decree. If the raise does stand, the court has interpreted the pay raise legislation to read that their pay will now be tied to the federal court system and that when they get their new raises shortly, the PA judges will get another raise. The total increase per year will be $30,000 or $40,000 for each of them.

The good news is that we already removed one judge. 30 members of the house and senate resigned rather than face the voters again and another 17 were defeated in the primary and more will go down to defeat in November.

[Nav_Mom]

I have been slammed with the GOP calling for $$$
Every time they call I tell them I will "earmark" my donations & I refuse to give to the jellyfish GOP slush fund!

[smokeyb]

Good for you I did it years ago and they never call me anymore.

[Just A Nobody]

Thanks for the pings! I don't know how I missed this.

Pennsylvania Republican State Chairman Rob Gleason and John Murtha

Robert Gleason, Jr.

Gleason is a diversified corporation comprised of three complementary companies: Gleason Insurance, Gleason Financial and Gleason Technology. From creating unique insurance programs to revolutionizing facility inspection processes, Gleason consistently provides innovative and cost efficient solutions to a diverse national client list.
Robert A. Gleason, Jr. Chairman and CEO

In 2000, Rob served as Chairman of The Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers, an organization that represents the 300 largest insurance brokers in the United States. The Council places 80% - more than $90 billion - of the commercial property/casualty insurance premiums in the United States. They also provide industry leadership, visible and effective representation before government, executive training and agency management programs.

This gives new meaning to Mr. Gleason's past comments, IMO. He is decidedly working against the Republican challenger. WHY??? Is he afraid the BACON won't land in HIS frying pan unless Murtha is there to throw it in?

"We're all kind of perplexed," said Robert Gleason Jr., an insurance executive and chairman of the local Republican committee, who said he had put aside party loyalties and voted for Murtha in the past.

"I think Jack is a good guy," said Robert Gleason, chairman of the Cambria County Republican Committee. "He has helped our community. He has been the king of appropriations. He has gotten a lot of great things here. This town would be a ghost town without him."

And no doubt you and your family would be a bit poorer, hey Mr. Gleason. There needs to be an investigation as to how much back scratching is going on between the "Gleason Group" and the "king of appropriations."

“The people in this congressional district, they will vote for a Republican,” Gleason said. “Having said that, it’s a steep mountain to climb running against John Murtha because he’s brought home the bacon.”
Click Here To Read More

It is a steep mountain because you, and those like you, have piled on to make that mountain steep as opposed to supporting the Republican challenger!!!

Robert Gleason said he often faces questions about whether his political ties help his firm win government or other insurance business.

He declined to say whether he thinks those ties help, but he said: "Can't they pick who they want to? I know everybody and I contribute to everybody . . . [but] I consider myself a terrific insurance guy, not a politician. Hey, I deliver."
Click Here To Read More

Mr. Gleason does not have to say whether he thinks those ties help. It is not rocket science...all the facts are laid out before our eyes. 34 posted on 09/25/2006 12:33:57 PM PDT by Just A Nobody

[Just A Nobody]

Thank you for your support of Diana Irey. It will be up to us, the little people, to fund and elect her.

[LibLieSlayer]

I was proud to help!

LLS

[Just A Nobody]

;*)

[smokeyb]

He is decidedly working against the Republican challenger. WHY???

Marching orders? Have you checked out the FCC site and look at the donations to the Murtha campaign and worked backwards to see where the money started? Even the Hillmans had the nerve to donate directly to his campaign (and a few other Dems), let alone through a few other middlemen.

The party does not want conservatives in this state, let alone DC.

[Just A Nobody]

First, I'm sorry I did not get to meet you Sunday. I did see you, but had no idea you were a FReeper. After asking several people if they were FReepers and getting a weird look, I quit asking. LOL!

No, I haven't checked the FCC site. Can you post that information? I certainly don't doubt there is a money trail.

Did you see the big Gleason banner strewn across the far side of the arena? I realized my teeth were grinding everytime I saw it.

I had the opportunity to speak to a business owner in J-town. I asked who his insurance carrier was. He told me and then asked why. I said I was surprised it wasn't Gleason. He informed me that when he first came here, (yes, from another country) he did have Gleason insurance, as he was told it was a great deal etc. "After I was here for awhile I started checking around and found it was not a good deal at all, so I switched."

Made me go hmmmmmmmm.

[smokeyb]

Sorry I didn't meet you too! Someone suggested that when we freep an event we should all wear nametags.

The site for individual searches is http://www.fec.gov/finance/disclosure/norindsea.shtml

I would search by just last name, as they seem to use different first names/initials. Check out J Simonds, the Hillman's daughter. It will give you a scare. You can also do searchs by candidates which helps for tracing coincidental organizational donations back to individuals. The more I do, the more I see connections to other prominent "R" shakers, which upsets me.

[Just A Nobody]

Thanks Smokey!

[Fresh Wind]

It's easy to understand how they operate by watching the ABSCAM video. ABSCAM wasn't just for Democrats, y'know.

[smokeyb]

Press Release .....

PA Republican Assembly Calls for PA GOP Chair to Resign Cites Robert Gleason's apparent conflicts of interest

Pittsburgh, PA -- October 4, 2006 Candidate for Congress, 12th District, Diana Irey had a critical fundraiser cancelled by PA Republican State Committee Chairman Robert Gleason the day before the fundraiser was to take place.

The fundraiser was scheduled for September 25th in Johnstown, PA, home to Mr. Gleason and Irey's opponent John Murtha. Gleason's excuse..."to go back to the donors would be difficult!"

Excuse us...but political races ARE difficult. If they weren't...candidates wouldn't need to raise a lot of money! Mr. Gleason has benefited for many years with his pal Murtha in office, which is fine because Murtha is supposed to represent everyone in the district. It is not fine when this chumminess becomes a conflict of interest in a critical race where the incumbent, an un-indicted co-conspirator in the Abscam bribery scandal and someone who rushed to judgement against our troops in active battle, is gaining favor from his opponent's statewide party chairman!

Background: Anointed Chairman Gleason has been cozying up to Murtha for years. He stated publicly in 2005 that "I think Jack is a good guy. He has helped our community. He has been the king of appropriations. He has gotten a lot of great things here. This town would be a ghost town without him." Other evidence that Chairman Gleason is on the wrong side is given by Bill Choby, Murtha's 2002 opponent: "He is a moderate who plays politics with both sides in order to secure government contracts for his family businesses. He was a major Murtha supporter while ignoring me completely during my congressional campaigns."

The PA Republican State Committee, because of it's lack of basic Republican principles and backbone allowed this milquetoast chairman to be their leader and chart their course right into a minefield that will see the PA Republican Party picking up the pieces for years to come.

PA Republican State Committee by-laws Rule 11.1 clearly states: "Whenever it shall appear that any member of State Committee ... is charged with ... or opposes or is about to oppose the Republican Party or any of its candidates" an investigation will take place and if warranted, the offending official should be removed.

Chairman Gleason's egregious behavior in canceling a fundraiser in a critical district, at the eleventh hour, for no justifiable reason, constitutes a Rule 11.1 violation and should trigger an immediate investigation.

Gleason should be free to build his business and cozy up to whomever can help him. However, due to this conflict of interest, he cannot effectively serve the interests of the PA Republican party and should be replaced by a qualified principled chairman untainted by these conflicts.