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Posted on 05/15/2022 1:20:00 PM PDT by lightman
WILLIAMSPORT – A former Donald Trump supporter has accused the former president of throwing Republican gubernatorial candidate Lou Barletta “under the bus.”
Former U.S. Rep. Thomas A. Marino, who was Trump’s pick for drug czar, went further saying at this time he is not supporting anyone who has the former president’s endorsement.
Marino, who also served as U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, made some of his comments about Trump at a Barletta event in Williamsport on Saturday then amplified them Sunday.
He had not planned to get involved in Tuesday’s primary election until Trump endorsed state Sen. Doug Mastriano for governor. “That’s what pushed me over,” he said. “I was appalled at that. Talk about loyalty.”
Barletta, a former congressman and Hazleton mayor, deserved at least a phone call, he said.
Marino and Barletta co-chaired Trump’s 2015 campaign in Pennsylvania in which he defeated Hillary Clinton. The two of them spent a lot of time campaigning for him, he said.
Marino accused Trump of seeing who is leading in the polls and then making an endorsement making him appear to be a political genius.
“I got to know Trump fairly well,” during the 2015 campaign, he said. He came across as a “sincere guy” who “talked about loyalty.”
Trump did much for the economy and unemployment but Marino said he saw changes after he took office especially in what he was saying.
He advised the then president he did not have to respond to everyone that commented about him, he said.
Trump picked Marino for director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy but the congressman withdrew his name in the spring 2017, citing his mother’s serious heart condition. She has since died.
However, a former Marino press secretary Ryan Shucard claimed the real reason was a “ridiculous and needless controversy” surrounding the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act.
The controversy stemmed from media reporting the legislation Marino sponsored that the House passed by voice vote and the Senate by unanimous consent hampered the Drug Enforcement Administration’s ability to quickly suspend distribution licenses amid suspicions of oversupply of opioids.
Marino revealed he was asked to be an Electoral College delegate in Pennsylvania had Trump won the state last November but turned it down. He has not spoken to Trump since President Joe Biden took office, he said.
Marino resigned from Congress on Jan. 23, 2019, just weeks into his fifth term, citing a serious health issue.
The three-time cancer survivor lost half his left kidney in 1999 and the rest in 2009. Part of his right kidney was removed in 2012.
Marino says his focus now is on Barletta but acknowledged when he said he would not support anyone Trump endorses that included GOP senatorial candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz.
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And so he opens his mouth and proves Trump right
Pennsylvania is a flying Sshow.
Appears to be more and more deserting Trump.
Lou Barletta may be a nice guy, but he’s a loser.
While a Trump endorsement certainly helps, many of us Trump supporters take his recommendations with a grain of salt considering some of the terrible choices he picked as advisors as President. We can think for ourselves. And after he endorsed Oz, well I think I can make better choices myself. Trump’s endorsements sometimes seem motivated by other reasons than political ideology.
“Appears to be more and more deserting Trump.”
22-1 record, Yeah, lots and lots are “deserting” Trump. Millions. I know your fantasy being a closet Never Trumper will get you a hard on when some loser clown talks smack about Orange Man but tone it down.
Marino had lost 1 and 1/2 kidneys and survived cancer 3 times. I am not certain that I would vote for him based on his medical issues.
Marino steered a bill through Congress that weakened the government’s ability to crack down on the opioid epidemic. Families for 100,000 ppl a year are saddened by that fact.
I like Trump - voted for him and will again if that’s the the only choice; however, he has nominated many RHINOs and I disagree with his gov’t spending and falling for COVID. Plus he’s been so destroyed by the radical left in the media.
My strategy would be to make Trump the decoy and make the left think he’s the front-runner, but then have De Santis swoop in for the nomination with Trump’s silent support.
“Lou Barletta may be a nice guy, but he’s a loser.”
*
Lou Barletta will never be a loser in this life. Our state should be honored to have him as our governor.
As I said, he’s a nice guy
Pittsburgh?
Damn, Marino never won a Superbowl.
5.56mm
Please…
Mastriano has been in the lead since March abs up 10 last poll I saw.. Trump’s last minute endorsement isn’t going to affect the race..
Probably the only thing I’ve ever agreed with O’Connell about then, otherwise I can’t stand him.
You left out that he’s a true conservative with experience & will actually do something about the illegals that are being flown into PA at 2am.
Do you call everyone who doesn’t agree 100% with Trump a never Trumper? He’s not exactly a deity you know.
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