Free Republic

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...

Rendell sticking with Knoll Governor waves off missteps, malaprops in saying she'll be his running mate in '06 Wednesday, July 27, 2005 By Tom Barnes, Post-Gazette Harrisburg Bureau HARRISBURG -- Even though Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll makes occasional malaprops and mistakes in judgment, Gov. Ed Rendell says he'll stick with her when he runs for re-election next year. Asked yesterday if she'll be his running mate on the Democratic ticket in 2006, Rendell said, "I have no reason to expect differently." Rendell told a state Capitol news conference that as lieutenant governor, Knoll takes her job seriously and "has...

Saturday, July 23, 2005 By Tom Barnes, Post-Gazette Harrisburg Bureau The family of a Marine who was killed in Iraq is furious with Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll for showing up uninvited at his funeral this week, handing out her business card and then saying "our government" is against the war.

PITTSBURGH -- Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll apologized to the family of a Marine killed in Iraq for showing up uninvited for his funeral last week and giving out a business card. Knoll went to the July 19 funeral of Staff Sgt. Joseph Goodrich, 32, of Westwood, who died July 10 in Hit, Iraq. Family members said she left a business card and made a remark about "our government" being against the war. In a letter dated Monday to Goodrich's widow, Amy, Knoll said she left a card in case the family wanted to contact her "and as a sign...

Written apologies will be sent to a fallen Marine's relatives angered by Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll's uninvited appearance at the soldier's funeral and her criticism of the war in Iraq, Gov. Ed Rendell said Sunday. Rendell said he will send a personal letter to the family of the late Marine Staff Sgt. Joseph Goodrich, of Westwood, and will ask Knoll to do the same. Goodrich, 32, a police officer and infantry unit leader, died July 10 in a mortar attack in Hit, Iraq. Rendell said he hadn't spoken with Knoll about the incident, but was disturbed by the family's...