ICYMI: “Blatantly Unfair” – Newspaper Calls Out Brian Fitzpatrick’s False Attacks Against Steve Santarsiero
Key Point: “If you look at Santarsiero’s attendance record over his tenure in Harrisburg, he has a 98 percent rating. That’s among the best in both the House and Senate.”
Editorial: Truth always loses the money race
The Intelligencer
It is a sad reality that winning the race for Bucks County’s 8th Congressional District seat may rest on winning another race: the money race.
Overall, Democrat Steve Santarsiero is winning that race, having piled up more than $2.3 million since announcing his candidacy last fall. Republican Brian Fitzpatrick isn’t that far behind, considering his late entry into the race. Since launching his candidacy in January, Fitzpatrick has raised more than $1.6 million and outdistanced Santarsiero in the last quarter.
Money matters because it fuels the ad campaigns candidates use to get their messages out. Despite the hack jobs you’ve been assaulted with on social media, TV and in the mail recently, the candidates’ own messages have been mostly positive, focusing on their records and agendas. The attack ads are the work of outside organizations, if you want to consider the state and national political parties outsiders. Those are the ads that malign the opponents’ character and question their honesty by spinning the truth and distorting reality.
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No, the allegation is blatantly unfair. As a letter writer noted on this page a few days ago, cherry-picking from a small pool of numbers creates a false impression. The reality is that the Legislature only met for a few days in September. If you look at Santarsiero’s attendance record over his tenure in Harrisburg, he has a 98 percent rating. That’s among the best in both the House and Senate.
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