Former City Controller Jonathan Saidel, a candidate yesterday for lieutenant governor, was targeted by a robocall around the city Monday that linked him to the Ku Klux Klan. The woman who made the recorded calls claimed she was supporting another candidate in the Democratic primary election, former Commonwealth Court Judge Doris Smith-Ribner. Ribner tells us she had nothing to do with the call.
PhillyClout has obtained a partial recording of the call, in which the woman asks if "Saidel is running for controller or for grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan."
Here's the rest of the script: "It is no secret that Saidel has not been a friend of our community. But now, he thinks he can buy off a few ward leaders and we will all vote for him. Not me. I am voting for one of us: Doris Smith-Ribner. Doris has fought racial stereotypes all her life, rising to be the first African American elected to the Commonwealth Court. Please join me in voting for Doris Smith-Ribner for lieutenant governor. This call paid for by Pat Wilson."
So who is Pat Wilson? We're still trying to find out. Ribner says she'd like to know. "Many people have been wondering who this person is," she told us. "I don't know what to say. I have no idea who this person is."
Saidel is locked in a still-undecided race with the third candidate in the primary, Scott Conklin. Saidel spokesman Marty Marks said his campaign doesn't know who ran the robocall. "To suggest that Jonathan Saidel, of Jewish heritage and a champion of civil rights for his whole career, has anything to do with the KKK is disgusting," Marks said. "It’s politics at its worst"
The root of this political attack may have been a racially tinged dust-up from 1993, when Saidel told a mostly white crowd in Northeast Philly that he opposed school busing plans that shipped kids to "parts of the city that look like East Beirut." Then City Councilman Michael Nutter made a speech in Council a few days later, saying he thought Saidel was "running for city controller, not grand wizard."
Let's fight racial stereotypes and elect one of "us"... Too funny.— mikegdj- Now who is the racist?— Centrist
- Pat Wilson=Ribner-Smith— Rowland
if he really is a racist, then i hope he gets what he deserves. BUT, if he isnt, who ever made that call needs to man up and apologize.- Hey now! We can't point out hypocrisy...that's racist!
- I just feel bad for that poor carpet remnant that gave up its life so Saidel could wear its corpse on his head.— tdoc
- In other words, "vote for Doris Smith-Ribner because she's black" Haha. This is classic T.N.S.! And good for Saidel opposing busing kids from N. Philly to the NE. Too bad it didn't work out because those animals that are bussed in have had a bad effect on the NE. And Roxborough too!— philly57
- Saidel opposed school busing in 93"?... Than he's a genius not grand wizard. Shame no one saw it his way. Since then almost every school in the N.E. has gone into the toilet. & this "kkk robocall" is despicable. Will be a real shame if it costs him the election.— Kennedy
- Kennedy is right. Look at Abraham Lincoln H.S. They had to tear that down and build a new one.— ALJ
- Blacks can't be racists; didn't you know? Some left wing professor told them so in college.— Kaiser Sosa
- Nutter was a idiot back then. Not much has changed.— ALJ
- philly57.."those animals"..wtf is wrong with you?..— surprise
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
- Typical DemoKooKK dirty trick/race baiting tactics.— fafafooey
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David Gambacorta spent a small eternity writing about cops, drug dealers and serial killers. Now he’s writing about power and politics – which sometimes reminds him of the old crime beat. He joined the Daily News in 2005. And yes, he knows you’re not quite sure how to pronounce his last name. E-mail tips to gambacd@phillynews.com
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Catherine Lucey joined the Daily News in 2002 and has written about murderous drug gangs, political protesters and Harry Potter. After covering the 2007 mayoral election, she moved over to the City Hall bureau where she has been reporting on the Nutter administration.
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Jan Ransom, a native New Yorker, joined the Daily News in 2010 after graduating from Howard University. She has since written about the difficulty of filing police complaints, tax deadbeats and life after violent home invasions. She joined the Daily News City Hall Bureau in 2011 and has plunged headfirst into reporting on administration budget battles and City Council shenanigans.
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