U.S. Rep. Bob Brady just wrapped up his "unity lunch" with the men who ran in last month's Democratic primary election for district attorney, absent the one guy who would have made it a truly interesting event. Dan McCaffery, who finished second to Seth Williams after launching a late barrage of negative campaign advertising, blew off the lunch.
Brady, chairman of the Democratic City Committee, first shrugged his shoulders when asked why McCaffery wasn't attending the lunch at The Palm, an old-time favorite of the city's political class. Brady later said McCaffery just returned home from a post-election trip. "He just wasn't here," Brady explained. "He said he would try."
McCaffery responded "no comment" to an e-mail from PhillyClout, asking why he didn't attend the lunch.
Showing up were candidates Dan McElhatton, Brian Grady and Michael Turner, who carved out time even though he is in the middle of a jury trial representing a defendant in an asbestos case. The four candidates seemed to have a jovial lunch with the party chairman, sitting at table eight, a nice round perch in the restaurant's southeast corner. That table, by the way, is a popular hang-out for post-election celebrations by Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which backed McCaffery in his run for District Attorney.
Williams, who took 42 percent of the vote to McCaffery's 30 percent, sat under a caricature of Sylvester Stallone, drawn as an injured Rocky Balboa, leaning on a crutch. Brady said after the lunch that the other candidates had pledged to work hard to help Williams against Republican Michael Untermeyer in the November general election. "This is a tough town," Brady said.
UPDATE, 2:40 pm: McCaffery just sent PhillyClout this e-mail about his absence at the lunch. "Nothing ominous. Just too busy catching up with work. I support the nominee. End of story."
Elect Untermeyer in November. Haven't we had enough of the Dems in this town?— feudi- Anyone who supported the other candidates for DA should consider voting Untermeyer. It will send Brady a message that not showing up for lunch is not going to do.— CleanupPhilly
- How come Brady didn't invite me to lunch? I got one vote, my write in. What does one have to do around here to get a sandwich?
- What ever happened to the allegation that Abraham's assistants helped McCaffery with that ridiculous attack ad he aired just before the primary? The one where they released a "chronology" that sounded like it was written by the McCaffery campaign ... Wouldn't that be an ethical violation if A.D.A.s did such a thing? It's one thing when Johnny Doc cronies violate the law on the eve of an election ... it's another thing when public servants do it. I guess McCaffery is back to work at his Norristown law firm; or is he back to work servicing Ward Leaders?— Copper34
- Great job Chris Brennan. Making something out of nothing. Classic!— SayHello2MyLittleFriend
- Grady, McElhatton, Turner = class. McCaffery = A $ $. McCaffery will sell the condo in Delaire Landing and go back to the burbs crying. McCaffery has always been a cry baby since he returned kick offs in football - he would always, always run out of bounds, never take a hit - he never had any heart. He wasn't away on any trip, he was down the shore groping women in Wildwood at Keenan's like he always does. At least the Irish with integrity voted for McElhatton and Grady. McCaffery almost, almost cost Pat Dugan his reelection in a guilt by association vote. Dugan and Brady need to wake up, the Irish will unite in 2013 when Seth announces that he is running for congress and then unity will be of more importance to the city. Only thing is, by 2013, most unions will have changed their residency rules and most of the Irish will have moved to the suburbs to get away from the crime. Just look at Havertown and Montgomery county as models.— mikeyg
- Why didn't Michael Nutter get rid of Bob Brady before now. Someone needs to tell him he can't run Philadelphia elections.— Sam Pileggi
- Bob Brady runs Philly. Hey mikeyg, segregation is over.— bjack85
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
- Unity Lunch? No this was only for and about Brady. As head of democratic city committee if he had any leadership we'd have Philadelphians engaged in the voting process.— RLeC
- Kudos to Brady for uniting the party behind Williams!— jnixon05
- Voter turn-out was very low and that is the problem.Across the country the electorate continually avoid their civic duty to vote.We want democracy to flourish,then we must set the example.GI'S are being sent to undeveloped countries risking life & limb for 3rd Worlders to elect their new leaders while Americans at home are too lazy to vote,America is polarized about many issues,gay thing,abortion etc it is our responsibilty to vote so the democratic process works,if we dont we are looking at 49 more California's— jet3to
- it's all bull and all for show. Look at me, Look at me. look what I"m doing— Uh Huh
- If you want to know where mccaff was, check under Johnny Doc's Desk— Uh Huh
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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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