U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach has a beef with Republican Party leaders in Pennsylvania.
Trailing in the polls in the 2010 governor's race, Gerlach today said GOP honchos have been too quick to embrace rival Tom Corbett in next year's primary.
Gerlach said during a Pennsylvania Press Club luncheon speech that picking a candidate early hasn't served the party well in recent elections.
"The Republican establishment clears the field, stifles competition and then they lose to the Democrats in the general," said Gerlach. "Republicans deserve to have a choice in this election."
Attorney General Tom Corbett has been racking up endorsements from prominent Republicans - just today adding former U.S. Rep.William F. Clinger, Jr. to the list.
Gerlach did not clear up questions about whether he wants Corbett to step down because of an appearance of conflicts with his day job as the state's top law enforcement officer.
As an example, Gerlach cited a Corbett fundraising event in Philadelphia thrown by the chairman of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission which is the subject of a Corbett probe.
Asked repeatedly if he was calling for Corbett's resignation, Gerlach said he was not.
"I never did call for his resignation," said Gerlach, speaking to reporters after the lunch. "He should either resign or suspend his gubernatorial campagining until the invetigation is completed."
Gerlach also said if elected he would work to reduce taxes, end government waste and curb corruption in Harrisburg.
Berks County state Rep. Sam Rohrer announced last week that he also is seeking the Republican nomination.
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This from a guy who has barely won re-elections in a district gerrymandered just for him.— mike l- Gerlach's district was hardly a gift when Republicans are in the minority by 50,000 votes. This article was written after the Press Club speech today I believe. It is shame the reporter didn't want to write about all the ideas Gerlach talked about.— politigator
- His district certainly was not "gerrymandered". I know. I live in it. Get informed. Gerlach has been a fine representative, but you have some people here with GDS (Gerlach Derangement Syndrome) who are filled with hate. Mostly they are liberal Democrat Philly refugees who moved out here to Chester County, but still robo-vote for Democrats - the same party who ruined Philly causing them to flee. Instanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result, and that's what these city liberals who have come to roost in Chester County are by continuing to vote Democrat, the party of ruin.— fafafooey
- Corbett has knowingly and repeatedly betrayed sacred public trust by repeatedly refusing to investigate "The Rendell Murders" (Rendell's releasing stone thugs back into our neighborHOODs for years, to save state budget funds for "No Bid" Contracts and $60 MILLION in other contracts Rendell's own Auditor General repeatedly and publicly denounces him on). Corbett was told in writing, with evidence for well over 18 months now...murder victim after murder victim...destroyed family after destroyed family and he's repeatedly betrayed us. Please remember his betrayal each time the next "Newsworthy Parolee Murder Victim(s)" is announced...like the PIAZZA MURDERS or Joe Frazier's Kin or that mother of 4 children or that poor 11 year old rape victim or Burgess, the Serial Killer and Rapist, and this is just within the last year! For every State Parolee crime that makes the papers, 100 don't. Parole Board Chairman McVey has even repeatedly refused to provide documentation to State Auditors on the overwhelming Caseload Numbers to hide her and Rendell's crimes. Killadelphia has 1/6th the population, but 6 times the crime of New York. We have 49,000 Probationers and over 9,000 convicted Murders, Armed Robbers, Drug Dealers, Rapists = State Parolees! and over 500 Escapees! Rendell is releasing 2,000 Prison Inmates per MONTH! Corbett was told, in writting, with evidence and he's done nothing. He won’t even investigate crimes within the Parole Board! He's riding the flow of blood into the Governor's Mansion! He's repeatedly betrayed his position as Attorney General and has helped Rendell turn Philadelphia into Kiladelphia...the largest Open Air Prison in America and 1st in the Nation in COP KILLINGS... Corbett is not worthy to run for Governor. The next Newsworthy State Parolee Murder is certain and soon. Give these numbers a call...U.S. Attorney's Office = 215-861-8200, the President's Comment Line = 202-456-1111. The life and family you save, may well be your own.— John Law
- As a Chester Countian who moved to Philadelphia, I have to agree that Philadelphians are clueless when it comes to politics and certainly could ruin Chester county. That said, I generally have a positive impression of Gerlach, he somehow won reelection in a huge wave of anti-Republicanism. Don't know much about Corbett but I could vote for Gerlach. We'd be lucky to have such representatives in Philly with crooks like Perzel and Fumo, racist welfare queens like chaka fattah, and bumblers like Mark Cohen— dreinterests
