Open Letter to the Dahlkemper Campaign

September 9, 2010

Dear Ms. Mengine:

We received notice last week from the Butler County Chamber of Commerce that Congresswoman Dahlkemper had to cancel our debate scheduled for September 27^th.  While you left the door wide-open for us to take petty shots at the Dahlkemper for Congress campaign after the ill-thought out press release you sent regarding Mike Kelly’s commitment to the Hope on Wheels charity that conflicted with an AARP forum in Erie, we will take the high road.

We do not plan to sensationalize the fact that Mrs. Dahlkemper has to skip the Butler debate in order to fulfill her official duties as a Member of Congress.  It’s truly unfortunate that the Congresswoman didn’t extend the same courtesy to Mike Kelly.  While the Dahlkemper camp cried foul, Mike Kelly was taking care of his official duties as the national spokesman for the Hope on Wheels program.  His trip to Washington, DC included a fundraising reception for the program and concluded with Mike speaking on behalf of the program at a news conference the morning of the forum.  

Your campaign’s response to our request for a different date for the AARP forum still astounds me.  I naively thought that you and the Congresswoman would do the right thing: applaud the efforts of Hope on Wheels and the important work it is doing to save the lives of children with cancer.  Some things should just rise above dirty political ploys intended to make your opponent look bad in the eyes of voters.  Your and the Congresswoman’s remarks were particularly disturbing since you both knew we were more than willing to reschedule with AARP.  Further, you both knew that we have a debate confirmed with WQLN in Erie for late October.  

Maybe you and the Congresswoman shot from the hip and attacked before knowing all of the facts on Kelly’s trip to Washington.  Or, maybe it was just another example of the Dahlkemper campaign being out of touch and desperate for attention.  Regardless, I’d be embarrassed if I were either of you on how the situation was handled.  

Mike Kelly’s commitment to the families in Erie and beyond remains steadfast.  We look forward to seeing you on the campaign trail and a spirited debate on the issues.  Unfortunately for your camp, taking shots at the other for having to reschedule joint appearances in order to fulfill official duties is not one of them – especially when your campaign turned around and did the same thing just two days later. 

Voters are tired of this type of double-talk and hypocrisy, Ms. Mengine, and if you haven’t discovered that already you will on November 2^nd.   I suppose the voters of the 3^rd district shouldn’t be surprised.  After all, this is the same woman in 2008 who ran as an independent, moderate Democrat concerned about deficit spending and job creation and has governed as anything but that.

Sincerely,

Read the original story at Mike Kelly for Congress