Letters: When will PA congressmen be held accountable?; Support for county judge candidate

When will PA congressmen be held accountable?

In the past, when we went to vote, we assumed our votes were impervious to outside interference. Unfortunately, events have shown a small number of unpatriotic Americans have been busily at work undermining confidence in our elections.

What’s worse, some of them are our own Pennsylvania congressmen.

Recently obtained emails reveal Pennsylvania Congressmen Fred Keller, Mike Kelly and Scott Perry sneaking around like rats in the night working with Trump supporters to subvert the votes of millions of Americans.

Here’s an email quote from Congressman Kelly of Northwest Pennsylvania sent two days after the election: “Let me know if there’s anything I can do to fight these MF’ers in Pa.? Our President is heroic !!.”

When Trump-appointed judges dismissed the 62 cases they filed as frivolous, they turned to illegal tactics, such as trying to run fake electors and planning to seize voting machines. Among the wackiest stunts was Perry’s effort to pressure the White House to call the Italian government because Perry believed satellites from an Italian defense contractor were causing voting machines to switch votes from Trump to Biden.

And that folks, is the state of today’s Pennsylvania Republican Party.

Right now, the Justice Department is pressing charges against insurrectionists, the people deluded by the “Big Lie” into storming the Capitol. When will Pennsylvania’s Congressmen, the true ringleaders of this attempt to overturn a free and fair election, the authority figures who egged on the January 6 attackers in their words and deeds, be held to account?

Support for county judge candidate

I was disappointed today when I read the letter to the editor about Julia Rater’s candidacy for judge being negatively received by some. This is because I know Julia as a litigator, as a mentor, and as a professional friend.

I began my business in Centre County as a solo practitioner eleven years ago. Julia gave me her time, patience and support. She wanted me to succeed. In fact, I operate my growing practice in spite of a physical disability, and there was a time two years ago when I had major surgery. Julia assisted me — free of charge. She did not have to, but that is the kind of person she is. It is never about money for her — it is about doing the right thing, and serving others as much as she can.

I do not believe the fact that Julia works for a large firm should be held against her in this election. In fact, it should be celebrated that a mother of three was able to achieve such success in her career. I know it wasn’t easy to get where she is at, and she has had her own set of hardships. I also do not think that Julia becoming a Democrat 13 years ago should be held against her. I feel like some people are digging deep to persuade our voters that there is something sinister in her background, when quite simply, there is not.

Harris leaves lasting impact

Rest in peace, Franco Harris. The great former Nittany Lion and Pittsburgh Steeler had a heart of gold. He often appeared here in Northeast Pennsylvania for various charities. Franco also came to the legendary Joe Paterno’s defense after the coach was fired. Penn State should cherish Harris’s memory by naming something after him. His “Immaculate Reception” as a pro transformed Pittsburgh into a football town, although former Raiders coach John Madden disputed the legality of the interception. Rest easy Franco.