Raja Campaign Held Accountable for Negative Advertising
I was pleased to read the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette endorsement of State Rep. Matt Smith for the 37th District State Senate seat, particularly as it prominently notes the negative campaign being waged against him and how ill-informed Smith opponent D. Raja was found to be on a number of key issues ... again.
If the editorial is unfair in any way to Mr. Raja, it is that it does not hold accountable the distortion artists of the State Republican Committee, which has orchestrated and funded much of the slime-slinging. While the party has sought to do in Rep. Smith, the Raja campaign, to my knowledge, has not lifted a finger to urge that the ads be stopped nor spoken out against them, the credo of "anything to win ... anything" apparently having taken hold. It is ironic and sad that Raja, who was the target of a slime campaign in the spring primary election, is now the oppressor.
I would note that although the Post-Gazette properly notes that Raja was first out of the gate with negative spots, the Smith campaign has responded with one, something which I do not support and which troubles me as two wrongs do not make a right.
On issues of importance to the 37th District, I would note that as State House Finance Committee Republicans conspired to kill the most recent property tax reform/relief bill in the Finance Committee, Rep. Smith, a Democratic leader on the committee, voted to send the bill to the floor. The final vote was 13-11 against, nine of the 13 votes coming from Republicans.
On a personal note, I must give consideration to the fact that although I have never been a constituent of his, Rep. Smith has given me the gift of his time and attention, having corresponded with and met me to discuss issues of importance. Smith has been more responsive to me in recent years than my own State Representative and Senator. Despite numerous contacts attempted with him, Mr. Raja has apparently been too "busy" to engage me.
My fiscal conservatism would place me more in the ideological camp of Mr. Raja, but making the proper choice in this election is not that simple for me. Honor, integrity, responsiveness and other issues not related to fiscal matters factor into the equation as well. For that reason, I am leaning heavily toward proudly casting a vote for Matt Smith for State Senate.
May those whose hallmark is attack ads with no positive message receive their comeuppance in this election and future contests.
Louisa
5:08 pm on Monday, October 15, 2012
Smith is a big time liberal democrat who voted for numerous Ed Rendell tax increases. Anyone looking to conyrol government spending would be foolish to vote for Mr. Smith! RAJA is my man!!!!!
lynn
10:52 am on Friday, October 19, 2012
I find it extremely ironic that Raja whined and complained about the negative campaign run by Mark Mustio about him and yet he has done nothing but attack Matt Smith. I guess that when you don't understand the issues that's the only campaign you can run!
Louisa, it's no surprise that you support an ill-informed candidate who can't run on achievements and must rely on a negative, mud-slinging campaign that features many untruths. After all, as campaign manager of the yellow team in last year's Moon School Board election that's exactly the type of campaign that you ran. And the yellow team members that were elected are showing that they are just as ill-informed of the issues as Raja is.
Jon Vernon
5:34 pm on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Matt Smith has accepted EVERY SINGLE Pay Increase that he could, and that is a verifiable FACT. Matt also raised taxes on small businesses and seniors. Matt's also voted to ban the Marcellus Shale, expand welfare programs with less oversight, and block VOTER ID. MATT SMITH HAS ALSO PUBLICALLY SUPPORTED BARACK OBAMA. NOT TO MENTION THIS LIE about roll over funds. Matt Smith cited several legislative reforms in 2008 that he was promoting. Those reforms included “eliminating the legislative surplus and return all dollars to the taxpayers.”But on three separate occasions, totaling nearly $9,000, Matt Smith kept the money and did not return it to the taxpayers. WHERE IS THE MONEY?
Shirley Dean
9:55 am on Thursday, October 25, 2012
Matt Smith is fiscally irresponsible and Louisa is right, he's voted for Rendell budgets which and a capitol budget that includes funding for the Arlen Specter Library, 20 million dollars in corporate welfare for a golf course and spa resort, and most troubling 3 MILLION DOLLARS IN FUNDING FOR JERRY SANDUSKY'S 2nd MILE FOUNDATION after Sandusky had been indicted. Matt is not paying attention and spending our tax dollars away.