The most despicable television attack spot run thusfar by Friends of Raja Inc. asserts that State Senate opponent Matt Smith is "part of that Harrisburg gang" that "grabbed the pay raise" (the infamous, slimy, middle of the night 2005 legislative salary boost). 

This is a blatant and despicable attempt to capitalize on voter ignorance, an insult to our intelligence. The speaker fails to note that Matt Smith was not in office at the time of the pay grab, thus he did not and could not vote on it. He has accepted it along with all of his colleagues, but the legislation would not have passed without the support of Republicans, and one of its architects was then-House Speaker, fake Republican John Perzel, who is currently cooling his heels in jail for stealing $10 million in taxpayer dollars that he and others used to perpetuate lifelong service. Will Raja blame all of the sitting Republican legislators that, by his definition, have also "grabbed the pay raise?" Not likely!

I imagine that the Raja campaign will never utter a peep of discontent against individuals like longtime Republican state Rep. and Auditor General candidate John Maher, who, unlike Matt Smith, voted for the pay raise (and for the 50 percent legislative expansion enhancement of 2001, which has helped to bring us to a pension fund deficit of approximately $47 billion).

In a rare positive television spot in support of her husband's candidacy, Dr. Neeta Raja asserts that Raja wishes to go to Harrisburg to further the couple's "shared values." Apparently these "values" include a vicious smear campaign against one's opponent. I would wonder how the Rajas explain these tactics to their impressionable young children. Who would want to go into the wretched world of politics, in which formerly honorable individuals practice dishonor in order to win their races?

Raja was a highly sympathetic figure when he was viciously attacked on the basis of his Indian heritage by Rep. Mark Mustio in the spring primary campaign for State Senate. What Raja apparently learned from being the target of such mudslinging is that the oppressed should use similar tactics to ambush one's opponent. What a disgrace!

I am embarrassed to admit that I vocally supported the Raja primary election campaign this year as well as his prior bid to become County Executive. I cannot support this Raja campaign, which thrives on dishonor and deceit. If Raja's dirty campaign tactics should enable him to win this seat, or even if it does not, his first order of business after Nov. 6 should be to issue a profound apology to Matt Smith. (Rep. Smith should also apologize for the extent to which his campaign has become negative, though it pales in comparison to that of Raja).