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Pennsylvania House Primaries: Is the Reign of Special Interests Over?

By Jane Gilgun

Is this the beginning of the end? Is the reign of special interests over? Do voters now see through attack ads? This week, voters in Pennsylvania booted two conservative House Democrats from Congress in primary elections. Their offenses? They were against health care reform, and they didnt believe in global warming. One of the defeated politicians, Tim Holden, a 10th term Democrat, also voted against consumer protection and House finance reform. Whats more, he ran a dirty campaign, accusing his opponent, newcomer Matt Cartwright, of corruption. In the process, he also smeared jurors and a woman harmed by a misdiagnosis for cancer. Mr. Cartwright, a Scranton attorney, campaigned for the issues that Mr. Holden voted against. Cartwright also stuck to the issues and did not attack Mr. Holden personally. The other defeated incumbent, Jason Altmire, a three-term House Democrat, not only opposed health care reform and environmental protections, but he voted for legislation that would cut Social Security and Medicare, among many other conservative initiatives. Mark Critz, a one-term House Democrat, is not such a clear-cut contrast to Mr. Altmire. Although Mr. Critz had strong union backing, Mr. Critz voted against health care reform in his first term. The unions that backed Mr. Critz did so as part of their lobbying for health care reform. Whether Mr. Critz has changed his mind on health care reform is unclear. As much as I am for health care reform, I prefer that Mr. Critz oppose it if that is his conviction. He does no one favors if he, like so many Republicans and some Democrats, votes the way his backers want him to and not from conviction. Of course, if Mr. Critz got himself informed about health care reform, and if he is fair-minded, he might sincerely change his mind. Mr. Critz also has opposed gun control and is anti-choice regarding abortion. He ran on a strong jobs creation program and on opposition to cuts in Social Security and Medicare. He also stuck to the issues and did not stoop to smear Mr. Altmire.

 Discussion The defeat of incumbents could be the result of anti-incumbent sentiments, but Mr. Critz is not an incumbent but a one-term Congressman. With strong union backing, Mr. Critz came across as in favor of health care reform. Lets hope he is. Mr. Cartwright clearly is for the issues that the incumbent he defeated is against. Negative campaigns by the defeated candidates did not work. Lets hope this is the beginning of the end of smears, lies, and innuendos. The signs of change are ambiguous in this primary election, but the results give a glimmer of hope that voters are standing up for their own best interests. References Editorial: Mark Critz best choice for 12th district (2012). The Tribute Democrat, April 20. http://www.critzforcongress.com/page/mark-critz-best-choice-for-12th-district. Scranton Times-Tribune: 17th Congressional District: Matt Cartwright (2012). Campaign for Accountability, April 23. http://www.campaign4primaryaccountability.org/2012/04/23/scranton-times-tribune- 17th-congressional-district-matt-cartwright. Weisman, Johnathan (2012). 2 house Democrats defeated after opposing health law. New York Times, April 26, A1, A15. About the Author Jane F. Gilgun, Ph.D., LICSW, is a professor and writer. See Janes other articles, books, and childrens stories on Kindle, iBooks, Nook, scribd.com, and many other internet-based publishers.