Marcia Hahn - In PA 138th District

If I lived in the PA 138th State House District I would vote for Republican Marcia Hahn

You may ask why?

1. She is a Republican 
2. I don't agree with much of her voting record

Rep. Hahn has a voting record that is fairly conservative but she is not by any stretch a tea bagger, she is what is now called a moderate Republican.

I attended a luncheon sponsored by the Slate Belt Chamber of Commerce and Rep. Hahn was to speak on Education.  After the talk she came up to me and said "OK Flad let me have it".  I had no reason to let her "have it".  Her positions were well thought out and from my Liberal point of view very moderate and she was open to compromise and to fully discuss and understand the issues before making up here mind on any education reform legislation.  I thought it was interesting that she sought me out to get my opinion; it says a lot about the quality of her character.

At recent community festival my company's booth was placed next to a booth manned by a shrieking Tea Party loon.  The Obama bumper sticker on my car was hard to miss since the car was parked next to my booth. Rep. Hahn came up to tease me and asked if I was OK  and to let me know that if  they bothered me she would be there to protect me.  It was a pretty funny moment.  I think she really was concerned about me and this was her way of letting the wing nut know that I was her friend.

Rep. Marcia Hahn never fails to seek me out at an event, to ask my opinion on a topic, asks about work, my family, tell me some jokes and to engage in some friendly political banter.

Representative Hahn puts politics and partisanship aside when it comes to the bread and butter economic issues that impact the greater Lehigh Valley.  She has a very good relationship with Rep. Bob Freeman who is her polar opposite when it comes to politics  but works with him and the rest of the local delegation for what is best for the area.

I would vote for Marcia Hahn because she is smart, thoughtful, organized, cares a great deal about her community and is very visible around the district.  She works very hard and has surrounded herself with a very capable and qualified staff.

I am proud to call Marcia Hahn my friend and I encourage those of you who can vote for her to do so.

Like Father Like Son

I was with my father in the car on the way to a Lafayette College football game and as is often the case politics came up.

Dad Flad - "I would rather vote for a DOG than that do nothing, empty suit and intellectually lazy Charlie Dent."

Me - "I'm not really a fan of his opponent but I may end of voting for him just because he's not Congressman Dent."

Dad Flad - "Your Mother & I voted absentee this year because I'm not sure she can stand in line very long."

Me - "That's a good idea.  Who did you vote for in the Congressional race?"

Dad Flad - "I voted for the dog"

My dad once said "I will never vote for another Republican as long as New Gingrich is alive"

Me - "How you gonna vote when he does die?"

Dad Flad - He just glared at me

My father was not always this way, I know he has in fact voted for some Republicans but when Ronald Reagan defeated Jimmy Carter something transformed him.

So.....I come by it honestly.

My Vote For Congress

Election day sometimes gives us a choice of voting for the lesser of two evils.  Sometimes voting is like pissing in the wind - you get relief but you also get wet.

This year I just can't do it.  I can't just vote for a Democrat because I think he is the lesser of two evils in the 15th district Congressional race.

The incumbent is Charlie Dent who has shown no signs of leadership or effectiveness though he did pass legislation to name a building after a beloved local Federal Judge.  

Congressman Dent introduced  legislation to strip the citizenship of Anwar Awlaki an American born Muslim Cleric who was hell bent on the destroying this country.  My Congressman could not get enough of his congressional peers to support this bill.

Think about that fact; Charlie Dent could not convince enough politicians (opportunist all) to support a bill to strip the citizenship of the most hated man in America.  

His Democratic opponent is Rich Daugherty; a local pol who has does not seem to be trying very hard or really care if he wins or not.

I have decided to write in myself for Congress. 

 I have to look at myself in the mirror on Wednesday and I have to know I did the right thing.  I can't send Charlie Dent back to Congress and I can't send Rick Daugherty to Congress.

I am writing in Donald C. Flad Jr for Congress in the 15th Congressional District 

WE ARE........

Any fan of college football is familiar with the Penn State cheer of WE ARE.....PENN STATE.  It is a rallying cry used to cheer on the Nittany Lions.

In 1948 the Penn State football team was invited to play in the New Years day Cotton Bowl held in
Dallas Texas, their opponent was Southern Methodist University (SMU). In 1948 Penn State had very few black students and only two black players on the football team. For the first time in school history a young black student was a starter.

In 1948 segregation was still very much in place in Texas and SMU was a segregated university.  SMU officials sought out a meeting with the Penn State to request the university leave it's two black student athlete's home or at least off the field.

When told of this proposed meeting Penn State team captain Steve Suhey proclaimed at a team meeting "We are Penn State....There will be no meetings".

Wally Trippet; one of the black players did play in the 1948 Cotton bowl and he scored the touchdown that allowed Penn State to tie the game for a final score of 13 - 13.  Penn State ended the 1948 season undefeated.

WE ARE....PENN STATE