Chosen by GOP grass-roots
Rick Saccone
Regarding the Nov. 22 article “Pa. Parties Bypass Women in Special Election Picks”: Women of the 18th Congressional District, do not be discouraged! Rick Saccone is your champion. I was honored to be a female conferee for Republicans. Here are some facts about our process:
Conferees were not chosen by party leaders, rather by grass-roots committee members. D. Raja, the county chairman, deferred to the local committees for conferee selection and he did not divulge his preference for the nominee. The truth is that conferees chose whomever we wanted. Is that not true liberation … to decide for myself who would best serve Western Pennsylvania? Would it not be sexism to be told by a man who to vote for? The article noted that Democrats chose their candidates from political insiders who have known the candidates for years. This was not the case for the Republicans.
Another fact: Four great candidates made it difficult to choose. Conferees selected the best qualifications for this point in time when U.S. citizens are in fear for their safety; Western Pennsylvania struggles economically and continues the “brain drain” of students who are educated here and relocate for jobs; and our health system is unsustainable. Kim Ward was an excellent choice, but the conferees,
party bosses, decided that identity politics was not one of the top issues in this race.
The article only serves to suppress the female vote because it leads people to believe that this game was rigged. It provides only Conor Lamb, the Democratic nominee, positive commentary on qualifications. Consequently, not only does he mislead but, then, he provides only one side of the story. Is it not sexist to tell women who they should vote for with only one side’s endorsement?
Women of the 18th District, please know that Rick Saccone was chosen by the grass-roots. You will find that he has a proven record of economic development reaching across party lines, possesses a long, experienced record of helping those in need with honor and service, regardless, of race, gender or creed. And he understands the North Korean culture as having been one of the few Americans to ever have lived there. Those are reasons that I believe he is the right person for the job. TERI ZBIHLEY
Moon