20 Responses

1. I certainly won’t form my opinion of Sestak based on rumor and innuendo. I think there are plenty of politicians who cna be dificult personally (Hillary and Rendell?) but that won’t impact my vote. I took great pleasure in voting for Sestak over Specter. I am unsure about 2016 and who I would support.

2. Bill Walsh-

   I spoke directly with the staffer who made those claims, as well as a later employer of her who was told the same story as her “reason for leaving” Sestak’s employ, and others independently familiar with the incident. The quotes are direct quotes as best I recall her wording. So, I am repeating a story that I heard from more than one person that I consider reliable, and I have qualified it as such.

   In addition, I know from my own personal interaction with you that your word/hand-shake are no good, as you failed to honor a promise/commitment you made to me years ago. At the time I was told by others that you had no integrity and would fail to follow through. They were right. Since, this is my own personal experience with you, I can say that you have failed to live up to your word. Whether or not you’ve betrayed your word to others, I cannot say, but I learned that I cannot trust anything you say.

   So, I repeat: “You vouching for Joe’s character is completely worthless.”

   Also, you haven’t “earned” jack-sh*t, as what I’ve heard/seen of own behavior working for Sestak belies any claim to integrity in the political arena. You can post “facts”, but you also leave out “facts” that reveal the darker side of Sestak’s operation.

   Enough people have worked for Sestak at this point that the word is out on him. I go to plenty of events where I meet progressive Democrats who want nothing to do with Sestak, and have their own stories. Plenty have seen Sestak rant and rage. I’ve seen it with my own eyes as well (and the time I saw it reminded me of Capt. Queeg).

   I get it that you are close with Joe and he has treated YOU well. He also employed you with a very lucrative job. So, I expect you to defend him and be his apologist.

   But, I’ve talked to other low-level staffers and volunteers who used to work him and I often hear variations of the theme that Sestak is a phony and terrible to work for.

   Shelly-
   I like you, but I have to continue to disagree with you. You have lots of integrity, but you haven’t experienced/witnessed the darker side of Sestak, so you are unable to believe it. It is stark contrast to the side you’ve seen. One day, he may drop his guard, or be verbally abusive to a friend of yours and you will finally see what I and others have seen.

3. Dave, I do not care what personal grudge you have against Admiral Sestak. But I take it very seriously when I see somebody is lying. I know Joe very well. And I know you very well too. You like me and love my cooking. But enough is enough. You have crossed the line. STOP IT!

4. I just read a post from a person who alleges to me comments of an extraordinary, libelous nature. I challenge those comments in the strongest terms. In fact, they deserve to be addressed in a court of law. I served our Nation for over 30 years in uniform and for another 8 years since. I have earned the right to post the facts of my experiences w/ Admiral and Congressman Sestak and not be defamed in the process. The cowardly nature of that post speaks volumes of the author. I stand by my testimony to the character and courage of Joe Sestak and offer over 16,000 constituent cases worked during his tenure as footnotes to his commitment to service and good governance.

5. Mimi
   I don’t know if you are an older adult with a regular job, or retired, or maybe just lucky. Sestak generally abused the younger members of his staff or simply took advantage of them. He preyed on their naivete, and desire for work experience.

   Behind the scenes, he would rant and rave and rage, like Bogart about his strawberries. Maybe Dorian Gray would be a better analogy.

   Either way, Sestak is very two-faced and can’t always hide it. A lot of staffers will just quit with a recommendation letter for their silence. Many will not work for him twice, so he constantly has to troll the colleges for new blood who haven’t heard from former staffers.

   Keep your eyes and ears open, and maybe one day you’ll catch a glimpse of the real Sestak. Once you do, you will always recognize his public persona as a mask.

6. The comments above are interesting, but for the most part, I have never seen the Joe Sestak that the negative writers have seen. I volunteered twice during his last campaigns, and he was always pleasant, considerate and grateful for the volunteers working in his Media campaign office. His paid employees, and family who also worked there appeared diligent, and enthusiastic about Joe and his campaign. I never saw a side of him during those times that were inappropriate or undesirable! My experience was good, and I do hope that he will be chosen to run for the Senate seat in 2016.

7. The people of Pennsylvania have a chance to take out a right wing tea party ideologue but not with Sestak. I don’t have a thing against him except for one small fact—he can’t win. The thoughts of 6 more years of Toomey would be a nightmare.

8. Bill Walsh-
   I talked to a former congressional staffer of Joe’s who said you told her to “shut the f*ck up” after she offered her opinion because she was “hired for her looks not her opinions” and her “job was to look for Joe”. I’ve heard this story confirmed from multiple sources that I consider reliable.

   So, you vouching for Joe’s character is completely worthless.

   Joe made many in his staff work 70+ hours weeks at less than minimum hourly wage. Just because Joe chooses to work hard doesn’t give him the right to mistreat his staff.

   You were Joe’s lapdog and remain so. Maybe the next time he sees you he can pat you on the head for your post.

9. I served w/ Joe Sestak in the Navy and when he was a Member of Congress. He is a man of unquestionable character, courage and ability. During his tenure in congress he worked tirelessly for his constituents. He is a natural, gifted leader. Pennsylvania and the nation would be very fortunate to have him in the Senate.

10. Senator Toomey will be tough to beat. He is one of few grownups in the Senate. He has shown a willingness to work across party lines when needed. He took a courageous stance that led to the blocking of the DOJ nominee as well. PA needs more folks like Toomey.

11. I like Sestak – he works hard and he’s more interested in policy than machine politics. Another possibility is Katie McGinty. She will be painted as too liberal, but I have a feeling that won’t be that much of a slur in two years.

12. Running against Toomey is the next logical step for former Harrisburg mayor Linda Thompson. With the nearly unanimous support she’d get from the Republican stronghold of Perry County, Toomey hasn’t got a prayer.

13. Frank-
    I know Sestak has been on his best behavior lately, but he’s like the scorpion in the story with the frog. It’s just in his nature to betray his political allies.

    Sestak is still all about manipulation and taking advantage of his workers. He’s been paying them as “consultants” to avoid paying their health care and employment taxes. Earlier in the year he tried recruiting some young kid fresh out of school with an expense “stipend” instead of a salary. Joe’s just working a little more creatively to screw his staffers.

    But, don’t think for a minute that he’s helping these candidates out of the goodness of his heart or any sense of party loyalty. He’s doing it to earn endorsements and get help/workers for 2016. He will screw every single down-ticket candidate if he gets on the ballot again. That’s just who he is. Talk to former staffers and if they are honest, they will tell you about it’s all about “Joe”, not the party, not ideals, not the ticket.

    The party simply can’t afford another Sestak run.

14. Dave-i know you harbor a grudge against Joe, and I won’t argue with you about your feelings, but I do believe that Joe has learned his lesson and has worked very hard to reset the feelings of the base. He has been at EVERY event we have asked him to attend in Chester County. EVERY event. And has helped financially and with endorsements and anything our candidates have asked. This means so much to us in Chester County as virtually no one pays any attention to us and our candidates need the help. So, I think it is time to put the past behind and give Joe a second chance. Others have done so much worse than he has done, and have been given a pass. I think it is time to let the grudge go.

15. Michael Farrell-
    There is NO QUESTION he works hard. But,

    1) He also treats his staff horribly. He is exactly the kind of boss unions were formed to oppose. (and he was completely abusive to his staff in the navy as well, which is why he was pushed out)

    2) He’s a complete fraud from top-to-bottom, more so than even typical politicians when it comes to selling out the party and down-ticket candidates

    3) He’s a pro-war guy who completely lied about his pro-peace leanings in 2006 and voted twice in 2007 to give Bush a blank check without “time tables”, in direct violation of his core campaign promises on accountability.

    4) He lives in PA the way Santorum did. Joe really lives in Alexandria, VA. That’s his main house (twice the value of his PA house). His daughter goes to school there. His wife works there and is not even registered in PA. She registered in PA for 2006 primary and general, then dropped her registration and hasn’t voted here since.

    5) We need a young guy like Shapiro in there who understands Democratic values, has track record of working across the aisle, has strong fundraising skills, is popular with the base and is sharp in debates.

16. Clearly not Sestak. When Toomey says his night prayers his first request is that Sestak will be his opponent. Toomey represents the interests of the Tea Party, he is a right wing ideologue who is obsessed with destroying Social Security and other safety net programs. I am a centrist and there’s more of my kind in this state than the right and left wing nuts.

17. So who actually will do the nominations this time around? The Pa. Democratic State Committee or The Fresh Start Pac?????? And which one will matter the most?

18. I am not enthusiastic about any of those choices. Kane is a falling political star and Schwartz and McCord ran horrible campaigns. Sestak had his chance. Maybe McGinty “eyes rolling”. She doesn’t have a lot of fans at the DEP.

19. Dave, you ask why anyone would support Joe Sestak. For me, the answer is that I believe in him.
    I know he disappointed you and that you see flaws in him. We all have flaws. But, in addition to any flaws, has an exceptional resume. He rose to flag rank in the service. He has a great education. And, he is hard working. But, mostly, I believe in him. For me, that’s why I support Joe.

20. Sestak’s fundraising has practically collapsed. In the past six months he’s basically broken even, spending about as much as he’s raised, and not moving the needle on his cash-on-hand.

    Sestak is still filling his emails with tired old Navy cliches, which have become childish at this point. Here an example from about two weeks ago:

    “Now, I am about to deploy once more – on a political campaign where I need my crew to prepare to come aboard. Pick your station, help take in lines and batten down the hatches, for we intend to sail in harm’s way as our campaign “enters cycle” after the elections on November 4th, one in which the very balance of the U.S. Senate remains in doubt.”

    Voters have figured out that Sestak is a just crusty old barnacle who has attached himself to the bottom of the Pennsylvania political hull. In 2010, Sestak stated he would not even consider a run in 2022. So, why should PA Dems select him in 2016 for a single term, and then have an open seat in 2022?