Corbett: Don’t Ask About Policy, ‘Let’s Worry About The Election Right Now’

Harrisburg Republican Tom Corbett shows he’ll say anything to win, doesn’t like to be challenged
 
PITTSBURGH: Under fire for proposing a $3 billion tax hike on working Pennsylvanians, Republican gubernatorial nominee Tom Corbett has made one thing clear: the only thing that matters is winning – so don’t ask him how he’d actually govern.
 
Two weeks ago, Corbett told the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry that he would “look at the payroll tax, increasing the payroll contribution” in order to repay the $3 billion that Pennsylvania’s unemployment compensation fund owes the federal government. [PCN, 9/27/2010]
 
Corbett’s response raised eyebrows – both because the Harrisburg Republican was insisting that workers shoulder a $3 billion tax increase during these tough economic times and because it contradicted his earlier budget promises.
 
But Corbett doesn’t want to talk about it – because details like a $3 billion tax hike on workers just don’t matter to him. Speaking to a WGAL-TV interviewer on Friday, Corbett explained himself:
 
“Talking about what is or isn’t [a tax increase], that’s all hypothetical.  That’s all down the future.  Let’s worry about the election right now.  Let’s get through this election and get into, into office.  That’s what I’m focused on right now.”
 
See the full video here.
 
Corbett’s behavior has been strikingly consistent: saying what people want to hear even while struggling to talk about the state budget and economic crisis, and then bristling when he’s pressed on what exactly he’s talking about.
 
Most recently, the candidate who has repeatedly called for “across the board” budget cuts, told the Harrisburg Patriot-News editorial board that “he has not yet looked at the state budget or spoken to legislative leaders in detail about what programs might be on the chopping block.” [9/30/2010]
 
And the last time Corbett gave his views on the economy, he insisted – repeatedly – that “the jobs are there” but out-of-work Pennsylvanians would rather stay at home and collect unemployment than go back to work.
 
After taking a drubbing from unemployed Pennsylvanians who are desperate for work, Corbett simply stopped answering questions about his comments. Campaigning in Pittston Twp., Corbett “brushed aside the issue” and told a reporter: “That’s past history.” [Citizens Voice, 8/3/2010]
 
“Tom Corbett will say whatever it takes to win an election, but he won’t answer questions about how he’ll address the massive challenges facing Pennsylvania or describe what his policies actually mean,” said Onorato Communications Director Brian Herman. “Tom Corbett is trying to tell voters what they want to hear – but with the stakes so high, Pennsylvanians aren’t buying it.”
 
A life-long Pennsylvanian, Dan Onorato was raised in a working class neighborhood on Pittsburgh’s North Side. He graduated college from Penn State and received his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Onorato has served as Allegheny County Executive since 2004 and was unopposed for re-election in 2007.  Prior to being elected County Executive, Onorato served as Allegheny County Controller and a Pittsburgh City Councilman.  Dan and his wife Shelly reside in the Brighton Heights neighborhood of Pittsburgh with their three children.

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