The expression “double down” is used far too often in political discourse, the more correct way to describe Rob McCord’s actions today is going “all in”.
The State Treasurer and Democratic gubernatorial candidate was unrepentant about his recent ad and the general tone of his campaign during a press conference today, stating that he believes the questions he is asking are vitally necessary.
McCord has recently attacked front-runner Tom Wolf for sticking by Charles Robertson after he was arrested in 2001 on murder charges relating to a race riot that occurred in 1969. Robertson was ultimately acquitted.
“After Robertson was arrested, Tom offered to stay and even helped pay his legal bills,” McCord said. “To this day, Tom refuses to denounce Robertson. So, in my opinion, it was a failure to lead in 2001 and a failure to lead now.”
In perhaps the most stunning moment of the conference, McCord played a hateful and obscene voicemail. The caller referred to McCord’s marriage to Leigh Jackson, a black woman, in extremely offensive language.
After playing the message McCord, who was joined by his wife at the event, was audibly emotionally affected. The point of the exercise, he explained, was to prove “racism still does exist.”
He went on to describe the decision to walk away from Robertson as the “easiest of calls”. Therefore, he continued, “I, for one, worry about his [Wolf’s] ability to make the tough calls.”
When asked about the comments made by Gov. Rendell this morning, McCord responded “I respect Governor Rendell and I respectively and strongly disagree.” He also noted no one had any factual issues with the ad, then stated that the former Governor would not run his campaign strategy, a line that received applause from the candidate’s supporters.
The candidate also asserted that he would’ve confronted Wolf about this even if they weren’t running for Governor and dismissed this as a sign of his campaign’s desperation.
“There’s nothing desperate about me,” he stated strongly.
At one point, McCord was asked why he was bringing up the issue now when these revelations were first revealed months ago. The candidate answered that he hadn’t read enough about the issue as quickly as he should have and cited the Donald Sterling controversy as an impetus for him to confront this issue.
“This is a horrible moment,” McCord said in an attempt to summarize the episode. “Sometimes people fail character tests. Sometimes good people do bad things. Sometimes great people make mistakes.”
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62 Responses
Unsanctioned R-
McCord has not pointed out a racial sin by Wolf.
Rather, he had invented a racial sin to accuse Wolf of.
Wolf has done nothing hypocritical. He supported a two-term mayor who sought a third term. The mayor had long since renounced his own behavior during a race riot 32 years prior, and there is not a single indication, rumor or whisper to contradict that Robertson abandoned his previous prejudices.
There were accusations that Robertson armed white gang members, and he was put on trial as an accessory to murder of a black woman. He was acquitted of those charges. So, for McCord, his campaign, publicly (in print, TV or radio) to refer to Robertson as criminally involved in the woman’s death is slander.
Of course entrenched Dems want McCord to stop pointing out Wolf’s racial sins. They’re embarrassed that when they have to support this guy in the fall their neighbors will know they’re hypocrites on race.
That may be the intent but I’m telling you there are going to be some African-American voters who are not political junkies like the people who post on this site who will feel that his response is “look I have black friends” especially older people who have lived through those hateful times.
My concern up until now had been that if this came out closer to November this could be have been used to keep turnout down in places like Philadelphia and other areas that have a strong African-American population.
Delco Diaspora-
Wolf’s response is a bit more than that. It’s about a long record helping the black community in York, and those he helped telling that story.
It’s not like, “Hey, I’m black and Wolf let me bum a cigarette from him once”.
Wolf’s response is a lot like saying “and some of my best friends are black”
This really has solidified it for me, I will be voting for Katie McGinty the only one that I’ve seen who isn’t involved in this mess. I know she isn’t doing well in the polls but I am just fed up with all this. I thought our goal as Democrats was to beat Corbett not beat up on each other.
just my thoughts
McCord/Koplinski is also very popular in my neck of the woods. I was a former Hanger supporter.
Bronislau-
Actually, a lot of black voters are calling the ads racist. I was at a local event Friday, and it was my understanding that the black political network in Upper Darby was outraged by the ads and planning on advocating against McCord.
I don’t know how representative they are, but my impression was that a lot of black support, there and elsewhere, is switching away from McCord.
Aside from McCord supporters (ie staffers) here, the feedback I’m getting from my own network of Democrats is solidly against McCord’s behavior and they want him to stop the ads.
How many African-Americans are calling McCord’s ads racist? Thus far I have heard or seen none. Only Casey, Rendell and ??? So is this ad only despicable to white Wolf supporters? I would think that a guy who was inciting racism back in the day (although not convicted of murder -it sounds like he was there and involved to some degree) might not be looked upon to highly by those he used to hate — and too his campaign manager might not either. All is fair in politics.
“Sometimes people fail character tests,” McCord said.
Yes, Rob, just as you have done with your smear by association.
Desperation doesn’t look good on you.
Push Poll-
About a month ago we received a push poll. I commented on it here on Politics PA. It bashed McCord & the last question before the demographic questions was something like, “Now that you are aware of this information, who would you vote for, McCord or Wolf?” There has been a covert negative campaign going on for quite some time from the Wolf side. That’s what happens during political campaigns. Corbett will have tons of money to run a very dirty campaign. We haven’t seen anything yet!
McCord/Koplinski is the popular ticket in my neck of the woods.
With “verifiable” references just for you JB:
Rendell and Casey both call him out and condemn his behavior.
http://articles.philly.com/2014-05-04/news/49611641_1_wolf-campaign-ad-york-mayor-charlie-robertson
Lebanon County Dem Chair withdrawals endorsement of McCord and endorses Wolf.
http://lancasteronline.com/news/pennsylvania/ex-gov-says-mccord-campaign-ad-one-of-the-worst/article_8a3059fe-929d-5e61-ab1b-80f4f3818ddc.html
McCord’s own family calls him a liar:
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2014/04/mccords_stepbrother_slams_over.html
McCord outsourced PA jobs to India:
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/big_tent/McCord-asked-to-defend-outsourcing-record.html
McCord uses taxpayer dollars for lavish hotels in NY and DC:
http://www.keystonepolitics.com/2014/05/pagov-mccord-fancy/
McCord is actually from California?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_McCord
Add it all up, plus watching the debates and meeting him in person and you have one sick, narcissistic, erratic, uncontrolled, angry product of Wall Street who has done everything possible to divide our party.
“Vote Rob McCord:
Because I’ll divide the party and I’ll throw my hands in the air and stomp my feet when I do get my way. Why doesn’t any like me?
Paid for by Rob McCord and donations he’s received from people he attacks.”
Pennsylvanians have no idea who Wolf is. That is a fact.
That is all I’m pointing out. The weaknesses are numerous and on many different fronts.
The strategy by the Wolf crew is to hide and run out the clock.
The difference between my posts and Narcissist boy’s/McCordlies are mine are verifiable and they ask questions that should be answered.
Wolf’s business from pensions, to leveraged buyouts and massive debt, to misleading people on manufacturing, to sourcing cheap right to work state labor that are not even Wolf employees, to even the employee profit sharing is a sham.
How long has the profit sharing gone on? How many times did they receive checks? How are pensions handled? At what level are they funded? Did he do to his company what Corbett proposes for the state?
He is running on his business record.
Bring your brooms because its a mess.
Commenting on here is a waste of time. The campaign is over. McCord has self-destructed. All the attention McCord has gotten over the past 72 hours is negative. Rendell and Casey both call him out and condemn his behavior. Lebanon County Dem Chair withdrawals endorsement of McCord and endorses Wolf. And the Philly Inquirer endorsed Specter in the 2010 Primary, see how that turned out.
It doesn’t matter what the blogs say or what irrelevant people like JB are saying. This race is over. Pennsylvanian’s have seen the real Rob McCord. An arrogant, narcissistic, erratic, uncontrolled product of Wall Street. Did I mention that McCord’s own family calls him a liar? Oh and that McCord outsourced PA jobs to india? Oh and that McCord uses taxpayer dollars for lavish hotels in NY and DC? That McCord is actually from California?
It’s over. Stop commenting. All you’re doing is giving JB a reason to spout his mouth off.
Maybe it is the overall character of Robertson that creates concern regarding Wolf’s continued support of him. Robertson no doubt was openly racist and may have had other “skeletons” as well. Check him out and see what you find — then reassess McCord’s actions.
Oh and David while you are at it how about you find Wolf for us. He has been hiding behind employees, York politicians, and Rendell. A true leader able to handle the pressure.
I’m shocked you think Wolf is a good candidate. If putting Wolfs record out there is a smear campaign so be it. No one has been able to point out anything that is not true in the ad. Letting someone with his background buy an election with misleading feel good ads in unacceptable if you actually care about the process at all.
Instant backlash from who? Wolf campaign staff? Ed Rendell and his groupies? That’s two groups whose opinions I really value. Really unbiased opinions too.
Please list a few of the important things the party stands for because like I said maybe I’m confused.
Wolf is a weak candidate and if he is the nominee Corbett has a legitimate shot.
JB-
Shocked to hear you are a Dem.
You clearly don’t recognize a smear campaign for what it is. Do you think it takes someone with a “spine” to launch this kind of baseless and desperate attack?
Rob has cracked under the pressure of the campaign and gotten lost in the Fog of War.
He’s also show such a lack of judgement in pursuing this, after the instant backlash from Dems everywhere, that he’s demonstrated he can’t make the big decisions when pushed into a corner. Rob’s strength has been his ability to think rationally, and that gift has temporarily abandoned him.
David – “you constantly demonstrate your ignorance and misunderstanding of Democratic party interests, desires, goals and philosophy”
I’m a democrat. Please explain to me what those things are. I’m being serious. You obviously are much more knowledgeable in this area. Maybe I’m wrong and Wolf embodies them.
JB-
I’m not claiming to be an expert on his company. Despite it’s size, I was completely unaware it existed until this campaign.
What I DO like is that Wolf profit shares with his employees.
However, JB, what is your point/purpose/goal?
You appear to be a right-wing Republican. You don’t have a vote in the Dem primary, and you constantly demonstrate your ignorance and misunderstanding of Democratic party interests, desires, goals and philosophy (often supplying distortions of these as the basis for your arguments). Nothing you say has any influence on the Dems who will be voting.
The polling for Wolf is quite solid, and the backlash against McCord is HUGE. Wolf will be the nominee.
Corbett is extremely unpopular. Wolf doesn’t need to be able to do more than stand up and say his name in a debate against Corbett to reassure voters he is not Corbett. If elected, Wolf could take a nap for 4 years and still be a better governor than Corbett has been.
Corbett is finished. The only real things to argue are how many points/votes Wolf will win by and what will the Dem/Rep count be in the legislature after November.
Looks like a wolf/critz ticket to me.
Jeremy and David – do you know how I know you don’t know anything about Wolf’s company?
This has to come to and end soon because its just silly. Wolf grew a cabinet company to become the largest distributor in the country. That just doesn’t happen by chance. It takes a lot of work to become that large. It takes organization to manage such a behemoth.
McCord had the same job as Mitt Romney. A vulture capitalist who bought and re-sold companies. What business did he ever grow? What did he actually make (instead of just pushing money around)?
Schwartz should be thankful to McCord because he’s negative ads prevented her from coming in third.
JB-
I read the Inquirer endorsement and the other piece.
Wolf’s got plenty of spine. There’s an old expression “steel wrapped in cotton” that applies to Wolf. He’ll do fine.
So, JB, the end result is that Wolf is going to win the primary, by a large margin. He is then going to crush Corbett in November.
McCord has self-destructed, will come in 3rd, and damaged his long term political prospects.
Click on those links David.
Can the human body hold on for a little over two weeks when it’s obvious the spine has been removed?
Push Poll-
Wow. McCord’s set himself on fire and trying to put it out with gasoline.
I guess turning his distant 2nd place finish into a distant 3rd place finish wasn’t enough.
Here is another big article in the Inquirer questioning Wolf’s credentials to be governor. An equally good read.
http://mobile.philly.com/news/politics/?wss=/philly/news/politics&id=257757231&
Here is the Philadelphia Inquirer endorsement today. I won’t leave you in suspense. It’s McCord.
http://mobile.philly.com/news/politics/?wss=/philly/news/politics&id=257754621&
Totally sunk. Opinions are so low. How could he stand up for people?
Just received what I would call a push poll in Harrisburg area in which I was asked if I would be less likely to vote for Tom Wolf if I knew he has associated himself with White Supremecists. The second question that is equally as upsetting dealt with Tom Wolf not condemning the murder of a young African American girl. This is getting out of hand.
The race for the demo nom. is over. Proof–Corbett support is a running a monster truck image vs. a humble jeep spot attacking Wolf. Not often you see that…but its a huge reveal; Corbett R&D has likely polled strengths / weakness/ threat / opportunity and found that : WOLF leads everyone for Gov., including Corbett but WOLF looks like a science teacher, not a leader prone to make tough decisive moves in the capital…the image of a strong benevolent father figure doesn’t quite fit WOLF ( NO Corbett for that matter).
What was telling in the pro-corbett spot was the hit on WOLF as rev. sec., blaming WOLF for a tax increase—wow, that is so obtuse as a point of attack that it requires the voter mentality of a typical S.Carolina voter. ( the ones that swollowed the Bush push polls against mc cain)
IF Corbett proposes a severance tax on fracked PA gas, where does WOLF go then? ( not saying they would even vote on it, just proposing it would void WOLF’s main planks; gas tax 2 fund education).
I know Silver thinks WOLF’s lead is insurmountable but I have yet to hear a candidate show me the path forward for PA…sure a tad of something here/there but PA needs a leader that is going to save a sinking state…ask a 17 year old from PA which state do they think provides them the most post-college opportunity– you might get 40% answering PA. That speaks poorly for our future and NONE of the candidates has projected/shared a real attainable positive vision for PA…sad as heck ( to use a dutchieism)–Tom
I’m going to have to change my prediction of Schwartz coming in 3rd. Rob has sunk his campaign.
What else could mccord and schwartz do they are way behind.all is fair in politics, so i say go for it.
I feel bad for Mrs. McCord. She’s one of the few who’s seen up close and personal that the Democrat party only cares about race sins when it’s Republicans who do them.
That personal betrayal burns.
But, everyone fails to admit that it is the party’s commitment to power that’ll never be crossed, even so far as employing a racist double standard.
Before the ad, McCord had very little support in the African-American community, with almost no support among its leaders. Before the ad, Wolf had dozens of African-American leaders endorsing and campaigning for him. But since the ad, it is almost unanimous. Not one African-American leader (or any political leader) has defensed or supported McCord and the ad. But dozens have criticized the ad in public as despicable and support Wolf instead.
McCord’s ad won him zero votes, and lost him thousands of votes. Before the F&M debate and the ad, McCord was on pace to finish in 3rd place (27% behind Wolf in the Mercyhust poll conducted days before the F&M debate and before any ads ran), but now his career in politics is finished.
Before Friday, McCord would have been viewed as a rich guy who lost race for Governor, even with all the party and labor machinery. But now and for a while in Democratic circles, McCord is viewed as toxic, a pariah who has no future in politics.
If Corbett had committed Wolf’s sins, the McCordites and Wolfpac would be piling on. Hypocrites all.
Smarter-
You’re wrong about Wolf.
When I met him last summer, it was clear to me he wasn’t interested in negative campaigning. I mistakenly wrote him off as a lightweight newcomer who didn’t have the stomach for a fight. Instead, he’s just a decent guy who wants to run his campaign differently. It wasn’t until January that I got to learn about Wolf’s backstory and his service in the Peace Corps. While I feel badly that I underestimated him, I’m glad I was wrong and he’s done well.
McGinty is down in the polls and not attacking anyone like Wolf’s being attacked.
The problem with McCord’s attacks are their irrelevant baselessness. If Wolf and Robertson had put on a minstrel show together, then Rob would have something. But, he doesn’t.
A friend of mine in Westmoreland was telling me tonight how he was door-knocking today and everybody kept telling him they were on the fence between Wolf and McCord until these attacks, and now they are for Wolf.
McCord has dug himself a hole and put out an order for more shovels.
Is the black Mayor of York who endorsed Wolf a racist too? Does McCord have any decency, or is he a just a politician who will say or do anything to get elected? I’m going to agree with David on this one, this won’t work and McCord will regret doing this.
Look, I am not taking a side, but guys, these are advertisements. It’s politics, guys. Not to go all Highlander, but there can be only one. McCord is in it to win it, and so are Wolf and the others.
There is nothing to be appalled about here. Allying oneself with an openly dangerous racist shows a lack of judgement – and this is fair game for any election. If it was reversed, Wolf was down in the polls, he would be picking on McCord for something like this in a heartbeat. That’s the truth.
I was going to vote for McCord but not sure now. Negative ads are fair game but not when they bring up incidents from the distant past. However people are naïve if they don’t think Corbett would have brought this up against Wolf. Also African American turnout was already looking to be low in 2014 it will probably be even lower if Wolf is the nominee whether the charges are fair or unfair.
You might be right. Corbett put most of Wolfs friends in jail.
JB-
McCord was the epitome of the party machine candidate.
He has my vote and I imagine every voter that has a spine.
If you people are more interested in the party machine instead of what is right, you and the party aren’t worth much.
Rob has been fine without Corbett or Rendell caring for him. He will continue to be just fine.
All McCord has done with this is sink his campaign and any future votes for other office.
I’m appalled by his behavior, and I’m not alone.
I wasn’t planning on making a public endorsement in a letter to my network of 900+ political contacts, but now I feel I must.
I’ll also be donating a few hundred dollars to Wolf’s campaign, and unsubscribing from Rob’s mailing list.
This move by Rob will become a textbook example of how to sink a political career
Racism is alive and well in Pennsylvania! The comments I hear spoken about our President are horrible! I can only imagine what the McCord’s have to face. I am proud that Rob stood up for what he believes in and with my help he will win on May 20th!
All McCord has to throw at Wolf is mud.
@Independentthinker are you watching the same campaign as me? Wolf has answered the question, repeatedly, since this came up months ago, and has not gone negative on anyone. Did I miss something?
Good for Rob McCord! There is no place for racism in our society. He never called Wolf racist, he merely asked him a question of what he was thinking at the time. Tom Wolf could have easily answered, but instead chose to go negative himself.
If Wolf can’t answer this question, how the heck is gonna handle anything Corbett throws at him?
What this clearly shows is that McCord will stand up for what is right and will stand up for all Pennsylvanians. He will clearly fight for us against Corbett and that’s why I’m voting for McCord!
So if this all went down in 2001, why didn’t McCord refuse the money Wolf donated to his 2008 Treasurer run?
This feels like nothing more than deliberately timed opportunism.
You would have thought that McCord would have vetted someone who donated $20k to his State Treasurer campaign in 2008. Or maybe he did, but decided he wouldn’t bring it up until he was down over 25 points to him in an election. McCord brought money over from his previous State Treasurer campaign into his campaign for governor, so maybe he should give $20k back to Wolf if he feels so strongly.
That is how a leader responds. He doesn’t hide behind former governors trying to protect their machine, or political allies, or employees.
Character is important. If you don’t like the ad and you are a Wolf supporter you should take a look in the mirror. Plain and simple.
And when good people make mistakes, they take responsibility. They say “I was wrong.” Tom Wolf pulls a prepared slick, expensive video off the shelf and says “don’t pick on me, some of my best friends are black.” Those friends should tell him to show some courage and admit his past mistakes. Democrats forgive. I know I would.