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Updated with Kane’s Response: Dems Rally to Kane As Metcalfe Threatens Impeachment

Kathleen-Kane-portrait1
Attorney General Kathleen Kane

As outspoken conservative state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe prepares to impeach her over her refusal to defend the state’s ban on same-sex marriage, Democrats are rallying around Attorney General Kathleen Kane.

In July, Kane announced to fanfare that she wouldn’t defend the state’s ban on same sex marriage in light of recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings.

She was celebrated by Democrats and LGBT advocates and berated by social conservatives. Republicans and pundits teased Kane over her campaign’s trail statement that “The Attorney General does not have the right to pick and choose which laws he or she enforces.”

State Rep. Metcalfe (R-Butler), the legislature’s fiercest opponent of political measures advanced by LGBT advocates, wants to take the criticism a step further.

As the Allentown Morning Call first reported, he is circulating a memo as a precursor to legislation to impeach Kane.

“Impeachment is a rarely used, but extremely important, tool to address misbehavior in office,” Metcalfe wrote. “Attorney General Kane’s violation of her constitutional, statutory, and ethical duties cannot be tolerated if our system of government is to work properly.”

Update: Kane fired back at Metcalfe in a strongly-worded statement Tuesday. The full statement is below.

“The citizens of this great Commonwealth should be revolted that a politician such as Rep. Metcalfe is attempting to thwart an independent Attorney General from doing her job by using such a measure,” she said. “I have never been afraid of or backed down from bullies. In fact, bullies strengthen my resolve to protect those who need it the most – the people of Pennsylvania.”

Democrats – particularly those running for Governor – rallied to Kane’s side.

“Republican leaders in Harrisburg have our state going in reverse on everything from social issues to economic development,” former DEP Sec. Katie McGinty said in a press release. “Actions like this aren’t just insulting to our residents, they are damaging to our reputation and harmful to our efforts to attract and lure business.”

“.@GovChristie drops lawsuit denying same-sex marriage while PAGOP seeks 2 impeach Kathleen Kane 4 standing 4 equality,” former Revenue Sec. Tom Wolf tweeted.

At least one other Republican lawmaker, state Sen. John Eichelberger (R-Blair), has voiced support for impeachment.

Gov. Tom Corbett has declined to say whether he would support such a move.

“I’m not going to go into what my feelings are. … That’s not appropriate,” Corbett told the Altoona Mirror.

“I’ve taken an oath to defend the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. If she chooses not to, then she’ll have to deal with that herself. We will defend them.”

Here is Kane’s full response statement:

“Rep. Metcalfe’s call for impeachment should instead be an opportunity for his own introspection. More than three million voters elected me to office last year because they are fed up with partisan politics, which is what Rep. Metcalfe represents.

“I ran for Attorney General because partisan politics are so rampant and ugly, that the people of Pennsylvania are not properly served by their government!

“Rep. Metcalfe’s goals of media attention and political gamesmanship are accomplished through loud, arrogant and misguided claims. Instead, his priorities should be reforming education, job creation, fixing our transportation system, or making the streets safer for kids and families, and should also include cleaning up the good ol’ boys’ system of public corruption. Instead, he chooses to focus on wasting time and battling me because I had the gall to run for office, win and serve Pennsylvania as an independent watchdog over the government they desperately want to rule.

“It is unfortunate that Rep. Metcalfe has such little respect for the people of Pennsylvania. It is also unfortunate and embarrassing that Rep. Metcalfe has such limited knowledge of the laws or perhaps poor understanding of time-tested, clearly enumerated legal principles. While he purports to know what actions I have taken, he is wrong. When he pretends to know the rules governing ethical conduct for attorneys, he again is terribly wrong. And, while Rep. Metcalfe pretends to understand the legal implications of my actions and others around the state, he could not be more misguided. I do not believe he cares about facts or the law.

“I have been, and always will be, committed to protecting, obeying and defending the Constitution of the United States and of Pennsylvania. I will continue to be the independent watchdog over state government to provide checks and balances on the power of those who seek to fulfill their own agenda. Public corruption and waste will not be tolerated. And I will act as the Commonwealth’s attorney, pursuant to the rules of Professional Responsibility.

“The citizens of this great Commonwealth should be revolted that a politician such as Rep. Metcalfe is attempting to thwart an independent Attorney General from doing her job by using such a measure. I have never been afraid of or backed down from bullies. In fact, bullies strengthen my resolve to protect those who need it the most – the people of Pennsylvania. I will never be deterred by selfish rants of those who want Pennsylvania to belong to the few. We thrive on the principles of government for the people, by the people. I will continue to be the Attorney General you elected me to be.”

63 Responses

  1. @Lu Ann Karns Fick:
    Put down the Communist Manifesto or that copy of Das Kapital you have in the other hand. If you worship Obama, like you do, maybe you need to be put on “meds”. Think before you post, then take a look in the mirror.

  2. I relish the thought of impeaching this fine young Irish lass. The impeachment will certainly close the gender gap for Tea Party Tom and the PAGOP. The only thing better than an impeachment is a good old fashioned lynching. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Daryl could make the striking Ms. Kane cry on the witness stand?

  3. @David Diano:
    No need to worry about my “sexual frustrations”. I will remain faithful to my wife and children. They, like me, also each have an actual brain and sense of free will and self agency, and don’t need the soviet socialist thief in Washington to surrogate their lives. Yet, they know, like me, he seeks to crush his political dissidents, like Stalin or Pol Pot would have done to theirs. College indoctrination hasn’t, and will never break my kids’ will.

  4. @David Diano:
    Very funny coming from a perverted and sexual retard like yourself David, all wrapped up in your little roe v. wade world. Karl Marx and Fredrick Engels didn’t build this country and didn’t champion individualist freedom. Kane is a figurehead for a radical leftist movement to destroy free market capitalism and implement the forced disarming of the U.S. civilian population. Being the fact that she is a woman and a socialist progressive is basically the only reason she got elected, while also riding the voting coattails of people voting for Comrade ObaMao simply because he is black. Her campaign took a ride on the “war on women” gravy train, guiding women to the slaughter of what is going to eventually be a Soviet dictatorship, in draconian manner, burning this country to the ground. BTW roe v wade, came in the same year just slightly after Communist china instituted sterilization and forced abortions, but their is no coincidence in that, right?

  5. Yep my theory is correct.

    Behind every Tea Party member is a Truther, a Birther, a Racist, a sexist and a homophobe.

  6. @Denny Bonavita
    Kane made it quite clear that she does not have to defend a law that she believes is in conflict with the State (and/or US) Constitution and is indefensible/unwinnable on the merits.

    The closest analogy I can think of to pursuing this case would be if she tried to prosecute someone when he had an alibi, there was no physical evidence, and someone else had already confessed. If she had no good-faith believe in the case, the arguments or a winning outcome, she can refuse to defend it.

    What should he do? Take the case and make false/disingenuous arguments? Or just agree/concede each point to the ACLU as they make it?

    Her argument boils down to: it would be unethical for her to pursue the case.

  7. @Lisa-

    I suspect Joe is “typing with one hand” as he fantasizes about Kane and tries to cope with his own sexual frustrations. I just hope he remembers to cover the keyboard in plastic.

  8. Laura Ingraham, Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachmann, and Anne Coulter are opportunists without a single shred of actual principle. They pander to the lowest common denominators if ignorance, bigotry and hypocrisy. (Though, Palin and Bachmann are so woefully clueless and fact-challenged themselves it’s hard to argue that they know better.)

    These people just keep adding fuel to the brightly burning ignorance of the Tea Party about how government functions and provides help to the millions who need it. Just as bad is their complete lack of understanding of basic Constitutional principles, while touting “Freedom” as their call to arms.

  9. @Joe
    Thanks for including “prostitute” in your latest rant to prove my point. I will respect differing opinions about the Attorney General’s job performance. But your continued use of sexual acts to criticize her is repugnant, and only shows that your statements should not be taken seriously.

  10. @Lisa:
    If you can’t stand my political slander, get off and out of here. The way idiots like you trash conservative women such as Dana Loesch, Laura Ingraham, Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachmann, Monica Crowley, and Anne Coulter is disgusting in itself. Kane is a two-faced witch who is, behind closed doors, setting the stage for CCW permit holders (men and WOMEN alike) to become overnight felons by canceling out reciprocity agreements with other CCW states currently recognized in PA. She is a prostitute for Michael Bloomberg and his civilian disarmament campaign which in itself is based in the Soviet Socialist Republic of New York.

  11. Um…am I the only one to take issue with Joe’s use use of sex acts to describe the Attorney General? I don’t remember Attorney General Tom Corbett or Attorney General Mike Fisher ever being described as giving lap dances or blowjobs. Thanks Joe, for reminding us that gays are not the only ones who are discriminated against in this state.

  12. @mamageeta:
    “And it appears in the Republican world that an enacted, constitutional law can be brought up for repeal 41 times with no chance of happening”. WRONG!! The SCOTUS upheld the law because Roberts was afraid of impeding the first major piece of legislation from the….(wait for it)…. FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT. Roberts was afraid of Maddow, Matthews, Jackson, and Sharpton calling him a racist, right wing extremist KKK Nazi fascist and all other commiecrat insults. This law is a Soviet Union style takeover of the U.S. economy and is nothing more than a trolly for data mining political dissidents to the Democrats. Obamacare turns doctors into the new Cheka/NKVD, aka, the new secret police.

  13. wow, here we go again..with all the problems that
    the Comm. has, give us a break.
    SHE is a problem solver–he is a problem Creator

  14. @Joe:
    How are normal-thinking Americans supposed to take you tea party wackobirds seriously when you call the Attorney General of Pennsylvania a “commie witch” and “a two-faced w****” (we all know the word you’re referring to here). That’s a terrific way to appeal to swing voters in the Philly suburbs that you so desperately need to keep your failure of a Governor in office next year. Keep talking, moron…keep talking. Every time you open your foul mouths, a Democrat somewhere gets another vote.

  15. Amazing how 3 million votes can scare someone… Keep it up Darryl, she’ll be Madam Governor one day and send your beloved present Governor to state prison.

    And there isn’t a darn thing your racist behind can do about it!

  16. Of course, Kane’s attack-Metcalf screed never addresses the “how” of why she is right to refuse to do her duty to defend Pennsylvania’s right to make our own laws regarding marriage without federal interference. She can’t, because she was wrong, and yes it’s technically impeachable, but the Archangel Metcalfe and his colleagues have bigger things to do. Kane was wrong, but it’s not to the level to set aside the results of an election.

  17. We can now see Marriage Equality in NJ from our Pennsylprejudice porch!

    T W O . H U S B A N D S
    Earl and Tim, together in love at first sight since 1976, married in Canada in 2003

    Federal litigation has been proven to be the fastest way to affirm our U. S. Constitutional rights that are still denied Americans born non-heterosexual who must live in states that deny our civil rights.

    Pennsylprejudice: Time to get the lead out!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZcpH-q_GXg
    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10200462480439085&set=a.10200137869644018.1073741847.1669134909&type=1&theater
    http://www.freedomtomarry.org/blog/entry/tim-earl-after-37-years-we-cant-wait-longer-for-the-freedom-to-marry-in-our

  18. Joe said:

    “The gay marriage ban is in the PA constitution.” …along with lots of crazy ramblings about witches and commies…

    Aren’t the conservatives who wrap themselves up in the Constitution supposed to know what’s in it? I guess that’s wishful thinking.

    Well for anyone who does care about facts… No, there is no ban on same-sex marriage in the PA Constitution.

  19. @fightinggranny:
    “It appears in the Democratic world, when you take an oath to defend your office, you can pick and choose what you would like to defend.”

    And it appears in the Republican world that an enacted, constitutional law can be brought up for repeal 41 times with no chance of happening.

  20. Isn’t it funny that Metcalfe and his supporters always wrap themselves in words like FREEDOM and RIGHTS, but they fight to not extend freedom and rights to an entire group of citizens.

  21. Tea Partiers l love saying “shall not…”

    Also throwing calling people Commie

  22. This commie witch is such a two-faced w****. Nothing short of Bloomberg lap dancer. She says “I will support and defend the Constitution of PA and the U.S.”. BULLCRAP!! Commie witch is rewriting PA’s CCW permit laws with other states behind closed doors like she’s giving political B*** J**s to Bloomberg and all the other sludge buckets in the civilian disarmament movement. The gay marriage ban is in the PA constitution. Put it on the popular ballot for 2014 and leave it at that. BTW Commie Witch, just like said in the PA second amendment, “SHALL NOT BE QUESTIONED”.

  23. The irony of this situation is that the people who elected Metcalfe will get the exact opposite of what they voted him in for, because of him.

  24. Gotta love Metcalfe! And I say this as a progressive voter. He is trying to do to Harrisburg Republicans what Ted Cruz did to DC Republicans: send their polling numbers and campaign contributions right down the toilet!! Did you see where ALL the major business groups are cutting ties with House GOP members? One can only assume that the same will happen in PA next year. It will be GREAT to see Turd’s-eye out of a job!! Thank you, Looneybird Metcalfe!

  25. Her response is both unprofessional and political. And my analysis in no way is a reflection of being supportive of Mr. Metcalfe.

  26. Apparently, there’s something to this grand jury investigation –i.e., another wave of Pa legislators may be in the dock soon.

  27. I understand that Daryl Metcalfe will be moving to Washington, DC to drive the clown car for Ted Cruz and Mike Lee.

  28. Gotta love Metcalfe – where the Commonwealth Attorneys Act of 1980 doesn’t exist and the Commonwealth’s constitution says whatever he thinks it says.

    This isn’t a matter of jurisprudence; her decision was explicitly permitted for by statute. Frankly, this resolution doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in the Sahara, so either Metcalfe is acting like a fool or he’s hoping to gain more support amongst fools who don’t know better, playing the politician over the principled statesman. Either way, the hypocrisy is ripe and revolting.

  29. Metcalfe is an ass. That said, Kane’s offense is impeachable, IMHO. However, the distraction would be costly in terms of money and time. Pennsylvania has more important issues, and we ought not lightly to overturn the results of an election. This would be a waste of time, similar to the federal House craziness on the government shutdown. Again, Metcalfe is an ass.

  30. No one in the media has addressed if her decision is even close to being an impeachable offense. People like to throw around impeachment when they don’t like a politician, and the media just goes with the attack because it is interesting and gossipy.

    According the PA Constitution, that Mr. Metcalfe claims only Republicans follow, Kane cannot be impeached for making a legal decision not to defend a law. Also, the votes in the Senate will never be there because she would have to get impeached with a 2/3rds vote.

    In just the last week, I have read articles about how Obama should be impeached and that Mayor Luke Ravenstahl should be impeached. I wish the media would stop letting these bozos from the right just scream impeachment anytime they don’t agree with a politician.

  31. I’m sure it has nothing to do with the statewide investigating grand jury, authorized by the Pa Supreme Court, in which certain legislators are being fitted for jumpsuits.

  32. It appears in the Democratic world, when you take an oath to defend your office, you can pick and choose what you would like to defend.
    Daryl Metcalfe is correct and I cannot wait to see this piece of malfeasance brought up for impeachment.

  33. Ha didn’t this clown learn anything from Ted Cruz? Considering recent events, no member of the GOP is going to be standing next to a fringe loon for at least a little while. But maybe that’s the point? Playing a political game of limbo with the gov’s numbers?

  34. Just another plea from the political right to keep the entire world stuck in the 1950’s. This comes from a legislator whose first political rally was sponsored by the Klu Klux Klan. Good for you Butler County. You ought to be proud of your native son.
    Can you say–HATE??

  35. While I am not a fan of AG Kane for she is a politician and not a prosecutor. This is Daryl Metcalfe we are talking about. Anyone outside of his district that listens to him is a moron.

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