I despise negative campaigning, and it started a year before the critical Pennsylvania gubernatorial election.
I already have received by mail multiple hit pieces that attack the presumed Democratic nominee, state Attorney General Josh Shapiro. They emanate from Commonwealth Partners of Harrisburg, an association of radical right-wing entrepreneurs.
The group ascribes blame to Shapiro for the murder rate in Philadelphia, rising energy prices, an unfair settlement with Big Pharma and allegedly turning drug dealers back on to our streets.
If baseball is played in 2022 and the Phillies and/or Pirates do not succeed, perhaps the group will pin that on the attorney general, as well.
Democracy has never been on the ballot more than it will be next year. The Legislature is under the firm grip of the Republicans who wish to limit or end abortion rights, get more guns on our streets and ensure that voting is made more difficult for certain communities, including to eliminate the no-excuse mail-in voting that they voted for, but now dislike because it did not work to their advantage. And, of course, any Republican today must baselessly assert that the 2020 election was fraudulent.
Commonwealth Partners and other right-wing organizations and individuals are demonstrating that they are afraid of a Shapiro candidacy. The choice for who is to lead us beginning in January 2023 is clear if one values democracy and fair play.
Oren Spiegler
Peters Township