Redstate

she assumed that someone who lost a family member would be turned against the war. A poor assumption, if nothing else.

This is as good an opportunity as any for Rendell to get Knoll off the ticket in 2006.

At my place of employment, those who wander into unethical territory tend to engage in "unplanned" 2 week vacations while ethics investigations run their course.  Sounds as if the Lt. Gov. may be on one of those vacations...

That woman, Ms. Baker-Knoll, has never been the brightest bulb on the string.  This is, of course, an embarrassment for the Rendell Administration.  They've declared that they do not oppose the war, that they support the troops.

There had already been some talk that Uncle Ed would drop CBK from the ticket, and a story I read had her living in fear of such an explusion.

She's been referred to as "a cheese steak away from the governor's mansion."  It's a scary thought, as Rendell looks like his heart might rebel at any moment.

on that assumption.

That is not only the wrong time and place for politics, it is horrible etiquet.

Klimer is right, she is only a cheese steak away because Rendell doesn't watch his diet, having installed a cheese steak stand in Harrisburg.

At least Republicans Bush and Huckabee (who lost like 150 lbs.) promote health.

Knoll should resign.  I know that sounds like I am being a wussy liberal, like they said in the earlier blog.

But the liberal media took down Trent Lott, and now they're trying to take down Santorum.

I say we fight fire with fire and take down Knoll, because Rendell may fall with her in 2006 when he faces re-election.

Completely tasteless. I feel sorry for the family.

She's old. She made a mistake. Plus, she was put on the ticket for gender balance and is otherwise unqualified. So, a little charity might be order.

Which is more than some Democrats have shown her in the past. From the Tribune-Review, October 2004:

We would never say that Catherine Baker Knoll is too elderly or ineffectual to perform her duties as Pennsylvania's lieutenant governor.

Why would we? We have Democrat Senate leader Robert Mellow to do it for us.

The Harrisburg Patriot-News reported that Mellow, of Lackawanna County, recently screamed at Knoll, "You're too old! You're incompetent!" Mellow and Knoll's office both denied the remarks were made, but several senators and officials confirmed the outburst.

Hint to Mellow: Next time you castigate Knoll, don't do it in front of witnesses on the Senate floor.

Mellow apparently was frustrated following a Republican maneuver that prevented Democrats from offering amendments to a bill to rewrite parts of the state's new gambling law.

As for the 74-year-old Knoll, the Patriot-News reported that she once again publicly referred to Gov. Edward G. Rendell as the late actor Edward G. Robinson, famous for his portrayal of gangsters. Knoll made the slip while reading a proclamation to a Latino group from the governor.

Meanwhile, KDKA's website reports on the letter she wrote:

Lt. Governor Catherine Baker-Knoll has sent a letter of apology to the family of a local Marine killed in Iraq. Her appearance last week at the funeral of Staff Sgt. Joseph Goodrich angered his family...who said she was uninvited, and offended people by handing out business cards and criticizing the war. In her letter...Knoll said she attended the funeral to offer only her condolences and sympathy and did not mean to offend any one. She said she offered the business cards to people so that they could call her if they needed assistance with anything.

Lt. Gov. Baker-Knoll remembers the day KDKA first broadcast, I believe.

Here's the apology posted on politicspa.com...

Doesn't address issue of her comment about war.  She is completely tasteless.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

July 25, 2005 Office of the Lieutenant Governor

Commonwealth News Bureau

Room 200, Main Capitol

Harrisburg, PA 17120

CONTACT: Sean Pendrak

(717) 787-3300

LT. GOVERNOR CATHERINE BAKER KNOLL LETTER OF APOLOGY

HARRISBURG: July 25, 2005

Dear Mrs. Goodrich,

I am writing to further apologize and clarify what happened at the funeral of your beloved husband, Joseph. As a wife and mother, I can only imagine how difficult it must be to lose your spouse so suddenly. As an adored member of your family and one of Pennsylvania's sons serving with soldiers from across the commonwealth, SSGT Joseph Goodrich, is one of this nation's heroes.

As I said in my phone message to Rhonda, after I learned through press reports that your family was offended by my attendance, I was incredibly upset. I wanted to assure you once again that my intention was not to add to what must be a tremendously, heartbreaking, difficult period.

The war on terror is an immensely personal conflict for the thousands of people whose families continue to serve with honor, and I have attended dozens of funerals to offer my sympathy and condolences to the families of soldiers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

My heart and prayers are with your family, and to the families of all the men and women serving the cause of freedom in the fight against terror. I unfortunately, did not arrive at the church services for SSGT Goodrich's funeral in time to offer my personal condolences to you. As I also mentioned on Rhonda's phone message, as I do with many Pennsylvanians I meet, I offered my business card so she could contact me, and as a sign of my willingness to help the family through this difficult time in any way I can. To do anything that was deemed insensitive was completely counter to my intent.

Sergeant Goodrich's service was beyond the call of duty. If my regard for his family's grief was seen another way, it is thoroughly regrettable. The fact that you have been offended deserves and receives my most profound apology.

I will continue to support our troops in my role as Lt. Governor and support our President as an American. That I somehow conveyed an impression that was interpreted as other than that will forever be saddening and upsetting to me.

Again, please accept my heartfelt apology and deepest sympathy.

Sincerely,

Catherine Baker Knoll

Lieutenant Governor

"...I'm sorry if you're too stupid to understand my oh-so-intelligent take on this war, you goose-stepping morons" non-apology.

The witch needs to resign. NOW.

She's facing an accusation of spewing antiwar tripe at grieving relatives attending the funeral of a dead American soldier--any other objections to her conduct pale in comparison to that charge.  She needs to either issue a groveling apology specifically addressing that conduct, or deny it directly and face an investigation by the media.  Nothing else will suffice.

"...after I learned through press reports that your family was offended by my attendance, I was incredibly upset..."



CBK is supposed to be writing an apology not a defense of her actions. It shouldn't surprise anyone including Knoll that a family would be upset with an univited guest.



"...and as a sign of my willingness to help the family through this difficult time in any way I can. To do anything that was deemed insensitive was completely counter to my intent..."



so you give them a card and say our gov't (tha PA gov't---my gov't) is against the war and at a funeral, so CBK must not think that's insensitive.

get her out.