In a New York Times op-ed “Alienating a State From East to West”, Political writer Tom Ferrick Jr. discusses Gov. Tom Corbett’s unpopularity with the voters:
“Normally, central Pennsylvania would be pro-Corbett, because he is anti-tax and pro-business and because… well, he is a Republican. Not this year. Many remain enraged over Mr. Corbett’s handling of the Sandusky case. It’s not about Mr. Sandusky himself, a serial abuser of boys who will die in prison, but about the firing of the beloved head coach, Joe Paterno, and the casting of Penn State football into the pit of disgrace.
“Mr. Corbett has been trying to pivot away from blame for Penn State’s travails, but pivoting is among the things he does not do well. After the Sandusky indictment, the governor used his position on Penn State’s board of trustees to recommend that they quickly agree to a brutal N.C.A.A. report on the case and accept severe penalties and sanctions. Then, about a year later, he sued the N.C.A.A. in federal court, saying it did not have the right to punish Penn State. The suit was dismissed.”
The Tom Wolf campaign has not as yet played its Joe Paterno card, not yet reminded voters how Corbett told his fellow Penn State Trustees immediately before the vote was taken to “Remember the boy in the shower.”
Nor has Wolf insinuated that Corbett was behind Penn State trustees avoiding an investigation that would attract attention to Corbett as attorney general “slow walking” the Sandusky investigation by acceding to draconian NCAA punishment that were not only unprecedented, but of doubtful authority or legality.
But Pennsylvanians who love Penn State, its football program, and Coach Joe Paterno have not and will not forget.
NewsLanc’s headline on election day will be “Remember Joe Paterno”, as though any one could forget.
I hope Corbett not only loses the election but also rots in hell for what he did to Penn State and Joe Paterno.