HARRISBURG PATRIOT-NEWS OP ED: …Against this historically massive rejection of [Gov. Tom] Corbett, the titular leader of the Republican Party, there is little evidence that the GOP itself was affected. State Republicans increased their control of the House as well as the Senate, and every one of 12 Republican congressional incumbents running for re-election was re-elected.
In short Corbett’s loss was mostly his own, but his defeat was aided by a Republican-controlled Legislature that gave him few of his major policy priorities. The larger failure was Corbett’s. He failed to grasp the challenges confronting him or to tackle them effectively, making his re-election virtually impossible…
•Penn State. Corbett suffered a loss of popularity from the Jerry Sandusky prosecution, his acceptance of the Freeh report, and NCAA sanctions against the university. The fallout cost Corbett badly needed support from many Penn State alums, especially among the university’s midstate alumni and loyal support base, many of whom typically vote Republican. The governor could have let the process play out by not participating openly and actively on the Penn State board as his predecessors had. He did none of that. Instead he stepped in personally, endorsed the now-controversial Freeh report and supported the firing of Joe Paterno and the subsequent sanctions against the university. A more seasoned politician would have avoided any direct involvement… (more)
