Statement on Manufactured Racism Charges

Statement on Shameful, Manufactured Racism Charges

Smear Campaign is a Distraction from Democrats Failed Record on Jobs, Spending and Debt; The First Mention of Race in this Campaign Was Raised by Trivedi Himself, Prompting a Reporter's Phone Call

(Glenmoore, PA) -The following statement was released from Mark Campbell, spokesman for the Gerlach campaign today:

"Let me first start by saying that Congressman Jim Gerlach is the most decent, hard-working and honest man I have ever met other than my father. In no way shape or form would he tolerate, much less condone, racism of any kind.

"On August 24th, I received a call from a Hill reporter who asked for comment on our opponent Manan Trivedi's assertion that our campaign was engaging in a 'whisper campaign' using Trivedi's race as an issue. Not one single iota of proof to Trivedi's very serious charge was offered because none exists. Not then, not now. It was Trivedi, not our campaign, who raised this issue from the beginning. We have never engaged in such gutter politics, nor do we need to. Frankly I'm surprised that a reporter would cover such a serious and unfounded accusation without proof. But hey, this is politics.

"Despite the fact that this story has been re-written several times across the blog-o-sphere, Trivedi has still failed to produce a single example or piece of evidence to his original claim that his race was being used against him. Trivedi is now somehow playing the victim with the help of a desperate group of Democrat members of Congress who will soon find themselves in the minority. These Democrats obviously can't talk about their failed record on job creation, their looming tax increases that will cripple our economy, and the massive debt they are leaving future generations of Americans, so they instead resort to these desperate tactics.

"In my original conversation with the reporter, I stated emphatically that Trivedi's claim was unfounded and false, and said very clearly that the only person in either campaign that had talked about Trivedi's ethnicity was him and him only - in press releases, stories and with groups from which he sought to raise money. It wasn't an attack, it was a statement of fact to refute Trivedi's original baseless claim.

"To suggest I or this campaign believe that certain demographic groups should not be allowed to donate, raise money or engage in the political process is laughable and absolutely ridiculous. Our campaign hosts many of the same events. In fact, we are hosting an Indian-American event next week.

"The bottom line is, Trivedi doesn't share this district's values because he supports more government spending, higher taxes, amnesty for illegal immigrants which will bankrupt Social Security, a European style single payer healthcare system and radical social policies like distributing condoms in public schools and taxpayer funding of abortions.

"It seems the end goal of this entire manufactured stunt, which again was first raised by Trivedi without an ounce of proof other than his unfounded accusations, was nothing but a coordinated ploy to raise money for his failing campaign. The IALI, a partisan Democrat organization, is already urging Indian Americans to make "generous contributions" to Trivedi's campaign as a result of this manufactured story.

"It is truly sad Manan Trivedi and his allies had to sink so low in his campaign, and he should be ashamed of himself. He owes the 700,000 voters of this district and Congressman Gerlach's family an apology for engaging in these gutter politics."

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