Barletta Ad Puts Burden On His Rival
| The ad features a singer and some snapping fingers. The tune is “Sixteen Tons,” a No. 1 hit of Tennessee Ernie Ford in 1955. But the lyrics have been changed to fit Barletta’s campaign as he tries for the third time to unseat 13-term Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke.
The lyrics are: “We gave him 26 years and what did we get, Kanjorski got richer and we’re deeper in debt. Kanjorski raised his pay and our taxes too, This November I’m voting for Lou.” The ad includes a voiceover that tells listeners Kanjorski voted for the health care bill that includes a cut in Medicare. “The ad is a great way to remind senior citizens about Paul Kanjorski’s vote to cut $500 million from Medicare with his reckless vote for the government takeover of health care,” said Shawn Kelly, Barletta campaign spokesman. Ed Mitchell, spokesman for the Kanjorski campaign, issued a response to the ad: “I guess Barletta is auditioning for a job on Comedy Central while Paul Kanjorski is standing up for Northeastern Pennsylvania and discussing serious issues with his constituents,” Mitchell said. “Gimmicky jingles are not what the country needs, Lou. Where do you stand?” The General Election is Nov. 2, as Barletta tries again to defeat the 26-year incumbent. Barletta lost to Kanjorski in 2008 by more than 9,000 votes and before that, he lost in 2002 by 22,000 votes. The 11th Congressional District is predominantly Democratic, with a 2-to-1 registration edge. In 2008, Barletta won in Luzerne, Carbon and Columbia counties, while Kanjorski took Lackawanna and Monroe counties. “Sixteen Tons” is a song about the life of a coal miner, first recorded in 1946 by American country singer Merle Travis and released on his box-set album, “Folk Songs of the Hills” the following year. A 1955 version recorded by Tennessee Ernie Ford reached number one in the Billboard charts, while another version by Frankie Laine was released only in the United Kingdom. |