No Lehigh Valley congressional candidate wants to spend the day defending himself from accusations that he consorts with anti-Semites or with a group that pays homage to the president of the Confederacy and puts the rebel flag at the top of its annual picnic flier. But that's what Jake Towne did Wednesday.
Towne, an independent running for the 15th District seat, decided his benefit concert on Friday should not include the controversial band Poker Face, denounced by the Anti-Defamation League for making anti-Semitic comments.
Republican incumbent Charlie Dent over the weekend used the ADL's criticism to bolster his position that Towne, who pols say could appeal to some of the congressman's supporters, doesn't belong in debates this fall.
Towne announced he would not host Poker Face after the local tea party group, which has members who support him, issued a statement condemning the Allentown band.
Towne said he reviewed some of the comments the band has posted on its website, such as referring to the Holocaust as the Holohaux, but he doesn't think the band hates people just because they are Jewish.
Soon after the tea party's statement, Towne and Poker Face issued a joint release about the concert, which is scheduled for 7-10 p.m. Friday in Northampton and will feature other bands.
"In order to avoid distraction from Charlie Dent's gross incompetence and performance as the people's employee and undemocratic whining to avoid debating independent Jake Towne, Poker Face and Towne for Congress have jointly decided to cancel Poker Face's performance," the statement says.
Then a couple of hours later, Towne pulled out as a speaker at the Jefferson Davis Day Picnic minutes after learning the name of the event from a reporter. Davis was the president of the Confederacy.
Towne said he had been asked to speak at the local picnic next month in Allen Township about his views on the deficit and spending issues. He said he met the organizer while going door to door collecting signatures for his petition.
The picnic's organizer, Carl Edwards, said he admires the Confederacy for its assertion of state rights but not its institution of slavery.
"If his appearance at my picnic distracts him from the issues, I told him not to come," Edwards said.
Towne echoed the statement.
"This should not be this distraction from what my campaign is all about -- a public debate on the issues," Towne said.
Poster Comment:
Good for Poker Face.
