JIM THORPE, CARBON COUNTY, Pa. — Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure on Thursday launched sharp attacks at firefighter union boss Bob Brooks in the final televised debate for Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District's Democratic primary.
McClure denounced old social media posts in which Brooks criticized former President Barack Obama and pinned school shootings on the lack of school prayer.
The criticisms marked the first time any of the four Democratic candidates for the seat have targeted one of their own instead of President Donald Trump or U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, the Republican incumbent.Blue Ridge Cable TV-13 debate
The criticisms marked the first time any of the four Democratic candidates for the seat have targeted one of their own during a media event instead of President Donald Trump or U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, the Republican incumbent.
Brooks has drawn high-profile endorsements from Gov. Josh Shapiro, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, and hours before the debate, the Brooks campaign said polling shows him leading the primary by seven points.
But early in Blue Ridge Cable TV-13's 90-minute debate at the Jim Thorpe Area School District's Administrative Building, McClure called on Brooks to explain himself for the social media posts.
The day after a gunman killed 23 people at an El Paso, Texas, Walmart in August 2019, Brooks posted message reading, "The problem is not guns it's hearts without God, homes without discipline, schools without prayer and courtrooms without justice."
The message was placed over an image of actor Clint Eastwood holding a rifle from the film "Gran Torino."
A watermark logo of the Three Percenters, a right-wing anti-government group that the Canadian government has declared a "terrorist entity," was on the post.
'They are stupid posts'
In another post, Brooks shared a link to a news article reporting on then-presidential candidate Mitt Romney's opposition to granting firefighters and police officers bargaining rights.
"This is why Obama is the choice, unfortunately he sucks, but Romney blows and is against everything middle class," Brooks wrote in the 2012 post.
Another post saw Brooks post a photo of the American flag and insult former NFL quarterback and social activist Colin Kaepernick.
At the time, Nike had recalled its Betsy Ross flag shoes after Kaepernick criticized the sneakers.
"Some DC consultants had paged through my Facebook long before I ever decided to get into this race, and they found three posts over the last 20 years."Bob Brooks, Democratic candidate for the 7th Congressional District
The posts drew national attention after reporting this week by the Washington Post, but was first reported by the blog Lehigh Valley Ramblings.
Brooks apologized for some of the posts in his response to the Post.
But during the debate, Brooks was not given an immediate opportunity to respond. When Brooks hadn't addressed the posts after his final two-minute statement, McClure rebuked him again.
He accused Brooks of not supporting First Amendment rights and said that easy access to assault rifles is why America has frequent mass shootings.
"People are concerned that Bob is going to be another Fetterman," McClure said after the event, referring to U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pennsylvania.
All four candidates have criticized Fetterman over his support of President Donald Trump's efforts on border security and repeatedly voting out of line with other Democratic senators.
"I think that it is incumbent on other candidates, and it fell to me tonight, to point out where Bob has been on all these issues in the past," McClure said.
Brooks, who endorsed McClure before entering the race months later, leaned back in his chair with a look of disbelief after McClure's comments.
"Some DC consultants had paged through my Facebook long before I ever decided to get into this race, and they found three posts over the last 20 years," Brooks said.
"Are they stupid posts? They are stupid posts, and for that, I have apologized."
He accused McClure of failing to provide context about his criticism of Obama, noting that the post urged people to support him over Romney.
'No scandals, no secrets, no skeletons'
The other candidates in the debate, former federal prosecutor Ryan Crosswell and Carol Obando-Derstine, stayed out of the fray, instead focusing on their qualifications and pitching their ability to connect with voters.
"I've got no scandals, no secrets, no skeletons," Obando-Derstine said after McClure finished his criticism of Brooks, drawing laughs from the crowd of about 80 people.
The debate produced few other new insights into the race as the candidates retread similar talking points brought up in past debates and forums.
More often than not, they pointed to their individual backgrounds and said he or she was the best candidate to fight for locals and the environment in Washington.Blue Ridge Cable TV-13 debate
The moderator, Kim Bell of Blue Ridge, quizzed the candidates on their commitment to environmental protection, including how they would respond to residential concerns about a tire-burning power plant in Nesquehoning, Carbon County, that powers a cryptocurrency mining facility.
The candidates agreed on the need to ensure that guardrails are in place and their commitment to clean air and water, but provided little in the way of details.
More often than not, they pointed to their individual backgrounds and said he or she was the best candidate to fight for locals and the environment in Washington.
The 7th Congressional District is some of the nation's most contested political real estate.
Representing Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties plus a sliver of Monroe County, it's regarded among the few toss-up seats in the U.S. House.
Given the narrow margins in Washington, both parties have dedicated millions of dollars to winning the race in hopes of securing a majority.
