Community Support Pours in for Roger Manno -
Allan Lichtman calls Lenett's attacks "blatant appeal to ethnic prejudice"
Silver Spring -Today, Roger Manno released a multitude of statements that have been issued in support of his campaign following the recent outrageous attacks by Mike Lenett.
Manno stated that "I am touched and honored that so many individuals and organizations are supporting me in such a strong and vocal way. It's important for the community to know how many are impacted by Mike Lenett's divisive campaign and false attacks. The time has come to say NO to this type of gutter politics so that we can focus on the issues and the things that our citizens care about."
Manno continued: "Much of this is despicable, but the fact that Lenett purposely chose to launch this public attack during Rosh Hashanah is offensive to the Jewish Community. One of the 2 Mike Lenett mail pieces that landed in people's mailboxes today even goes so far as to arrange the letters of my birth name in a manner similar to a signature on a terrorist ransom note. Mike Lenett goes further in creating false newspaper headlines clearly designed to trick voters into thinking that these false statements are real."
In today's Gazette newspaper, Allan Lichtman made the following statement in his commentary on the District 19 Senate race. "…Lenett has leveled the nastiest charges, claiming that Manno has covered up his and his wife's ties to Wall Street and lied on financial disclosure forms. In a blatant appeal to ethnic prejudice (emphasis added), he also charged that Manno concealed a name change in 2002 from "Rajah" to "Roger." With some justice, Manno has countered by accusing Lenett of having taken county politics "into the gutter like no other candidate before him." Commentary | Allan Lichtman, Gazette, Friday Sept 10, 2010.
The following statements have been issued in support of Roger Manno for State Senate:
"I've been in Annapolis for ten years as a public interest advocate and a lawmaker. I consider Roger Manno's character and integrity second to none. Roger brings a deep-seated and sophisticated understanding of the state's problems to his job. He brings his conscience to work every day, and he works tirelessly to meet challenges and improve people's lives. Mike Lenett's attacks on him and his wife and family are disgraceful, dishonest and inaccurate, and reflect very poorly on Mike Lenett. They call to mind the far right's manipulative characterization of President Obama's name, race and religion. These tactics come from Karl Rove's playbook and have no place in Montgomery County politics." -- Tom Hucker, Maryland State Delegate
"I am shocked and saddened that Maryland Senator, Mike Lenett's campaign literature and recent website attempts to play to ethnic stereotypes and racial prejudice in a county that is 46.7 % multi-ethnic, and where more than a quarter of the population is foreign born. Xenophobia, racism and bigotry have no place in our county's political discourse. The Asian Indian/Indian American community is outraged by the offensive imagery and language used to evoke strong negative feeling among voters. The undertones are very clear--as if to say-- having an Indian (foreign) sounding name is stain on one's candidacy which precludes said individual's ability to hold political office in the United States. This is a sad day for our multicultural Asia n Indian community." -- Kamala Edwards, Ph.D., President, Indian American Leadership Council ( IALC)
"We strongly stand behind and support Roger Manno for State Senate. Roger has an unwavering commitment to working families and has has worked tirelessly to help provide a decent, and comfortable life for all Marylanders. We know Roger Manno and we are disgusted by Mike Lenett's hateful and dishonest attacks against Roger and his family. These attacks that are clearly designed by Mike Lenett to scare voters in a last ditch attempt to save his Senate Seat. There is no room for such despicable tactics in Montgomery County and in this great State of ours. We urge you to come out on September 14th and elect Roger Manno, a true leader for Maryland's working families."
-- Tom Mcnutt, President, UFCW Local 400; Jimmy Tarlau, Assistant to the Vice President, CWA District 2; Tim Goins Executive Vice President, UFCW 27
"It is understandable that candidates in the heat of an election do their best to put themselves in a positive light and their opponent in a negative light. However, I must say that I'm disappointed that Senator Lenett resorted to inaccurate, distorted personal attacks against Roger Manno and his wife in an attempt to hold onto an office. This Karl Rove-type of campaigning doesn't have a place in Maryland." -- Jackie L. Jeter, President, ATU Local 689
"I met Roger Manno a little over four years ago, and I knew when I met him he was not your every day politician. He spoke from the heart and will fight for not only District 19 constituents but for all the working men and women in the State of Maryland. That's why the citizens of the 19th District should send the message, that they want a State Senator with Integrity to represent the 19th District in Annapolis. Roger Manno is that man of Integrity and Honesty." -- Lino Cressotti, Business Manager, Insulators & Allied Workers, Local # 24
"Roger Manno has exhibited boundless energy in not just representation of the voters of district 19, but for causes that affect the entire state and the world. His passion for the work in health care reform, environmentalism, and civil rights is impossible to overlook. When such a dedicated public servant seeks the approval of the voters, a common opponent response is an attempt to find flaws in an otherwise exemplary appearance. The attempt to use ethnic background and inaccuracies to construct such a response demonstrates instead the strength of the opponent being attacked. The attacks are crude, dangerous, and ultimately, unpersuasive. Roger Manno continues to be the better choice for District 19 voters." -- Bill Jacobs, Former President, Montgomery Green Democrats
"Well Mike Lenett just convinced me that I should vote for Roger Manno formally known as Rajah Pettinato Manno, not because Rogers's former name was a colorful one but because he clearly is the right man for the job....... Roger will get every vote I can muster up for him. We cannot accept this kind of YELLOW campaigning in Montgomery County. MIKE TAKE THAT WEBSITE DOWN! …and talk issues not negative hate rhetoric. You should be ashamed of yourself." -- Cary Lamari, Comment posted on Maryland Politics Watch
