Jim Gerlach (R-PA) defends Rove at fundraiser

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14895606&BRD=1677&PAG=461&dept_id=82745&rfi=6

The controversy over the Karl Rove-CIA leak story is paying off for 6th District Congressman Jim Gerlach - in thousands of potential campaign dollars. Far from putting a damper on a fund-raiser in Washington Tuesday night, the press and public attention focused on the senior presidential adviser in recent days boosted attendance, according to one of the event's organizers.

When Democrats, including the Chester County Republican's repeat challenger Lois Murphy, learned about the event last week - just as news was breaking that Rove was named as a source for journalists in the outing of covert agent Valerie Plame in 2003 - they called on Gerlach to cancel. The featured guest at the evening reception and "VIP roundtable discussion" was named as Deputy White House Chief of Staff Rove himself.

"Jim Gerlach should do the right thing and should not feature Karl Rove as a guest at his fundraiser at a time when Rove is under investigation for compromising the identity of a covert agent and compromising our national security for partisan political purposes," Murphy challenged in a press release last week. A press release from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee the same day was headlined: "Rove Revealed as Secret Source of Gerlach's Campaign Funds." Not only was the event going ahead as planned, said Mike Gula of Keelen Communications, the Washington-based firm that organized the affair, but it was exceeding expectations. "We've actually gotten a greater and stronger response than we ever expected," he said in an interview Tuesday morning.

Gula said planners originally expected about 40 people to attend the rooftop reception, where tickets were $1,000 for general admission and $2,500 to sit in at the roundtable with Gerlach and Rove. "We'll probably break 100" in attendance, he said. Gula said so many people wanted the roundtable tickets, limited to 15, that many had to settle for the general reception. Gula thought there were two reasons for the interest. "People want to support Jim Gerlach, and people want to support Karl Rove."

[KingFlorez]

1. Hanging themselves

Gerlach as a very formidable challenger in Lois Murphy and this is not going to help his case any.

[rodeodance]

2. de ja voooooo of Repugs supporting DeLay at fundraisers!!!!!

[RobertSeattle]

3. His (D) opponent in 2006 should send him a thank-you note.

Jim,

Thanks for the ammo. See you next year

Yours,

Your 2006 Opponent.

[Turbineguy]

4. ".....people want to support Karl Rove."

translation: "I do not expect to win re-election."

[AndyTiedye]

5. What Sort Of People Want to Support Karl Rove?

He obviously has the liars and traitors vote sewn up.