ELEPHANT CORNER: Honoring USA’s First Naval Hero; Democrats’ War On Women

Last week a historic marker honoring COMMODORE JOHN BARRY was placed on Delaware Avenue. The successful erection of the marker was in large part owing to the hard work of Republican Committeewoman CELESTE MORELLO. Morello, a local historian, has been instrumental in the siting of other historic markers in the area.

JOHN ELLIOTT was the financial sponsor of the sign. He was also the member of the Delaware River Port Authority who in 1974 successfully petitioned the US Congress to name the Commodore Barry Bridge after the Father of the US Navy.

REV. DANIEL RUFF, SJ of Old St. Joseph’s Church blessed the sign. RICHARD SAND of the Pennsylvania Historic & Museum Commission represented GOV. TOM CORBETT at the ceremony. COUNCILMAN MARK SQUILLA presented City Council’s citation honoring Barry. FRAN O’BRIEN represented the Navy League at the event. US SEN. PAT TOOMEY could not attend, but sent a representative, JAMES FITZPATRICK. The crowd was entertained by Emerald Society Bagpipers led by JOE TOBIN, and JOHN HOULIHAN of the Barry Society of Brooklyn sang the US and Irish national anthems.

Barry was a native of Wexford, Ireland. He was first commissioned officer and Secretary of the Navy by GEORGE WASHINGTON during in 1791. He led the fight in many naval battles during the Revolutionary War and remained in the US Navy until his death in 1803.

At this point I am handing the quill to a female in the herd to discuss the latest Democratic Party attack on intelligence of women.

The Democrats have reached a new low in trying to paint Republicans as anti-women. The Chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ stated, “SCOTT WALKER has given women the back of his hand… I know that is stark… But it is a reality.” She further commented, “Republican Tea Party extremists like Scott Walker are grabbing us by the hair and pulling us back.” Wasserman Schultz believes Walker’s positions on the minimum wage and enhanced unemployment benefits are the equivalent of physical violence.

Wisconsin’s female Lieutenant Governor, Republican REBECCA KLEEFISCH, said she was “shocked” and Wasserman Schultz’s remarks were “absolutely hideous” and “despicable.” Can you envision what would happen if Republican National Committee CHAIRMAN REINCE PRIEBUS compared those who disagreed with him to deviant criminals? The mainstream media would burn him in effigy.

I am a female and believe that increasing the minimum wage materially will result in many people losing their jobs. Does that mean I am abusive? No, it means Gov. Walker and I share a different view on economics than most Democrats. People who do not agree with me are not by definition evil, but Wasserman Schultz’s comparing Walker to an abusive husband is immoral.

While I am disappointed in Wasserman Schultz, she is a politician representing a political party. The recent accusation by State Dept. spokesperson MARIE HARF that Fox News commentator BILL O’REILLY is sexist is more disturbing.

Based on what I saw of O’Reilly’s comments, Harf’s accusations are a stretch. Is the Kerry State Dept. engaging its employees in the DNC’s war-on-women propaganda campaign? These people should not be involved in partisan politics. Or do we have some thin-skinned people at State who cannot take the heat?

Harf’s allegations were based on O’Reilly’s airing of State’s JEN PSAKI’S inept handling of a press conference and his subsequent comments. He stated, “That woman is out of her depth…. It does not look like she has the gravitas for the job.” Harf in an official statement called these comments sexist and charged O’Reilly would not say this about a man.

She obviously did not hear his description of PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA’S new male press secretary as “befuddled” and “lacking.” While O’Reilly’s comments were insulting, they were clearly not sexist.