Dan Moul Throws Democracy Under the Bus
Seemingly, Dan Moul’s favorite expression – and his permanent position – is “under the bus.” In an astonishing display of making business personal, it seems that half the people in his district have thrown Dan under the bus.
For all their flaws and artificialities, candidate debates nearly always reveal the differences between candidates. The single candidate’s debate between 91st District State House of Representatives candidates Dan Moul (Rep), Marty Qually (Dem), and Neil Belliveau (Libertarian) was more revealing than most. It revealed Neil Belliveau to be unprepared on some issues but a likeable, plain-spoken, and conscientious man who would work hard if elected to the seat. It revealed Marty Qually to be a thoughtful, well informed, and moderate practical politician who takes pride in getting things done.
It revealed for all to see how deeply unfit for office Dan Moul is and how comfortable he is telling absurd lies in public.
Three things Moul said were shocking. First, at the risk of over-reacting because he called me out by name during the debate, I think it’s worth spending a minute going over his 2-minute introductory comments.
First, Moul started his 2-minute opening remarks criticizing opponent Marty Qually for having already gone negative. “I didn’t know we were going into the attack mode right off the bat – I was hoping to keep it a little more civil.” Then he said normally he ignores attacks. “I've grown a very thick skin over the years...” [He then proceeded immediately to show he is remarkably thin-skinned.] Finally, he said, “I’m going to go down a different road,” which you’d assume means he plans to take the high road and stick to issues. But the different road was to instead take his entire two-minute opening statement to attack two constituents, Steve Niebler and me.
It was an astonishing performance. I’ve been acquainted with many politicians over the years and never saw such a sad and pathetic performance. For one, to lash back at criticism from constituents. Even more important, to give up the most important two minutes of the debate (opening statements) for such foolishness. Every candidate knows the opening statement is your one-time chance to set the tone and lay out the key themes that you will then develop during the debate. Why waste it, and in the process show how remarkably thin-skinned you are.
Even more shocking is the specifics of his complaint against Niebler. In essence, he says that when Steve chaired the Office of Aging, he always worked professionally with Moul’s office, always thanked him for all he did. “And now he threw me under the bus. So what I want to know is, were you lying then or are you lying now?” Seriously, because Steve was able to work amicably and professionally with him, now it’s a betrayal to support another candidate.
Second, when asked if the 2020 election was a free and fair, Moul not only repeated the Big Lie, but he came up with a ridiculous justification for his answer. Moul actually cited crowd sizes: “I went to a Trump rally in Lancaster where about 30,000 people showed up on a rainy Thursday afternoon. When you compare that to a gentleman who never really came out of his basement and spoke to a dozen cars when he did… I had a hard time digesting how one guy can draw 30,000 people on a rainy day and the other guy hardly goes out on the trail, and you’re telling me he won?...”
Finally, Moul told everyone present that he thinks they must be very stupid when he repeated the GOP lie that the proposed constitutional amendment really doesn’t do anything. He claimed that it “has nothing to do with your rights and nothing is being taken away.” Of course, Dan knows very well that the amendment specifically states that nobody has any constitutional right related to abortion and everyone knows it’s the precedent to a statewide ban on abortion.
The contrast between Moul-Qually 2022 and Moul-Qually 2018 was especially stunning. Qually was always a good politician with strong bipartisan credentials, but he wasn’t a disciplined campaigner; sometimes he rambled on too long or failed to make his point. That Marty Qually is gone. Marty Qually 2022 knows what he stands for and how to articulate it.
Dan Moul 2018 still had traces of “good old Dan,” that old style legislator who’s probably better handing out awards at a Boy Scout banquet than working legislation, but “he’s such a nice guy.” Moul 2022 is a less dynamic, whinier version of Doug Mastriano. Qually will work hard on schools, taxes, roads, agriculture, and other items of importance. Moul will vote to take away your constitutional rights and your voting rights.
Vote in 2022 as if democracy depends on it.
It does.
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