At Long Last, Have They No Decency?

The zealots at Labor United for Connecticut picked the wrong target when they put Dr. William Petit in their malignant sights. Through the tragedy of the 2007 murder of his wife and two daughters, Dr. Petit has a platform to condemn the labor’s online ad trying to link the Republican candidate for the House of Representatives to “attacks on women and families.”

Dr. Petit condemned the ad at a press conference outside his Plainville home. Petit’s Democratic opponent, incumbent state Representative Betty Boukus, made an appearance at the press conference and criticized the ad aimed at bolstering her endangered prospects of a 12th term.

Outgoing Speaker of the House Brendan Sharkey (D-uncertain residence) drew all the wrong lessons from the attack on Dr. Petit. Sharkey would use the revealing incident to limit freedom of speech and participation in the public arena. Labor United for Connecticut’s exploding strategy to defeat a popular Republican who would not be one of their foot soldiers in the legislature has revealed who they are. This is what Republicans are up against every day in competitive races. Let all sides shine a bright light on themselves and others. Dr. Petit can take it. He trusts the people.

Now the challenge moves to other races. Will the righteous among the candidates Labor United for Connecticut condemn their nasty allies? They know who they are, and so do others.

Paul Filson, head of Labor United and director of the Connecticut chapter of SEIU, attributes Donald Trump’s nasty anti-immigrant rhetoric to Dr. Petit. What a short memory he has. Connecticut labor was silent two years ago when their ally Democratic Governor Daniel P. Malloy refused to offer assistance to child refugees from Central America. Labor’s voices were stilled when Malloy turned his back on those children during his re-election campaign.