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In case you missed it, and it's hard if you live in the 6th District to miss it because the quote is on everything his campaign people distribute, it goes something like this:
On a mailer about the pay raise issue, Gerlach says, "Even Lois Murphy's local newspaper said, 'All voters know about Lois Murphy is that she hates Jim Gerlach.' (Main Line Life, 6/1/06)"
In a Gerlach television ad, they say, "No wonder Murphy's hometown newspaper said, 'The only thing voters know about Lois Murphy is that she hates Jim Gerlach.' (Main Line Life, 6/1/06) "
That's just two of the many examples.
My first reaction when all this started was to make sure the quote was accurate. So I went back to the June 1 edition of Main Line Life and sure enough, the quote was right on.
But in fairness to Lois Murphy, I think it's important to explain the circumstances.
First, a little background.
Two years ago, Gerlach and Murphy squared off in what turned out to be one of the closest elections in Pennsylvania. Both sides went on the attack during the campaign and voters went to bed on election night not knowing who the winner was.
When they woke, Gerlach retained his 6th District Congressional seat by the slimmest of margins.
As Gerlach returned to Washington, D.C., and set his sights on re-election, Murphy returned to Lower Merion and decided that she would give it another try in 2006.
Unlike past elections, however, when Labor Day was the time campaigns got in full gear, Gerlach and Murphy started early. This race got into full swing minutes after the ball dropped and we welcomed in 2006.
Then it got ugly. Gerlach attacked and Murphy shot right back. Murphy criticized Gerlach for voting with Bush and the incumbent came into Murphy's hometown and bragged about fighting eminent domain and getting money for the Ardmore station.
In the meantime, Tony Roberts, a former news editor and my right-hand man here at Main Line Life, sat down in my office in late May and told me that he accepted a new job in Oregon.
I was not surprised by the move because his new bride had been accepted to graduate school out there and Tony is very talented and I knew he could get a job anywhere.
"Before you go," I said as we toasted his move, "why don't you write a going-away column."
And so he did. Under the headline "Looking down the Line one last time," this is how it started:
The time has come for me to move on. But first, a few parting shots.
He spent half of the column talking about eminent domain, which was the biggest issue on the Main Line during his time here.
Then he discussed politics for a while. Among other things, he praised Andy Dinniman for his victory in the special election, said that Santorum was in trouble, and called for new leadership on the Lower Merion Board of Commissioners.
Then he said those famous words:
If the election for the 6th District were held today, Jim Gerlach would hold on to his seat, because despite running for the past three years, all voters know about Lois Murphy is that she hates Jim Gerlach.
Those were the only words in the entire column that had to do with Gerlach and Murphy.
So there you have it: how 38 words caused an uproar in what many people consider one of the wildest congressional races in the country.
The reason for writing this column is that I had a chance to sit down with Murphy last week. She stopped by the office here at Main Line Life and answered questions from reporter Daniel Kristie and myself.
We gave Murphy this opportunity because two weeks ago Gerlach called and asked if he could stop in to say hello and discuss his agenda.
I told both of them that we do not endorse candidates in elections and I promised them both a fair shake when it comes to coverage.
As we were wrapping up last week's chat with Murphy, I had to ask about the famous quote.
In a round-about way, I asked her if she "really hated Jim Gerlach."
We shared a laugh and she was honest with her response. She said, "I do not hate Jim Gerlach," and the comment from Main Line Life "was not fair."
She went on to say that using the quote "is a smear" from the Gerlach campaign and the quote "is not based on fact."
I explained to her about Tony's comment, and I wanted her to know that the comment was not the view of the paper or of myself.
After she left I called Tony Roberts to tell him about the chat with Murphy and how his comment was being used in the campaign.
The amazing thing about Tony is that I have never met a truer Independent when it comes to politics. I use to tell him that he hates everyone on both sides and we use to get in some fun debates about politics.
When I told him that Murphy didn't think his comment was fair, his first response was, "Wait, tell her that I didn't even vote for Gerlach the first time he ran against Harris Wofford's son."
He went on the say that the reason he made the comment is that it was his opinion that Murphy was ignoring her hometown and was concentrating on the western end of the district.
"Her office is right around the corner and she never had time to stop in to say hello?" he asked.
During my conversation with Murphy, I did bring up that very point and asked her if it was a fair criticism that she was taking the Lower Merion voter for granted.
Murphy actually was a little surprised by the question and said she had not heard that criticism. She said she spends a lot of time in the area and that her office is here. She rattled off a handful of events in the area she attended as well and everyday events she attends because her daughter goes to Lower Merion High School.
Anyone who has ever read my editorials knows my political views and knows that I think Jim Gerlach is doing a good job representing the people of the 6th District.
But first and foremost I am a journalist and now Managing Editor of this award-winning newspaper. I was told very early in my career that newspapers should never be the news and that's why I am writing this editorial and started it on the front page of the paper.
I am asking Jim Gerlach to stop using that quote. As much as I like seeing Main Line Life in the spotlight, it's not fair.
I know Jim Gerlach and have met him many times. I do not believe he hates Lois Murphy.
After meeting with Murphy last week and enjoying the conversation, I am sure of one thing.
Lois Murphy does not hate Jim Gerlach.
Tom Murray is Managing Editor of Main Line Life. He can be reached at tmurray@mainlinelife.com.
