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This column has been a weekly project for me for greater than a decade. I’ve written 600 columns for PennLive, far eclipsing the common writing I’ve completed for nationwide publications like The Hill and Actual Clear Politics.
I take every week’s version very critically. My job is to analysis the subject, style a coherent argument and make the case for the conservative place reverse my buddy, Mark Singel, who writes from the left aspect of the aisle.
The clear division between Mark and me has precipitated some fireworks on a couple of event. One of many locations the place these sparks are seen is within the letters and notes I obtain from readers responding to my weekly piece.
I take these letters and notes very critically, particularly these which might be considerate and proof some effort to specific the response of the reader. Not all of them do. I’ve gotten greater than my share of profanity laced rants and unsigned notes with extremely snarky photographs at my mind, character and soul. I can’t pay a lot consideration to those that conceal behind the wall of anonymity I don’t get pleasure from.
However for the remainder, I not solely learn them fastidiously, I mirror on them. I’ve even invited a few writers who took the time to blast my opinions to eat lunch with me. They’ve all accepted, and I’ve had some attention-grabbing conversations consequently. I didn’t change any minds, however that wasn’t the purpose. There are folks of fine will who don’t agree, and I owed it to them and myself to take heed to what they needed to say.
This week, Mark and I noticed a letter printed by PennLive that was headlined “Mark Singel and Charlie Gerow supply unity and inclusion in politics.” Written by John Currie of Decrease Allen Township, it made my day to listen to his perspective.
I’ve to confess that I used to be stunned, albeit pleasantly so, by the tip of the hat from a person who as soon as served on the employees of the Democratic Social gathering in Harrisburg. Particularly on this very contentious 12 months, I wasn’t anticipating such a message.
The 12 months 2020 has been a tricky 12 months in lots of respects. The worldwide pandemic has taken a toll that none of us may have imagined because the 12 months was ushered in. It’s led to some harsh variations between Mark and myself.
Suffice it to say that Mark doesn’t like Donald Trump even just a little bit. I’ve accused him, on the air, of affected by Trump Delusion Syndrome. He’s mentioned equally derogatory issues about my protection of Trump’s insurance policies.
All year long of shutdowns and lockdowns I’ve been considered one of Tom Wolf and Rachel Levine’s most outspoken critics. Mark has typically defended their actions. We exchanged some heated phrases over the Wolf Administration’s lockdowns and restrictions.
However by way of the entire rhetoric, Mr. Currie mentioned he noticed one thing larger. He acknowledged we “. . . by some means combine the necessity for balanced long-term options to long-term issues. Nation over politics.”
At such a contentious level in our life collectively, I hope and pray that he’s proper. Nation first should all the time be a guideline.
Charlie Gerow is a Republican strategist and CEO of Quantum Communications. He and Democrat Mark Singel write reverse one another every week on PennLive. They will additionally been seen every Sunday morning at 8:30 on CBS-21′s Face the State.
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