A number of Democratic representatives jumped to Trivedi's defense, because Mark Campbell, Gerlach's spokesman, is an idiot. Let's face it -- he wouldn't have the balls to make such claims if Trivedi was an Italian American candidate fundraising within the Italian American community.
Of course, that's just one of several racially-charged criticisms Gerlach's campaign has made towards Trivedi. During the race, Gerlach has said that his opponent "doesn't share our values," a thinly veiled jab at the fact that Trivedi is Hindu:
In the Pennsylvania race, supporters of Mr. Trivedi have pointed to comments by Mr. Gerlach that Mr. Trivedi "doesn't share our values." The Gerlach campaign also issued a press release criticizing Mr. Trivedi for not speaking out in the debate over a proposed Islamic center in lower Manhattan near the World Trade Center site.So... according to Gerlach's logic, Trivedi should not be allowed to fundraise within the Indian American community... because that is playing "the race card." But it's completely cool if Gerlach raises money from his white supporters? F@#k that. He's the one playing damn race card. More here: Being NOT WHITE with not-white supporters = playing the race card = DOG WHISTLE.
The headline of the news release was: "Despite Inquiries, Trivedi Silent for Over a Week on Mosque Issue."
Mr. Trivedi is Hindu. "That's what I put on my dog tags when I was in the Navy," he often says. But supporters of Mr. Trivedi said the news release about the mosque was intended to suggest that Mr. Trivedi was Muslim, an assertion that the Gerlach campaign denied.
In The Hill newspaper article, Mr. Campbell said, "What we are saying is that Trivedi is a far-left fringe candidate who does not share the common-sense values of the taxpayers, families or seniors of the 6th district."
Mr. Campbell was then quoted as saying, "The only one who has played the race card here is him, by going to Indian-American groups to raise money."
