You probably never heard of James Seif, but he might have helped change Pennsylvania politics for years to come.
Seif was fired as campaign chief for Bill Scranton, the Republican candidate taking on former Pittsburgh Steeler great Lynn Swann for the Republican nomination for governor. Scranton was heavily favored until Seif opened his mouth on a cable television program and called Swan “the rich, white guy in the campaign.”
Like many of St. Louis’ sports talk show hosts, Seif heard an intelligent black person speak and reacted like it’s a dolphin reading a book. The word that is used for black coaching candidates is “articulate.”
When was the last time a white coaching candidate or player was called “articulate?”
Swann’s campaign chief, Ray Zaborney, who was on the program with Seif, called the comments “one of the most ridiculous and insulting things I think I’ve heard in politics.”
Seif was fired and Scranton called Swann to apologize.
A poll last weekend showed that Republicans will vote to support Swann as their nominee when party leaders meet on Feb. 11.
Before Swann starts measuring the Governor’s office for black and gold carpet and curtains, the latest polls show Swann narrowly leading Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell 45 percent to 43 percent. Rendell, however, has not campaigned at all, and has a sizeable money advantage.