Fair is Fair

Today's Intelligencer Journal reports that Lancaster County Coroner Gary Kirchner has been booted off the ballot because of improperly collected signatures on his nominating petition. It seems that Republican committeeman Immo Sulyok has nothing better to do then try to get Republicans running as independents booted off the ballot (in the article he also admits to scrutinizing Jere Swarr's petition).

Now lets look at this logically. Does either candidate really stand a chance at winning the election this fall? Highly unlikely, so what could Sulyok's motivation be other then mean spirited retribution aimed at party bolters? Or will he argue that it is only "fair".

In the issue of fairness Krichner should not appear on the ballot based on the antiquated rules that govern elections in the state of Pennsylvania. But to also be fair why should an Independent need to collect 888 signatures to get on the ballot when the Republican and Democratic candidates only need 250 signatures? If fair is fair then it is time to change these antiquated laws so that every candidate, no matter what their political party, is held to the exact same standard to get on the ballot. Anything else would be simply discriminatory, unfair and un-American.