Press Release - Pat Murphy Shows Stunning Lack of Knowledge of District, Compares Knowledge of District to Trivial Pursuit
Pat Murphy Shows Stunning Lack of Knowledge of District, Compares Knowledge of District to Trivial Pursuit
Posted on 13-10-2006
Pat Wandling,
Communications Director, Fitzpatrick for Congress
Bristol, PA - Yesterday evening, Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick debated Patrick Murphy at the Palisades High School in Kintnersville. Throughout the debate, Pat Murphy displayed a stunning lack of knowledge of the district he hopes to represent.
The debate which was hosted by the Upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce covered topics ranged from energy policy to healthcare to immigration and national security. However, the one question that framed the evening focused on an issue closer to home.
During the candidate question segment of the debate, Congressman Fitzpatrick asked Pat Murphy what seemed to be the most basic of questions for a candidate for United States Congress: Congressman Fitzpatrick asked Pat Murphy how many school districts there are in Bucks County and to name them all.
Displaying a stunning lack of knowledge of the very district he seeks to represent, Pat Murphy was captured on tape acknowledging that he could not answer the question.
"I am astonished that Pat Murphy could not name any of the 13 school districts in Bucks County. I found it even more incredible that he could not even name the school district which shares the name of the high school that hosted our debate."
Even after the debate, Murphy admitted that he was at a loss. The Intelligencer quoted Murphy as saying "I didn't know this was Trivial Pursuit" ( The Intelligencer, 10/13/06).
"Knowing the basic facts about the district you want to represent isn't trivial and Pat should know better," Fitzpatrick said. "I know each of the 13 school district because I grew up here, and I served the community for 12 years."
"It's one thing to talk about education policy in Washington as Pat likes to do, but effective leadership means knowing who those decisions effect here at home. That's something I know and something Pat Murphy doesn't."
As appalling as Murphy's lack of knowledge is, no one should be that surprised. Murphy acknowledged to the Capital Hill newspaper Roll Call in 2004 that he would move into whatever district provided the best political opportunity. He then moved into Bucks County having never lived in our community and knowing nothing about our community.
Pat Murphy's campaign is about Pat Murphy, not about Bucks County. Murphy's inability to answer this most basic question about the very place he seeks to represent is a telling condemnation of his campaign.
If Pat Murphy doesn't even know our community, how can he represent us?
http://www.fitzpatrickforcongress.com/news/index_2.php?news_id=49&start=0&category_id=&parent_id=&arcyear=2006&arcmonth=10