Senator Specter's distasteful Polish Jokes

Alex Storozynski
President & Executive Director
Kosciuszko Foundation

December 16, 2008

Sen. Arlen Specter
711 Hart Building
Washington , DC 20510

Sen. Specter:
 
As the great state of Pennsylvania has more than 824,000 residents of Polish descent, and our Foundation has two chapters in your state, one in Philadelphia and another in Pittsburgh, you can imagine my shock when I read in the New York Post that you told several distasteful Polish jokes during a meeting of the Commonwealth Club.
 
When one of the guests, said, “Hey, careful. I’m Polish!” You reportedly replied, “That’s OK, I’ll tell it more slowly.”
 
Well Senator, Polish Colonel Thaddeus Kosciuszko was not slow in your state of Pennsylvania when Benjamin Franklin asked him to build forts in 1776 to protect Philadelphia from the coming attack by the British. Kosciuszko was also quick to build West Point and organize the Continental Army troops at the Battle of Saratoga, the turning point of the American Revolution.

And the father of the American Cavalry, Casimir Pulaski was not slow in Pennsylvania when he quickly organized a team of dragoons to help Gen. George Washington escape unharmed after he lost the Battle of Brandywine.  In fact, Congress was quick to name Pulaski an American General for this heroism.
 
And now, thanks to the Internet, Poles are acting quickly to inform voters in Pennsylvania, and the world that you are a bigot. Shame on you.
 
Respectfully,
Alex Storozynski
Kosciuszko Foundation
An American Center for Polish Culture
15 East 65th Street
New York, NY 10065-6501
Phone (212) 628-4552
Fax: (212) 628-4552