Opinion: Old Fashioned Values

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State after state after state has joined the rush to create what will be something akin to a national primary next Feb. 5. But Pennsylvania apparently is going against the grain. And the reasons cited by one leading lawmaker for keeping the Keystone State’s primary on April 22 --- long after the suspense probably will be gone from the Democratic and Republican presidential nominating contests --- warm our heart.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported late last week that with time running out under state law for Pennsylvania to push up its primary date, a change seems unlikely. The effort has stalled in the legislature despite its embrace by Gov. Ed Rendell, who wants his state to join the raft of others --- including California, Illinois and New York --- with a 2/5 primary.

Opponents include Pennsylvania Republican Chairman Robert Gleason, who’s got on his mind the fact that the average age of state residents is on the high side --- and that early February in the Northeast is no walk in the park.

‘With an older electorate, do we really want to force our voters out during conditions that could jeopardize their health and safety?’ he’s quoted as asking in the Tribune-Review.

He also noted that the earlier primary would lead to much politicking during the holiday season. And that, he said, ‘would offend many voters.’

Maybe this guy should run for president.

-- Don Frederick