The Pennsylvania Democratic Party is accusing Rep. Paul Mango (R-Richland) of being “homophobic” and “racist” after Mango appeared in a video interview with Hyung Jin Moon.
Mango, a Republican candidate for governor, talked about his campaign in the 37-minute video.
Moon is leader of the World Peace and Unification Sanctuary in Newfoundland, near the Poconos.
Around the video’s 24-minute mark, Moon states: “There are so many people of faith that have strong Christian values that don’t want to send their kids to school because they’re scared of the indoctrination factor. They’re getting indoctrinated into the homosexual political agenda and transgender agenda.”
Mango then nods his head and starts talking about “out-of-control” property taxes funding state education.
Then, at around the 37-minute mark, Moon states that Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger is “one of the most racist, racist eugenicists in the history of American politics.” Moon adds that Sanger “literally wants to exterminate black people,” and that Planned Parenthood is “founded on racism, on trying to eradicate whole masses of people.”
Moon published the video Jan. 10 on YouTube.
The Pennsylvania Democratic Party published a video on Facebook showing a Jan. 22 press conference at the Pennsylvania Press Club in which Mango denies Moon’s comments, adding he “disagrees” and “doesn’t recall.”
A reporter not visible in the video is heard asking Mango about his statements and why he didn’t say something if he “did not agree.”
“I am not going to disagree with him in the middle of an interview,” Mango responds. “I told you what I did believe in, not what Rev. Moon believed in.”
Mango or his office staff could not be reached for comment by presstime.
Beth Melena, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, said in a Jan. 29 statement: “It comes as no surprise that Paul Mango would sink this low in order to gain support of the most right-wing, extremist sectors of the Republican Party to get through the primary. This is the most recent evidence that Paul Mango is moving as far to the right as possible. Paul Mango’s homophobic and racist interview and his subsequent lies about it are proof that he is not fit for public office.”
Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf is seeking reelection this year. Mango is running in the May primary against Republicans Laura Ellsworth, an attorney and a political newcomer; state Rep. Mike Turzai and state Sen. Scott Wagner. n