Philly Paper Bashes Giuliani for Embracing Cheesesteak Vendor

Photo of Ken Shepherd.

The liberal "alternative" paper Philadelphia Weekly (PW) has taken aim at former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) for his October 1 stop at Geno's Steaks (h/t Blonde Sagacity). What's so political about a lunch stop? PW took issue with owner Joey Vento's strong conservative views on immigration and immigrant integration.

Given Giuliani's decidedly more liberal immigration stance when he was mayor, the PW sought to make Giuliani's lunch run a symbol of pandering to "xenophobic" intolerance:

On the way to a fundraising event, he stopped by Geno’s Steaks at Ninth and Passyunk, and embraced Joey Vento, the biggest symbol of ignorance, intolerance and immigrant-bashing in the U.S. today.

Vento’s thinly disguised abhorrence of brown people—don’t just take our word for it; his vile screeds are available with the simplest of searches on YouTube for all to see—has been an ongoing embarrassment to the city and to the brotherly love we allegedly stand for.

Though widely known for the discourteous sign he posted in the window of his cheesesteak stand—“THIS IS AMERICA: WHEN ORDERING ‘SPEAK ENGLISH’”—Vento’s ever-multiplying xenophobic statements about Hispanics on the Fox News Channel and at rallies around the country reveal a far deeper viciousness.

Of course there's a simpler explanation for Giuliani's stop: Geno's makes damn good cheesesteaks and the owner is a strong Giuliani backer. It'd be rude for Rudy to not drop by when in town.

To its credit, PW did allow for comments from Philadelphians to chip in their two cents. Many contributors echoed the liberal lament of the PW, including Philadelphia Tribune columnist Linn Washington, Jr., who said "the dude's a pig" in reference to Giuliani.

Yet others, such as conservative blogger Ala of Blonde Sagacity, defended the mayor's visit:

Presidential primaries always amuse me. Considering most of the candidates have very similar views, the campaigning devolves into nitpicking small, inconsequential details or blatant ad hominem attacks against members of their own party. In Philadelphia we have our own unique and bizarre litmus test for the candidates involving the cheesesteak. Will the candidate go to Geno’s or Pat’s? Will they order their steak correctly? Will they eat it with their hands or commit the cardinal sin of using a knife and fork? Rudy Giuliani’s recent trip to Philadelphia is a glaring example of how important these mundane details have become in American politics. Because of his socially liberal positions on many issues, Giuliani must do anything he can to reassure the right that he is indeed a conservative. His visit to Geno’s was another symbolic step in that direction. As silly as it may seem to outsiders, if he had moseyed over to Pat’s it would’ve been a huge insult to Philly conservatives (all three of us).

—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters


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Of course there's a simpler

Of course there's a simpler explanation for Giuliani's stop: Geno's makes damn good cheesesteaks and the owner is a strong Giuliani backer. It'd be rude for Rudy to not drop by when in town.

<sarc>

Don"t you know, Ken, Republicans are supposed to refuse money AND support from anyone who doesn't toe the established PC line....he was supposed to tell Vento to shove his vote.

Only liberals are allowed to take support from all comers....felons included. (Except that not even other Democrats are allowed to take money from anyone who has criticized Mrs. Clinton). <sarc off>

Giuliani should make sure he

Giuliani should make sure he gets those $2000 checks from the busboys and waitstaffs that Hillary is getting in Chinatown.

I enjoy reading the whacked

I enjoy reading the whacked out liberal alternative papers while waiting for my to-go orders. They are unintentially hilarious, in their earnest amateurish radical ways. So very predictable, also...

When is a sandwich just a sandwich????

This is just another example of the aluminum foil hat wearing, vast leftwing conspiracy believing, chimpanzee feces throwing, rabid pit bull attack mentality the liberal MSM and their ilk engage in when presented with ANY chance to take action against what they see as any threat to Hilary.

BTW, Delasandro's In Roxborough

If Rudy really wantted to get a good steak, he should have stopped in at Delasandro's in Roxborough.

Second that! Highly

Second that!

Highly underrated, oft forgotten, but always the best.

What is Philly Then?

If Mr. Vento is the symbol of bigotry in America, is Philly then the symbol of murder, mayhem and what you get when you implement 40 years of Kennedy socialism with 40 years of being the city of "Hating God in brotherly non love".

God bless you Mr. Vento as the highest medal has these times is to have a liberal attack on..........and no Rudy I do not believe you for a second that you are going to implement Mr. Vento's policy.
Rudy you are like John Kerry and Tim Johnson stumbling along acting like you hunt "for all those redlands Americans".

 

*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS

Don't forget "Screw You,

Don't forget "Screw You, Santa Claus!"

IF THIS ISN'T GROUNDS FOR A

IF THIS ISN'T GROUNDS FOR A LIABLE LAWSUIT ON THE PW, NOTHING IS. GENO'S IS A PRIVATE  BUSINESS BEING SLANDERED BY A NEWSPAPER?. HE OUGHT TO SUE FOR MILLIONS !!!!!

Ken, Great article, but PW

Ken,

Great article, but PW is barely even a real newspaper.

I would put it in the same category as Gawker.

I have trouble getting my news from any paper that has 15 pages of escort listings in the back.

Philadelphia What?

I live in the Philly area and have barely heard of this rag.  They can't even give it away.  I think the bums, excuse me, the homeless who live under bridges use it for wiping themselves.

Joey Vento is a folk hero in Philly in more ways than one and nothing is going to change that.

A LAW SUIT IS STILL IN

A LAW SUIT IS STILL IN ORDER, NO?

So presumably every

So presumably every celebrity who ever ate there is also guilty of hate crimes? That means you Oprah!

I still do not trust

I still do not trust Giuliani.  Yesterday it was announced he now has the support of the Texas Governor, Rick Perry.  As a Texan, let me warn you Perry appears to be another George Bush concerning immigration.  A few weeks ago he was down in Mexico and was quoted in the Houston Chronicle (I am paraphrasing, I wish I had saved the article)  as saying we need "free movement of labour across the border"  (again, a paraphrase from the best of my memory).  He has done some window dressing on border security like putting up cameraes hooked to the internet so people can report border crossers -lol.

This is also the same Governor that is pushing for a 400 Yard Wide road and pipeline toll road Corridors to be built across Texas in order to haul imports from Mexico, made in China and elsewhere.  They will have to seize a lot of Texas Farm land in order to accomplish this. From wiki "...the system will require about 584,000 acres ... of land to be purchased or acquired through the state's assertion of eminent domain".

http://www.corridorwatch.org/ttc/index.htm

http://www.eagleforum.org/column/2006/aug06/06-08-23.html

All well and good, but let's

All well and good, but let's keep any discussion about ancillary issues to the forums.

 

On the one hand I see your

On the one hand I see your point, especially since I failed to fully explain mine. You said "PW took issue with owner Joey Vento's strong conservative views on immigration and immigrant integration."

My point is I trust "America's Mayor" even less about immigration now that he has the Texas Governor's backing, given Govenor Perry's record.  I will not get into it here other than to say I suspect Perry, Guiliani and Pres Bush are the same thing when it comes to immigration. They will give window dressing to trick Conservatives into thinking they have one view (A few cameraes on the border, Eating at this restaurant you mentioned, rounding up a few thousand illegals after allowing millions to come in, etc) but in reality they are for "free flow of labor across the border". That road I mentioned, is part of a deeper plan, along the same lines, that Unsane would be quick to deny.

Don't forget about John Kerry

John Kerry stopped at Pat's during the 2004 campaign -- ordering a steak with SWISS! 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A51517-2003Aug12 

You can tell it's campaign season when lefties try to look like "regular folk".  How long until Dem candidates start showing up in churches????

How long until Dem

How long until Dem candidates start showing up in churches????

Where have you been?????? Obama already asked a congregation to pray that he "could be an instrument of God" and that they could establish a "kingdom on earth."

Guess that means..

... Hillary gets the coveted atheist vote. Bad move Obama Sama..

Giuliania' "WISE" visit to Geno's Steaks in Philly

I get a kick out of the very first sentence describing the liberal rag PW as an alternative paper here in the city of brotherly love. Alternative to what? All we have here are liberal rags posing as mass media, fair and impartial! Although I am not a Giuliani supporter, I think his choice of visiting Geno's was wise on several counts. 

First and foremost, they serve an excellent sandwich in an extremely clean environment. The latter description cannot accurately depict his most obvious competitor, Pat's located directly across the street in the heart of legendary South Philly, the home of the Rocky character in the famous movies. Joey Vento, the founder/owner of Geno's is a hard working immigrant himself who has proven that with hard work an immigrant can attain success. The point of his infamous sign that has the liberals in such a snit is that by not encouraging an immigrant to learn the English language you are doing a disservice to that immigrant. The chances of his/her success will be hindered by the language barrier. Vento has been targeted by the liberal democratic mayoral administration for this sign and a city License & Inspection hearing is scheduled although it has been repeatedly continued by the city attorney's because even the "dems" realize the possibility of a negative fall-out if they attempt to stifle Vento's rights as an American. Vento repeatedly reminds people that his establishment has never refused service to someone for not speaking English but that is one fact the libs tend to overlook.

Vento is a fantastic person who frequently contributes thousands of dollars to a plethora of charities. As you approach his establishment you are greeted by a large portrait of a fallen Philadelphia Police Officer hero who gave the ultimate sacrifice for his city. The Officer's name is Danny Faulkner. Sadly, more people are aware of the name of his assassin than the hero. The creeps name is Wesley Cook, better known as Mumia Abu Jamal. This cop killer sits on death row at Graterford Prison, PA pending the outcome of his thus far 25 years of appeals. Seeing how this cop killer has been given celebrity status by liberals all over the world for nothing other than committing the act of murder in 1981, it is little wonder that Joey Vento is in their cross hairs. While in prison Jamal has given via radio a college commencement speech in California. He has had a street named after him in Paris, France. Many famous celebs such as Whoppi Goldberg, Ed Asner, Mike Farrell, Susan Sarandon just to name a few, have given the killer ringing endorsements.

So If you ever get the chance to visit Philadelphia, I would highly recommend you visit GENO'S STEAKS, (not to be confused with his competitor Pat's) located at 9th & Passyunk Avenue in the heart of South Philly. If you are lucky, you'll catch Joey Vento on location as he often is. You can tell him thanks for being a great American!          

 

}}---> Philly say cheesesteak

Afficianados of the political sacrament of cheesesteak must have fallen short hoping Rudy would ask for Swiss rather than the traditional (Yuck) Cheez-Wiz.

~LYDSEXICS UNTIE!~