Paul Kanjorski- You Almost Had Me

In an article that appears in the Pocono Record Paul Kanjorski is touting that the Porkulus Spendulus package will create or save 7,700 jobs in his district.

"While the final recovery bill is not perfect, nor does it address all my concerns, I strongly believe we must take quick action to help Americans who are struggling and help spur job creation," Kanjorski said in a statement.

His spokesperson, Abigal McDonough goes on to say- It is difficult to determine just how much of the massive spending bill will go to projects and programs in the 11th District, said Kanjorski spokeswoman Abigail McDonough. She noted localities will have to apply to the state for money.

So which way is it Paul? You do know the impact or as Abigail states, its difficult to determine since the localities will have to apply to the state for money? (Psstt..Chris Carney...how can you state that the Porkulus Spendulus will bring 7,500 jobs to your district with absolute certainty?)

Kanjorski is using the current crisis to raise his profile in the 11th district. He appears to have contrived a story about a money run to the tune of $500 million dollars. My friend the G man, Gort42, even blogged about the Motley Fool highlighting the story. If you watch the video he makes the claim that it happened September 15, 2008 on a Thursday. Actually that Thursday was September 18.

Felix Salmon over at the Portfolio.com sets the record straight about Kanjorski's meme. He gives a great chronological dissertation on the events that Kanjorski used in his story.

This is all, frankly, fiction, and it's not clear where most of it came from, although maybe Kanjorski's "friends" on Wall Street are the same people as Michael Gray's sources at the New York Post. Thinking back to that crazy week it's easy to get details wrong, especially when you're speaking off the cuff on a call-in show. But let's stop treating it as though there's any substance to it. Please.

On February 16, 2009 he he writes about the Mark II version of Kanjorski's story. Abigail McDonough is back at it again. But Ben Smith, of Politico.com, has talked to Kanjorski's spokeswoman, Abbie McDonough, and she is still citing the New York Post article rather than anything else as Kanjorski's source.