**updating and bumping**

The disgraceful conduct of Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll, who crashed a Marine’s funeral and poisoned the somber event with her anti-war lecturing, continues to rock Pennsylvania. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, which broke the story over the weekend, updates today:

Written apologies will be sent to a fallen Marine’s relatives angered by Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll’s uninvited appearance at the soldier’s funeral and her criticism of the war in Iraq, Gov. Ed Rendell said Sunday.

Rendell said he will send a personal letter to the family of the late Marine Staff Sgt. Joseph Goodrich, of Westwood, and will ask Knoll to do the same. Goodrich, 32, a police officer and infantry unit leader, died July 10 in a mortar attack in Hit, Iraq.

Rendell said he hadn’t spoken with Knoll about the incident, but was disturbed by the family’s charge that she made a political statement against the war.

“It’s not the business of state government to support the war, but our state supports the men and women who are fighting this war,” Rendell said during an appearance in Mt. Washington.

This is not enough. Where the hell is Knoll to apologize publicly to the family and explain her noxious behavior? The Post-Gazette notes that this may not have been the first time she showed up unwelcome at a memorial service:

“She goes to so many funerals because she cares so deeply,” Rendell said. “I don’t go to funerals unless I’m invited. I go to wakes because they’re public.”

The woman is a ghoul and an embarrassment to public office. She should quit hiding behind the governor and show her face.

Hat tip: Anthony J. and Ripclawe.

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Here’s one of the e-mails to the governor that readers, many of them active-duty and retired military, have forwarded:

Governor Rendell –

It is with a mixture of shock, horror and utter outrage that I viewed
media and blog reporting of the actions of your Lt Governor, Catherine
Baker Knoll, who desecrated the funeral of a brave Marine who was slain
while bringing freedom to Iraq and, in so doing, defending freedom here at
home.

My sense of outrage is particularly acute given that I proudly wore the
nation’s uniform for more than two decades, twelve of those years on
active-duty front-line service as an aviation officer with the US Navy.
On numerous occasions I have placed myself in harm’s way — this I chose
to do voluntarily, so that the civilians in whose defense I had pledged my
life could, as the saying goes, “sleep soundly in their beds.” The notion
that such sacrifice can be so cavalierly spat upon, by its very
beneficiaries, is offensive in the extreme.

As one blogger put it, the office of the Governor is entitled to any view
on our participation in Iraq that it wishes; but what is utterly beyond
the pale is to use the funeral of a slain servicemember to express these
views — especially to the berieved family.

I hereby call upon you to formally and publicly censure Ms. Knoll. I
further call on her to present a public apology to the family, and then to
resign her office. Otherwise, the latter shall be taken care of in the
next election.

Very respectfully,
J. Scott Kelly, CAPT(sel) USNR-ret

Update: Rhonda Goodrich, sister of Marine Sgt. Joseph Goodrich, posted the following notes at Free Republic.com…

Thank you everyone for voicing your opinion on this matter. Knoll has really upset my family during this time we are grieving and so proud of Joe.
My Name Is Rhonda Goodrich. SSGT Joe Goodrich’s sister in law. For all who would like to let Knoll what they think of her you can contact her at
Email: lieutenant-governor@state.pa.us

To contact the Governor’s office to register a complaint against the Lt.
Governor, contact information is as follows:

Governor Edward G. Rendell’s Office
225 Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120
Phone:(717) 787-2500
http://www.governor.state.pa.us/

More from Rhonda Goodrich here.

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Related: See Mudville Gazette.

See Jack Kelly at Irish Pennants: “Catherine Baker Knoll herself has been “travelling,” and has been “unavailable for comment.” If she’s wise, she’s approaching the Indiana line, heading West.”

See also Ankle Biting Pundits for background on Baker Knoll’s history.

Another outrage highlighted at Captain’s Quarters.

John Hawkins at Right Wing News: “Well, At Least She Didn’t Hit Anyone At The Funeral Up For A Campaign Contribution.”

Hah. Not that we know of, yet…

Day By Day’s Chris Muir weighs in.

Lorie Byrd at Polipundit asks: Are American Troops Becoming Fair Targets Of The Left?

Mike Krempasky is not proud to be a native Pennsylvanian today. Neither I am (Philly-born).

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