Guy Ciarrocchi: Josh Shapiro went to Harrisburg and all we got was this lousy autobiography

Josh Shapiro has written an autobiography, less than three years into his four-year term. If he was being honest, he isn’t too concerned whether anyone reads it or not — especially for those of us in Pennsylvania. We’re not the audience and, candidly, it’s not the point for this politician writing it. 

But let’s review.

Writing an autobiography is a “necessary” step when one is running for President. You get to choose what you share and what you don’t — and you get to frame all of your anecdotes to suit your brand. And to make sure you check all the presidential boxes when seeking the Democrat’s nomination: “courage” — standing up to Trump; “victimhood” — Kamala Harris staff was bigoted (by the way, if so, shame on them — yet another reason I’d be glad she lost); “regular guy-ism” — his home life wasn’t perfect, either.

Plus, in quintessential Shapiro fashion, he governs like a progressive Democrat — vetoing School Choice legislation, defending every single Covid lockdown and mandate (on our lives, our livelihoods, our small businesses and our children), suing the “Little Sister of the Poor” to force them to provide abortion coverage to their employees, and spending more and more on Democrats’ wish list of bigger government.

To “challenge” the Democrat establishment (and yet, also, check the “victimhood” box) his first planned “leak” from his book was to remind us that he is Jewish and that he gets harassed for it. And that harassment is shameful, inexcusable, and intolerable. (And I’ve said that on radio, TV and podcasts — and, written about it extensively.)

He’s been Governor for less than a full term. After he left his last elected office as Attorney General before that term ended. He ran for Attorney General having not finished his term as Montgomery County Commissioner. He ran for County Commissioner while still serving in the state house — leaving before that term ended.

See a pattern? He runs for office so that he may run for the next office. He never finishes the job he claims he wants. He’s just off to the next office. And the next.

Having proven he’s an “expert” at leveraging one elected office to get another, he’s written an autobiography. So that we can get to know him — well, actually, it’s so that Democratic and progressive activists in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada get to know him. So that major donors in Hollywood, Manhattan, and DC’s K Street lobbyists know what makes him tick — and what to talk about with him at his fundraising cocktail parties. And so that the national media get to interview him and write about him.

His team of promoters has already “leaked” segments of the book to the New York Times, Axios and other national media. Recall that taxpayers spend over $2 million/year on his communications team that writes press releases, posts “tweets” and records TikToks.

He’s about to go on a national book tour. And, he’s appeared on “The View” and national cable shows.

Why? Because as everyone knows — “surprise” — he’s running for President. (Having been recently considered to be Kamala Harris’ running mate — eighteen months into his term.)

It takes a special person to write an autobiography at his relatively young age — and to do it while still serving his first term as Governor. He has no major accomplishments on his resume. As a practical matter, it’s widely understood that he’s out-sourced the day-to-day governing to fellow Montco suburbanite, House Majority Leader Matt Bradford.

Our state is ranked 41st “best” by US News & World Report. Many students attend public schools with test scores revealing that most students can’t do grade level reading or math. Too many attend public schools rated at “persistently violent.” He vetoed the only bill to reach his desk to allow poor and working class parents to rescue those very students. 

Each of his budgets were signed months past the constitutional deadline and spent billions more than tax revenue. And our electricity bills keep rising, despite Pennsylvania having more energy under our own state than Saudi Arabia. 

And, yet, Shapiro has the shameless lack of self-awareness to write an autobiography, to go on a national self-promoting book tour to tout himself and “his accomplishments,” and to prepare his launch for President. All before even running for re-election.

Governor, your “book” isn’t finished. Time to come home. For once, do the job you promised to do. Take care of Pennsylvania, before you plan to live on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Or if you really want to be President, don’t run for re-election — just run for President. We can find someone who wants to be our Governor — and actually get Pennsylvania’s “stuff” done.

That’s my book review.

Guy Ciarrocchi writes for RealClear Pennsylvania and Broad + Liberty. A Senior Fellow with the Commonwealth Foundation, you may follow Guy at @PaSuburbsGuy.