News Copy, New York

Congressional Murphy Has Some Explaining To Do: Will Republicans Take Back The 20th?

The following comes courtesy of Raquel Okyay, a Conservative columnist at http://www.raquelokyay.com

 

Rep. Scott Murphy (D) has some explaining to do.

 

He voted for the unpopular “health insurance reform legislation” even though District 20 has rejected government controlled health care and are calling for smaller government.  Murphy cannot claim to be an “independent voice” and “fiscal conservative” while at the same time approving legislation filled with congressional bribes, government bureaucracy, and huge tax increases.  He must think us fools if he expects us to believe he stands on fiscal conservatism, he obviously does not.

 

Murphy offers the same untruths, assumptions, and talking points on a health care “reform” package that Americans despise, want repealed and have mounted a campaign to do so.  His own words reveal a Congressman that either does not understand the fundamental problems with the legislation as he should or someone who chooses to appease his party’s Congressional majority, instead of his own constituents.

 

Murphy’s YES vote for a hotly contested, highly partisan, radically transformational, likely unconstitutional, law, which passed by using procedural tricks and not before seen propaganda-like tactics, will prove to be a mistake.     

 

At his website, Murphy claims, “The President’s health insurance reform legislation will stop the out of control growth of health care costs.”  Even an imbecile knows a bloated government cannot wave a magic wand and make rising health care costs disappear.  Murphy would be wise to start talking about the out of control growth of government that is the talk of the town, and maybe the public could take him seriously.  

 

Rather, he purports the same nonsensical points that did not persuade Americans to support the law before it was enacted, and is not persuasive now, “The President’s health insurance reform legislation protects our local industries and jobs from unfair taxes.”  This legislation does nothing of the sort and comes with a hefty price tag – all entitlement programs do.  It is not fiscally sound nor is it business friendly to ask the business community – through regulation and fines – to subsidize health care costs for the majority of Americans.  Murphy cannot pretend regulation helps industry, and that it is cost effective to redirect funds normally invested in the economy to the health care system.

 

“This bill is fiscally conservative and slows the growth of health care costs and spending…as a fiscal conservative, I can support a bill that takes strong steps towards reducing the deficit.”

This statement is no more plausible than Rep. Bart Stupak’s claim to be pro-life despite the fact he helped facilitate the largest expansion of abortion rights since Roe v. Wade.  The decision by Stupak to not seek re-election is telling.  Not only did he go against the will of his district which is bad enough, but he claims to be something he is not and no one likes a hypocrite.  Similarly, Murphy will have a tough time explaining how one can be a fiscal conservative yet supportive of every half baked idea from today’s Congress that uses borrowed money with interest, to fund. 

 

Touting Congressional Budget Office (CBO) numbers is not enough to claim cost efficiency.  The CBO, while non-partisan, still works at the pleasure of the Democrat controlled Congress.  The CBO, working with exaggerated projections of tax revenue and savings, submitted a preliminary report to meet a midnight deadline that concludes subjective and unrealistic figures, yet Murphy boasts the following, “[According to the CBO, the law] will result in dramatic savings for the American people by reducing the deficit by $138 billion the first decade and by $1.2 trillion in the second decade.” 

 

Officially the CBO is only meant to calculate one decade out, because of the uncertainty of forecasting beyond Ten years.  Indeed, the CBO emphasized that the report was preliminary and based on ideas and projections, not written and applied law.  Murphy utilizes these dubious numbers nonetheless, and ignores the reality that the economy is in big trouble because an absurd amount of reckless spending by Congress has caused the deficit to triple in one year. Promoting expansion of government control over finances and resources is not a fiscal conservative tenant – someone should tell Murphy he acts more like a back-stabber than a crusader for economic constraint.

 

Republican Take Back?

 

The good news is Murphy is up for re-election this year, in a district some say is vulnerable for Democrats, I say open season.  Murphy won the seat in a special election last year by fewer than 1000 votes against the Republican candidate, Assemblyman Jim Tedisco.  This year, Ten County Chairman of the Republican Party has endorsed retired Army colonel and decorated war hero from Kinderhook, Chris Gibson. 

 

Gibson signed the “Repeal It” pledge and advocates “job creation” as a top issue.  He taught American government at West Point, served one tour in Kosovo, and several tours in the Middle East; he’s the kind of candidate that deserves a second look for sure.  What moved me to publicly support Chris Gibson, however, is the following statement issued by the Hudson Valley Campaign for Liberty after meeting him in person:

 

As organizers of the Hudson Valley Campaign we hosted a meet-up with Chris Gibson last Thursday, April 1, 2010.  Five patriot groups were represented in the attendance with about 60 people present.  After consulting with the organizers and many individuals who were present, we can say on behalf of the freedom movement in our area, we enthusiastically support Chris Gibson!  Chris Gibson’s ability to listen was outstanding. We were pleased that he said that he would represent the people of his district, not special interests, corporations, or even the Republican Party.  We were happy that he promised to read the bills, as Congressman, before he would vote on them.  We believe that he is humble and willing to listen to the people and do their will in accordance with the Constitution.

 

There is a clear difference in this election cycle between the two candidates in District 20.  One willing to listen to the people and act in accordance with the Constitution, or the other who offers empty rhetoric, arrogant ignorance of what is important to the voters, and even more dastardly, pretends to be someone that he is not. 

 

Chris Gibson is the only candidate calling for a “change of guard” in Washington DC.  Let’s make that happen and elect Chris Gibson to Congress.

 

Chris Gibson Announces For 20th Congressional: Highly Touted Army Colonel Gets Big Welcome

No sooner had retired U.S. Army colonel Chris Gibson stepped back on American soil this week, he was announcing to run against Democrat Scott Murphy in the 20th Congressional District.

Republicans have a crowded field in the 20th but Gibson has been put forth as an immediate favorite, in addition to being boosted by fellow Kinderhook native John Faso.

Gibson reflects a trend News Copy is following with many candidates running for Congress; military or defense department experience abounds from the 17th to the 20th Congressional districts.

The Albany Times Union reported that Gibson only retired from a 24-career in the Army last week.

"I've fought hard for this country, and now I'm ready to fight hard for all of the citizens of the 20th District," Gibson announced Saturday afternoon during a homecoming party at the Winding Brook Country Club.

Three other Republicans candidates vying for the seat are David Harper, Queensbury Supervisor Dan Stec and Patrick Ziegler.

The Catskill Daily Mail out of Greene County gave Gibson a hero's welcome and a sense of high drama.

"He’s a Kinderhook native. He was point guard and co-captain of the Ichabod Crane High School basketball team. He rose to the rank of colonel in the U.S. Army, was deployed seven times overseas and now Republican Chris Gibson has come home to run for office against Rep. Scott Murphy in New York’s 20th Congressional District.?

Candidates in the Hudson Valley with military or defense department backgrounds including Rockland County resident and Bronx-native Anthony Mele, who is considering a run against Eliot Engel in the 17th, Westchester resident Mark Rosen who is planning a run against Nita Lowey in the 18th and Orange County native Kristia Cavere, who is forming an exploratory for a run against John Hall in the 20th.

And Marine Corps veteran Kieran Lalor, who ran two years ago against John Hall in the 19th, is an Iraq veteran who has formed an organization called Iraq Vets For Congress.

GOP Primary Certain In New York's 19th: Nan Hayworth Continues Attacking McFadden

A five candidate Republican primary is forming in New York's 19th Congressional District.

It's not too different from the four candidate candidate in Long Island's 1st and and the two man wrestling match in Brooklyn-Staten Island's 13th.

Congressional candidate Nan Hayworth has a lot of company in this race.

The Mount Kisco native also has a lot to say about one of her opponents, Republican David McFadden from Orange County.

"Mr. McFadden has never voted in a Republican primary, and according to the
New York State Board of Elections, is not a registered Republican.  New York
State law requires that candidates be a member of the party in order to vote
for themselves in a primary.

Mr. McFadden anouncement today leaves me wondering if he is aware of New
York State Election law, and I am also curious if Mr. McFadden has paid the
most recent of several tax liens filed against him by the State of New
York."

-Jay Townsend, spokesperson for Dr. Nan Hayworth

So it looks as if Nan Hayworth isn't angling for the independent vote in this election.

Jay Townsend is her man behind the curtain.  He's an able and successful political consultant.  I have worked with him, for him and he has shown up to help my friends put out a few fires over the years.  Townsend's also good at starting them, both when he worked for Democrats and Republicans, so the body politic here is fascinating.

McFadden's campaign has been patient and so are the other candidates who have felt stung by Hayworth supporters in recent days.  It also seems more than apparent that Hayworth, Inc. is taking aim at taking down News Copy -- killing the messenger -- but we're sorry to report that Bob Fois is not running for Congress.

And I am not working for any candidate in this race, at least not yet (and will disclose if that happens).

It wouldn't make a difference anyway.  This is a free country and I'm free to help or support or ponder or criticize or comment on any candidate I want ... within reason.  No fires being set here though.  Gosh ... I just finished criticizing my friend Rob Astorino in the prior column.  News Copy will never be a mutual admiration society.

News Copy finally caught up with Tom DeChiaro yesterday and enjoyed his candor.  DeChiaro an articulate and civic-minded type who could surprise the Hudson Valley this summer.  Also, Kristia Cavere has begun to aggressively campaign (and raise money) -- and Neil Di Carlo struck most of our counterparts as a gentleman.  All appear ready with access to money.  All appear articulate and willing to put forth a campaign.

I guess the point I am making is that the 19th is steeped in quality candidates.  May the best man or woman win.  There's no need to rush the timetable and voters should be given an adequate chance to meet and hear all of them.  Perhaps it is Hayworth's anxiety to slam the political barn door shut so early that has so many observers nervous.

It would be a shame if negative energy turned what otherwise would be a rousing triumph for Republicans into a gutter battle in the 19th.  But the same scenario is being repeated all over New York, and undoubtedly all over the United States.

Five well-funded Republicans, four pro-life, two from Orange County, two from Putnam County and one from Westchester all want to challenge two-term incumbent Democrat John Hall.

Frankly, it all has started to resemble the pile-on in New York's 20th last year -- that weakened Jim Tedisco's candidacy against Scott Murphy.  It won't be too different from the three-way shooting match in 23rd last year that found a liberal Republican endorsing a Democrat over a Conservative.

Putnam County Tony Scannapieco acknowledged that all political committee chairs have never seen so many eager Republicans stepping to the plate as candidates.  Scannapieco is a wise and weathered chair who knows all about competition in his home county, one of the fastest growing places in New York.

The Putnam chair reminded a crowded in Putnam Valley at that GOP committee's St. Patrick's celebration what happened last year in the 20th and the 23rd.  Scannapieco wasn't shooting down the idea of a primary but he cautioned how critically important it would be for all Republicans to pull behind the nominated and/or eventual candidate in any election -- whether it be for State Senate, Assembly or Congress.

I am paraphrasing but Scannapieco basically said it would be a good idea if GOP candidates played well with others and worked as team players when all was said and done.

Primaries are good and primaries are bad, if handled the wrong way.

The warnings of the 20th and 23rd are still with us -- and must be heeded.

Man Who Would Be Governor: Faso Will Not Run For New York's 20th Congressional

John Faso's announcement yesterday that he would not run for Congress in the 20th came as a disappointment to Republicans throughout New York State.

Capitol Confidential reported Faso not giving a reason.

"Faso had been considering a run in recent weeks, and told several Republicans at a meeting of the Republican State Committee last week as much. He has apparently made his decision, and according to a source began informing chairs today that he will not run. Jack Casey, chairman of the Rensselaer County Republican Committee said he was not on the schedule of candidates looking to be interviewed for the post Saturday, and Warren County Chairman Mike Grasso told the Post-Star Faso was out."

The Columbia county native and former Assemblyman has enjoyed a respected career as a fiscal conservative and Republican reformer for many years.  Sadly, too many times Faso found himself on the outside looking in during the Pataki years.  When Faso finally had his chance to run for governor in 2006, a misplaced Republican Party left him inheriting all the baggage of the prior regime.

Looking back, Eliot Spitzer fooled us.  Alan Hevesi did too.  Perhaps Pataki was not much better.

I somehow doubt John Faso will be listed amoung the Pataki era's failures and disappointments.

Admittedly, News Copy took sides four years ago in a crowded gubernatorial contest -- as did many others -- and Faso wasn't fairly served by this confusion between the new and old guard.

Faso could have been elected the Governor of New York State any other year.  He narrowly lost to Hevesi in 2002, 50-46%.  Faso was supposed to run for Comptroller in 1994 but the bosses (ie. -- political consultants) cruelly brokered him out off the ticket.

Frankly, he remains on the tip of everyone's tongue now.  His departure from the race for the 20th, a congressional swampland for some of the wealthiest and more popular G.O.P. standouts in recent years, probably made sense.

But many of us still feel John Faso has one last great race left in him.

To his credit, he engineered parts of the grass-roots fundraising operation for Republican wins in counties throughout New York -- especially in Westchester and Nassau.

His Club For Growth is poised to help many more candidates throughout the Empire State.

Those who are in the know about Republican politics in the Northeast already know Faso is one of the heroes of our state's G.O.P resurgence.

His seed money and robust assistance to pro-life conservative Republican County Executive candidate Rob Astorino in Westchester last year made all the difference. 

I'll say it first, so there is no doubt about my sentiments.

If Rick Lazio were to suddenly depart the gubernatorial race, I suspect that Faso would be nominated by acclamation by the Republican Party -- with little argument from the Conservative or Independence parties.

Faso's exit from the 20th is an unfortunate point of departure for an era in Republican politics, one that will either see Rick Lazio rise to the occasion or once again leave fiscal conservatives on the outside looking into the Executive Chamber.

With Andrew Cuomo on the horizon, few are holding their breath.

Wanted In New York: Real Republicans And True Conservatives To Run For Congress

Congressional Quarterly mistates the situation in New York with its "surplus" of candidates running for Congress.

In the 19th, for example, the problem is simple.  Nan Hayworth has the money ($519,000) but also the "potential baggage" drawn from extreme pro-abortion ties.

Urban Elephants was a bit more blunt:

NRCC Gives UP ON NY-19 -- Candidate "Unimpressive"

Dan Peterson, the outgoing Manhattan Young Republican Chairman, had heard similiar whispers out of Washington, D.C. that News Copy's sources have been sharing for three weeks now.

Actually, we had heard MUCH worse, not from the NRCC but more direct commentary on the following:

"The NRCC sees Hayworth as a tremendously unimpressive and uninspiring candidate who has not warmed to local party support and is considered too liberal to get the grassroots base excited. The NRCC is now realizing that she was really only taken into consideration because of her wealth and not her ability to network throughout the district..."

The point being that New York better wake up about what constitutes a true Republican candidate, let alone a true conservative candidate.  Peterson was attacked by pro-abortion Republicans in New York City, a common theme these days between Republicans in New York, and precisely what plagued the 23rd last year.

Politico indicated that another rift looms in the 23rd, where Doug Hoffman is not getting Republican support after nearly winning last year as a Conservative!

New York Republican operatives want Will Barclay, who has the credentials and the location and probably looks more like a candidate than Hoffman.  But there's a problem, a systemic one.

"The drawback is that he lost a Republican-held seat in a closely watched 2008 state Senate special election. And the two most recent congressional GOP nominees with backgrounds in the New York Legislature — Scozzafava and state Assemblyman Jim Tedisco, who lost to Democratic Rep. Scott Murphy in another special election last year — have fared poorly."

There is a breed of Republican strategist in New York who suffers from fear and loathing about parts of the Republican platform.  And they keep losing elections (and make a lot of money in the process).

If they were horses, it would be time to shoot some of these RHINO-like consultants.

One can only hope/pray/beg that the usual suspects running campaigns into a politically correct Bermuda Triangle are not given permission again by Dean Skelos to ruin Republican chances in the State Senate.

Congressional Quarterly described the line in the sand as the jockeying for New York's third party endorsements.

Orange County Chairman Bill DeProspo said that for a Republican, running without the Conservative Party endorsement is akin to political suicide. “In the state of New York, if you think you can run for a congressional seat without the Conservative line and without the Independent line, you’re just not paying attention,” he said.

DeProspo himself is indicating a run against Hayworth -- but there are whispers of at least three strong (and well-financed) pro-life Republicans possibly challenging Nan Hayworth to a primary.

For pro-life Republicans, this is not complicated.  For conservative Republicans, this is a relief.  For Republicans who know a real Republican and a true conservative will win in their locales, this is common sense.

In a column entitled, Dede Deja Vu?, Raquel Okyay of Ulster County remembered that it was a liberal State Senator in the 23rd who ambushed Republicans over gay marriage and abortion by endorsing the Democrat over Hoffman in the closing week of the campaign.

"No one could have predicted that the Republican-endorsed candidate Dede Scozzafava would drop out of the race just three days before the election, endorse the Democrat and burn the Republicans, but what happened is more than just a bad turn of events, it is a result of choosing the wrong candidate to begin with. And it appears they are about to make the same mistake in New York’s 19th Congressional District race this year."

It's not just the 19th and the 23rd headed for a primary.

Congressional Quarterly noted how Republicans Michael Grimm, a former FBI agent, and Michael Allegretti, a former aide to New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I) are both running for Rep. Michael McMahon’s (D) Staten Island-based 13th district.

Bloomberg aide versus a a Guy Molinari backed F.B.I. agent?  Allegretti is well-liked but in residential Staten Island, Bloomberg versus the former Borough President is a no brainer.  In New York, it's instead going to be a costly primary.

The NRCC has only elevated one New York candidate to contender, Randy Altschuler in the 1st against tea party plagued Democrat Tim Bishop.  But even Altschuler apparently faces a primary against as many as three candidates.

Raquel Okyay's advice to State GOP Chairman Ed Cox in the 19th is simple enough:

a) Look for a candidate that is not a wealthy liberal;
b) Is likable enough to get the support of the tea party and conservative movement; and
c) Is serious about real change in New York and in Washington.

"Mr. Cox – it’s a pop-up, put your glove out and catch the ball!"

Of course, there is the train of thought that competitive Republican primaries will rouse the G.O.P.'s base in this year of tea parties.

Yeah ... tell that to all the donors who will be asked for money ...

 

New York Getting More Attention In Six Congressional Races: Seven Candidates Upgraded By NRCC

The Hotline had listed 28 candidates upgraded by the NRCC to "Young Gun" status a few days ago -- but the expanded list actually has 63 candidates.

The National Republican Congressional Committee's list includes seven challengers from New York in five congressional races expected to be competitive.

News Copy spoke too soon, as did a few of our sources.  Nan Hayworth remains "on the radar" but not elevated to contender.  Hayworth appears on hold for other reasons that sources describe as "potential baggage" and continued negative feedback from party leaders.

Real Clear Politics explained the criteria for the NRCC's "Young Guns" program, who are expected to develop well-organized campaigns to defeat Democratic incumbents.

"These candidates are putting the pieces of a winning campaign in place by meeting the rigorous goals laid out by the Young Guns program and aggressively paving their way toward victory on Election Day," said NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions. "The progress of these candidates is not only a testament to the Young Guns program, it is a sign of the hostile political environment that Democrats have created for themselves."

New York State by the NRCC's evaluation process has no "Young Guns" yet, and only one "contender" (Randy Altschuler in the 1st).

Not to sound sarcastic but the "Young Guns" pecking order seems like a sign of the hostile political environment that Republicans have created for themselves.

Still not upgraded to contender is Staten Island's Mike Grimm, whose robust fundraising and aggressively campaign among Conservatives has turned many a head.  Grimm is "on the radar" in the 13th with Michael Allegretti, joined by Hayworth in the 19th, George Demos in the 1st (still no sign of Christopher Cox), Richard Hanna in Central New York's 24th and Tom Reed in Western New York's winnable 29th.

As for Hayworth's fate, News Copy has identified what sources in D.C. and New York have described as cause for a measurable "conservative backlash" --  but the NRCC is yet to call back with any verification on how real the "potential baggage" might be for the Mount Kisco Republican.

Sadly, sources are hinting that the NRCC may give up on the 19th -- but News Copy suspects New York was never going to get that much help from D.C. in the first place (and many tea party activists helping these candidates have privately expressed that they don't want the NRCC's help).

Still missing from the NRCC's list is the 23rd's Doug Hoffman, who narrowly lost in a three-way race as the Conservative candidate where the Republican candidate became a destructive spoiler in the closing days of that race.

G.O.P. Coming Up Short In New York With Congressional Challengers: NRCC Sees Only One "Contender"

Republicans have at least seven congressional districts in New York that they should target aggressively in 2010, including two seats where John McCain beat Barack Obama in 2008.

Swing State broke out all the Obama-McCain numbers throughout each congressional district nationally, including numbers from the Bush-Kerry and Bush-Gore races.

With only 3-4 point margins of victory by Democrats in 2008, districts 24, 23, 20, 19 and 1 can be taken by Republican candidates.

The only problem is that the NRCC has upgraded only one of them to contender status, Randy Altschuler, a Republican challengers to Democrat Tim Bishop in District 1. 

Hotline reported the NRCC upgrading 28 candidates nationwide to either "Contender" or "On The Radar" but passed on upgrading Nan Hayworth in the Hudson Valley's highly competitive 19th against Democrat John Hall (she stays "on the radar").  Also missing the cut were Doug Hoffman in the 23rd, who narrowly lost to Bill Owens in a three way race in a district where Barack Obama only received 52 percent of the vote.

Strangely ignored though not going away is Christopher Cox (the son of State GOP Chairman Ed Cox) who has launched a formidable campaign against Tim Bishop in District 1, so out of the gate the NRCC already finds itself mired in a GOP primary.  The NRCC put George Demos "on the radar" and something tells me this race on the eastern end of Long Island is getting a lot of volunteers this summer.

In two other districts, the 29th in Western New York and the 13th on Staten Island and a portion of Brooklyn, John McCain won.  With Republican Mike Grimm in the 13th reported to be closing in on $300,000 or more in fundraising, it seems particularly baffling why the NRCC is missing this race where Republicans had ruled for nearly 30 years.  Grimm should be a contender, though maybe the NRCC is afraid of another primary.

As for the 19th, a sure winner for the right Republican, Nan Hayworth is boasting of over $500,000 raised (over $350,000 in personal loans to her committee) but Republican insiders have suggested that no amount of money can buy a populist edge in this distinctly conservative tea party district. 

Apparently, the NRCC agrees that Hayworth is missing something but so is most of New York's Republican establishment if they can't win back these seats.

Update on this post:  We spoke too soon.  NRCC now has "on the radar" candidate in the 29th, 24th and two in the 13th -- but News Copy believes most of them are contenders.

New York Getting More Attention In Six Congressional Races: Seven Candidates Upgraded By NRCC