David Malpass Second NY Senate Ad of the Season: Obama/Gillibrand versus Reagan/Malpass

By Sam Foster



David Malpass just released his second campaign ad of the season. His campaign released the following statement and transcript along with the video.

“Reckless” Says Obama and Gillibrand Are Destroying Our Way of Life

New York- August 19, 2010… U.S. Senate Candidate David Malpass (R), a nationally-recognized fiscal conservative and a former Reagan-Bush 41 Treasury and State Department official today released the second television spot of the 2010 U.S. Senate race for the seat now held by the unelected senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). The 30-second spot, titled “Reckless” will be aired statewide.


The ad, which was produced by Jamestown Associates, focuses on how the reckless spending and harmful policies being proposed by President Obama and Kirsten Gillibrand are eroding American’s freedoms. Mr. Malpass is the first candidate in the race to run television ads.

The text of the script is as follows:

David Malpass:

“I’m David Malpass and I approve this message because we’re losing our
freedom.”

Voice Over:

“With reckless, out-of-control spending, Barack Obama and Kirsten

Gillibrand are destroying our way of life.

They are literally taking away our freedom.

They’re draining your retirement funds.

They want to choose your doctor.

And they’re not being truthful.

You have a right to be angry.

There is a better alternative. A Reagan alternative.

Stand proud and tall.

Republican David Malpass.”

Most NY Democrats continue to hide from the Ground Zero Mosque: Where Maffei, Murphy, Owens, Arcuri, Hall, Hinchey and Tonko stand

By Sam Foster
Via AP  

Their first response was run and still many NY Democrats are mum over the Ground Zero Mosque.  Over the last few days, my site has been inundated with google searches looking for what the NY Democrat Congressional delegation has to say regarding the Ground Zero Mosque.  

So far, only John Hall and Mike Arcuri have come out against the mosque building.  Dan Maffei, Scott Murphy, and Bill Owens remain silent.  I've seen no official report, but I believe Maurice Hinchey and Paul Tonko are keeping silent on this one.  They have issued no press release on the issue and as far as I can find, no reporter is owning up to a statement.

Here is the best coverage I could find on NY's political circus that is the Ground Zero Mosque and how it is affecting congressional races.

Via AP:

The latest Democrat to break with Obama is Rep. John Hall, a two-term incumbent expected to face a strong challenge from Republican Nan Hayworth in the 19th district north of New York City.

In a statement released Wednesday, Hall said freedom of religion was essential to democracy but that he hoped the project would be constructed elsewhere.

"I think honoring those killed on Sept. 11 and showing sensitivity to their families, it would be best if the center were built at a different location," Hall said.

Hall joins three other House Democrats believed to be vulnerable in November who have announced their opposition to the project.

In eastern Long Island, four-term Rep. Tim Bishop said ground zero should be a symbol of interfaith understanding. If developers of the Islamic center are seeking such unity, they should move the project, he said.

In Staten Island, the most conservative of New York City's five boroughs, Democratic Rep. Mike McMahon said the project was a local matter and shouldn't come under federal jurisdiction. Nonetheless, he said he hoped it would be moved.

"I believe a new location is the right compromise so that Muslim Americans can worship without eliciting feelings that push us away from our country's basic tenet of religious acceptance while the families of 9/11 victims obtain the peace of mind they deserve," McMahon said.

A few vulnerable Democrats have chosen to stay silent on the matter, including Syracuse-area Rep. Dan Maffei, Rep. Bill Owens in northern New York and Albany-area Rep. Scott Murphy.

Murphy's Republican opponent, Chris Gibson, posted a statement on Facebook appearing to support the Islamic center project, saying, "It's either all or nothing — churches, mosques and synagogues should be treated the same." He later issued a clarification, saying he didn't think building a mosque near ground zero was a good idea.

There was a bit of a role-reversal in the Utica-area district where two-term Rep. Mike Arcuri is facing a strong challenge from Republican Richard Hanna. Arcuri was the first New York Democrat to break with Obama on the project, while Hanna initially said he didn't have a problem with it.

"This country was founded by people who were running away from religious persecution. So how can we become what we have beheld and found contemptible in other places?" Hanna said in a statement. He later switched course, saying it was insensitive to locate the project at ground zero.

Justin Phillips, an assistant professor at Columbia University who studies state elections, said the rejection of the mosque by vulnerable Democrats wasn't surprising.

"The Democrats who are going to lose in 2010 are from moderate to conservative districts, so these are the Democrats who are trying to be very careful in their handling of this issue," Phillips said. "They don't want to take an unpopular position on anything right now."

Indeed, Democratic Rep. Jerrold Nadler, who faces only token opposition as he seeks his 10th term, has been one of the most outspoken advocates of the project. Nadler's district includes the World Trade Center site.

Democratic Rep. Carolyn Maloney, who faces a feisty primary challenge from attorney Reshma Saujani, announced her support for the Islamic Center two weeks ago but is being pushed by Saujani to speak out more forcefully. The primary is Sept. 14.

"This is a major debate unfolding in our city and country, and our leaders ... are weighing in with lukewarm statements," said Saujani, who strongly supports the project.

The matter has even quieted the state's normally garrulous senior senator, Chuck Schumer, who is seeking re-election this year and has yet to weigh in on the controversy that is roiling the state. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who is also facing voters this fall, has issued terse statements of support for the center but said she would also back efforts to move it if community members decided to do so.

Murphy endorses Chris Gibson position in latest campaign video

By Sam Foster

It's been a good week for Gibson's campaign and it seems as though everyone is coming out to agree with his position on fiscal responsibility. First it was NY schools, then it was the local press, and now Scott Murphy gives Chris Gibson a big shout out in his latest ad.

The ad featured below, will begin airing today.

"Sometimes they eat too much, just like congress spending money"

That's an excellent revelation and one that Chris Gibson has been talking about since he began campaigning at the end of last March. What is surprising is to see Scott Murphy finally on board with the idea of fiscal restraint. Especially, after his recent vote on the Education Jobs Bill which added another $12.5 billion to the deficit according to the nonpartisan CBO.

Over his tenure, Scott Murphy has been a rubber stamp vote for the Democratic agenda having voted for the Democrat's trillion dollar health care plan. If the purpose of this add was to say that Scott Murphy and his family believes that unfettered spending in Washington is appalling, then Murphy has been quite the prodigal son. He and congress have all but redefined the term Pay-as-you-Go to Spend-as-you-Please.

Even more surprising is that Scott Murphy decided to give Chris Gibson's stance on government spending a test-drive in his first campaign ad. After all, most candidates laud their own positions. I knew that come November a majority of voters in NY-20 would agree with Chris Gibson, I just didn't realize that Scott Murphy would be one of them.

Update:

Embarassing spelling errors removed thanks to NY-20 voter.

UPR Interview: 2006 Republican candidate for NYS Governor John Faso on Ann Marie Buerkle's campaign for NY's 25th Congressional District

By Sam Foster

Riding on Obama's coattails, Democrat Dan Maffei took 55% of the vote in NY's 25th congressional district. Cook's Political report show's NY-25 has a PVI of D+3. However, wagging his finger at voters seems to have take it's toll as a new NRO poll show's Buerkle nipping at Maffei's heals.

I had the opportunity to ask 2006 Republican Gubernatorial candidate John Faso his thoughts on Ann Marie Buerkle's run for NY's 25th congressional district in the interview below.

Sam Foster: What’s Dan Maffei’s biggest weakness going into November?

John Faso: Voters have turned strongly against the spending agenda of Obama and the Democrats; they are very worried as to the future direction of the nation and wonder whether their children will ever be able to climb out from under the mountain of debt the Democrats have enacted. Rep. Maffei, as a 100% supporter of this agenda is in trouble because of this.

Sam Foster: Ann Marie Buerkle has struggled in fund raising so far, is the trend likely to continue? Is money the largest factor in the race?

John Faso: Money is a big factor; but Buerkle won't need to match Maffei dollar for dollar; he will surely outspend her by a substantial margin; the question is whether she can raise enough to elevate her profile in the Fall.

Sam Foster: Ann Marie Buerkle released a poll showing incumbent Dan Maffei under 50% approval (at 49%); Is Dan Maffei in trouble? Why or why not?

John Faso: Maffei is definitely in trouble. His "hard re-elect" number was only in the mid-20's. Despite having much higher name ID, Maffei was only ahead by 9 points. Just today (Aug 16) National Review on-line released polls in a number of districts across the nation and they have Maffei up by only 4 points. This race is going to get closer and will be very competitive come October.

Sam Foster: Sarah Palin has issued an endorsement for Ann Marie Buerkle; in what ways will/could this help Ann Marie? What are the potential disadvantages?

John Faso: Palin is a polarizing figure; she will help with some folks; hurt with others. Key for Ann Marie is to get her agenda for the district out; the upstate economy is in real trouble and has been for years; we need major changes in tax code to spur investment by business which will create jobs. The notion that the Congress can print more "stimulus" money and have that successfully reinvigorate the economy is fatuous. The Congress is happy to create more public sector jobs for their union allies; trouble is, public sector jobs - valuable they may be within reason - don't create economic wealth. Private capital is sitting on the sidelines because business and investors are petrified as to tax and budget policies from Washington.

Sam Foster: What’s one thing that the voters in NY-25 should know about Ann Marie Buerkle?

John Faso: She shares their values: as a mother, nurse and attorney - working in the state AG's office - she understands the real world and will bring common-sense, conservative values from CNY to Washington, DC.

Sam Foster: Earlier this summer, you held a fundraiser for Ann Marie and others. Did you get a sense of what impression Ann Marie had on prospective donor's?

John Faso: Great question: I can tell you that we had 6 candidates from NYS. All spoke well but Ann Marie was the person who impressed the most people with her message. If the people of CNY get to hear her, they will vote for her.

Sam Foster: What’s your advice for the Buerkle campaign?

John Faso: Raise money to get your message out and keep smiling!

Please see check out Ann Marie Buerkle's thoughts on local issues, her pledge site Compact 25, and if possible, make a donation.

NRO Poll: Gibson, Buerkle and Doheny in striking distance for an incumbent upset

By Sam Foster
Via NRO

It's about time for the Political Reports to start flipping some of the Upstate NY races to "Toss Up" status. A recent NRO poll shows three Republican challengers gaining ground in blue NY congressional districts.

Jim Geraghty reports:

New York 20: Despite challenger Chris Gibson having just 37 percent name recognition compared to Rep. Scott Murphy’s 91 percent name recognition, Murphy leads by a slim 45 to 40 percent margin.

New York 23: While challenger Matt Doheny has just 48 percent name recognition compared to Rep. Bill Owens’s 87 percent name recognition, Owens manages just a split of the vote with 41 percent to 39 percent for Doheny.

New York 25: Despite challenger Ann Marie Buerkle having just 50 percent name recognition compared to Rep. Dan Maffei’s 90 percent name recognition, Maffei leads by a slim 44 to 41 percent margin.

All three Democrat incumbents are under 50%, which is a very dangerous place for Democrats in this election cycle. Also note the Democrat name recognition percentages. This means that the three incumbent Democrats will have little room to improve their favorability.

The press agrees with Chris Gibson: Murphy’s Vote on Education Jobs Bill will prolong the problem

By Sam Foster

The local media does not appear to be impressed with Congressman Scott Murphy of NY's 20^th congressional district.  First they grilled him over his use of taxpayer funds for campaign purposes, now the Post Star has written a scathing article about his vote for the Education Jobs Bill.

The Post Star editorial staff writes:

On Wednesday, President Obama signed the Murray-Harkin amendment, which will provide an additional $10 billion in aid to schools around the country to prevent teacher layoffs. The bill also includes $16 billion to extend increases in Medicaid matching funds originally contained in the federal stimulus package.

U.S. Rep. Scott Murphy, who is facing a tough re-election battle, said he voted for the extra money to help offset the state's high property taxes. But this measure will do nothing of the sort. In fact, it's likely that property taxes will go up in the long-term because of it, not down…

…Despite their good intentions, Congress and the president actually made our property tax problem worse by giving school districts and the state government the opportunity to postpone tough spending decisions.

If our elected representatives understood human nature as much as they understand election-year politics, we taxpayers would be a whole lot better off.

Chris Gibson made a similar statement in denouncing Scott Murphy's vote:

 "Rule number one when you're in a hole is to stop digging," said Gibson (R/C – Kinderhook). "I know people are struggling and I know what tough times are like for families. My father was laid off his union job during the recession in the late 70's and our family had to make some tough decisions. I'm a product of public high schools and I chose to serve our country in the Army, which helped pay for my college education. To this day, my wife and I sit around the kitchen table to decide how to balance our family's budget. Households like ours know you cannot add debt upon debt. By choosing to raise taxes instead of cutting federal spending, Congress threatens to make our troubling economic situation worse. It is never a good idea to raise taxes during a recession - this is sure to stifle job growth and hurt American families."
 
Last week the schools agreed with Chris Gibson, this week the press, and this coming November the voters.

NRA calls Gillibrand a liar: Kirsten Gillibrand receives Brady endorsement

The times certainly have changed for appointed senator Kirsten Gillibrand.  With a broader, more liberal voter base thanks to NYC, Gillibrand has decided to flip-flop her traditional stand on gun control.  After having sat atop of the NRA's rating through her entire tenure with the US congress, Gillibrand has accepted an endorsement from the Brady gun control group.  

The switch prompted a fiery response from the NRA.  WSJ reports:

"She was either being dishonest with her voters in the congressional district or she's being dishonest to the voters in New York state," said the NRA's chief lobbyist, Chris W. Cox. "Either way, the key word is dishonest."

While the switch is likely to have little effect on who votes for/against Gillibrand, it could mean serious NRA donations for a Republican Gillibrand challenger.