Second, the fact that Mayor Graham is already trying to spin or defend the assumption that both Doheny and Barclay are in fact moderates raises questions of its own. Now I'm not saying that being a moderate is good or bad. It just is what it is. If two moderates are running against one conservative, clearly they are going to split the vote and leave the conservatives with one place to go. That was the true intention of my blog post. The same would be true if there were two conservatives running against one moderate. Conservatives would split the vote and leave the moderate with the prize of winning the primary.
On that note, if you read my blog post from yesterday you will see that I never made any claim that either candidate was a Dede clone. For one, they are both better looking and neither supports card check legislation, homosexual marriage or is seeking the Working Families Party nod as far as I am aware. I wrote yesterday in the first paragraph of my post that I have not yet taken sides in either the primary or the general election.
On the issue of both Barclay and Doheny being pro-choice, however, I think that point is rather obvious. For better or worse, both Doheny and Barclay are, in fact, pro-choice Republicans. Neither potential candidate has ever claimed to be pro-life and neither have refuted numerous media reports that they are pro-choice. When 64% of Republican primary voters describe themselves as pro-life, that creates a wedge that these candidates will have to deal with in their own way.
As for Barclay his support for abortion is on record. In 2006 the National Organization of Women gave him a 100% pro-choice score for his favorable abortion votes.
Regarding Doheny, Sal Gentile with the Capitol Report, a must-read paper of the Albany government and political community, wrote as recently as December 15th that he is, "a pro-choice Manhattan lawyer who has already channeled as much as half a million dollars into his campaign account, has won the favor of more moderate Republicans because he would not have to depend on outside interest groups for money." Political IV said, Republicans at the VFW in Gouverneur on July 14th of last year were "caught off guard with his position on the hot button pro-life versus pro-choice issue." The Riehl World Blog also called Doheny "pro-choice." Doheny has never disputed this record even though he has been prone to release statements ad nauseam anytime another candidate says anything or puts out a statement. He has not corrected the record yet, so I have to assume he is pro-choice according to these reports and what he is personally saying to people in NY-23.
But the important thing I want to get across is that the claim that I am somehow trying to influence the election in Hoffman's favor is short-sighted. If I really wanted to sabotage other candidates I would write about how both Barclay and Doheny think they can win this election the old fashioned way -- they both think they can buy off the people's votes. The Barclay family, I presume, has all sorts of money to contribute to this race. And Doheny gave $10,000 to the New York Federal Republican Campaign Committee less than three months ago. He also gave his own campaign a half a million in 2009. I don't talk about these types of things generally though because I'm not into that type of thing.
Here at What's Up NY-23 we are interested in the issues and real news, not insinuations. With that said, I object to the mayor's claim that this is a Hoffman blog. The mayor's question is comparable to someone questioning whether he took money from Doheny to write favorable things about that candidate on his blog and to also say favorable things about Doheny's vehicle on "the Hotline" today. Unfortunately, these kinds of assertions rival the Watertown Daily Times in terms of credibility.
Now come on, lets try to be fair, balanced and reasonable. That's what's up in NY-23 today.
Buggs Buddy, I'm a little confused by the 2006 NOW link you posted. They give Barclay a 100% Pro-choice rating but only gived mized reviews to both Sayward and Durpey? I'm already a little suspicious of that 2006 NOW report abnd it's methodology.
ReplyDeleteHow long will it take Buggs to determine that BFW (big foreign wind) will become a major issue in this fall's elections. As an election issue, BFW can't be avoided and is far more pertinent to the future of a large segment of voter's in the 23rd. than your standard choice-pro choice, health care, and gay marriage issues. You know, the ones that are safe for a candidate to talk about.
ReplyDeleteSo far, the incumbents are "Wind Dead" and are not protecting the 23rd and the NY 48 from exploitation and thus far are not protecting citizens against loss of land value and life style. Nor are they helping us get the best deal.
There will be a meeting in Pulaski Saturday of the Coalition of the Preservation of the Golden Triangle and the Thousand Islands Regions.
That includes The Oswego Lake Ontario Shores region, too. And is expanding up the far reaches of the St. Lawrence Rive Valley.
That Coalition is expanding fast and this Saturday's meeting will be attended by some Pols who actually recognize one of the real issues in the 23rd. and the NY 48.
If you are planning on running for office this fall, come visit me and find out about the wind issue at:
Jefferson's Leaning Left
Who is whatsup23? It really doesn't matter does it. This is tabloid trash and if you use tabloids for your research you don't have much to stand on do you? Just another bitter blogger trying to be clever.
ReplyDeleteThis blog would be more interesting, mature and credible if it was far less about the author and more about the issue(s)for which it is about. Less I's, Me's, and Mine's would suffice.
ReplyDeleteAnon 8:26 Talk about ego huh. Hoffman really needs to come out of his Adirondack Castle that is not even in the district and meet some people. I know Matt Doheny is actually talking to people along with Will Barclay. All we hear is from Hoffman's paid mouthpieces and character assassins.
ReplyDeleteRWiley - Buddy never said that BFW wasn't important. He has written about it a few times already. I think he/she gets it. I do agree though and I hope he/she writes more about it. It is very troubling that Mr. Aubertine lives right there and is so vague on the controversy. A story on that would be interesting to read.
ReplyDeleteIf Doheny is giving large sums of $$$ to Republican interest groups like that then it shows he is clearly not an independent voice, just another Reupblican shill. Owens is a real independent. He recently switched his party ID and he was the one who had the I line in the last election.
ReplyDeleteWhat's the big deal about giving money to the NY Federal Rep Campaign Committee? Am I missing something? That is a party affiliation, not a special interest group.
ReplyDeleteI think what the person who commented about the money is that it shows Doheny isn't an independent voice, but rather a Republican establishment type. Nothing wrong with it. Just in this environment people want an outsider like Scott Brown or Doug Hoffman.
ReplyDeletePro Choice does not equal Dede cloan. Either of those guys would have been a lot better than Dede and would have won.
ReplyDeleteI am a bit confused - so being affiliated with the republican party makes you a washington insider? Really? Scott Brown is most certainly affiliated with the republican party, he just didn't mention it during his campaign because these days, minus a few extra letters, "republican" is just another four letter word. Hoffman is a republican too. So because Doheny donates to his party makes him an insider??? If anything I think it just proves that he puts his money where his mouth is, unlike Hoffman who pledges support of the republican party and then turns around and sticks a knife in the party by appealing to Mike Long for the conservative nomination. I appreciate loyalty, thus I do not appreciate Hoffman.
ReplyDeleteAlso - in the case of Doheny, the money was flowing out, not in. He owes them nothing. Take a look at Hoffman's donation list and tell me who he owes? Washington, Washington and more Washington.
ReplyDelete801 - I think the larger problem with Doheny is that he seems to be throwing his money around to gain access to these people. Trying to buy your way in is not very becoming and the people of this area see through that kind of access. Love them or hate them, the Jim Wright's, John McHugh's of the world actually worked their way up the ladder.
ReplyDeleteDoheny is trying to buy his way up the ladder. I have a problem with that. This race is between Hoffman and Barclay anyway...Matt is a distant forth behind Maroun.
It's too bad people can't stop judging Matt Doheny and instead take the time to listen to what the guy has to say. He is by far the most capable candidate to help congress deal with the pertinent issues of today - namely the economy. Instead, everyone goes on character assasinations and jealous rants about how much money he has and spends. Take away the money and the guy is actually a terrific candidate. I fear with all the bitter, jealous judgment he just might say f--- it and walk away from it all and we will just end up with more of the same old same old in 2010. That would be a huge loss for the area. But what can you do. Essentially Matt has been TOO successful for Northern NYers to accept him. How very dumb.
ReplyDelete406 - OK, I'll bite. If Doheny didn't have unlimited resources and couldn't toss money all around the district he certainly wouldn't be running for Congress. Maybe he'd be running for local county legislature or assembly, but not Congress. His money get's him access, like it or not, and he's using that to move his Congressional campaign forward. That I have a problem with - other's have spent their lives serving this area and for him to just fly in when he's done making his millions on Wall Street, buy an Island and house on a fairly exclusive street in Watertown to keep up appearances, rubs me the wrong way.
ReplyDeleteHoffman, Barclay, Owens - they're all wealthy guys as well no question about it, but at least they've lived here and worked here. (OK, Hoffman lives one town out of the district, but at least it's not NYC) That matters to me and as long as I keep hearing about thousands of dollars being toss around to county and state GOP leaders I'm going to have a bad taste in my mouth.
12:57am - Fair enough. I guess the part where I differ with you is I actually think it is great when someone who is very successful outside of the area cares enough about his home town to want to come back and make a difference here. Most people I know when they leave they leave for good and we never hear from them again, and they certainly don't spend money in the district, be it on property and the corresponding taxes on the land, or just on every day living. When they get out they get out. I am just happy to see someone like it enough here to want to return, despite the fact that he will never make the kind of living he could have made if he continued to live in NYC. I totally understand your point, but I take the total opposite side. I think it is great when someone comes back with fresh ideas and a fresh perspective to a place that, at least in my opinion, has become old and stale. Besides, I have never been a fan of the career politician. Too many allegiances and too many favors owed. And they usually have become so jaded by the system that they just accept the ineffectiveness of government and lose the drive to make any changes. But that is just me - I definitely see your side too.
ReplyDeleteWhen is the last time Doheny voted in a local election in NY-23? I most likely has voted in NYC all these years.
ReplyDeleteWhen was the last time Hoffman voted in a local election in NY23?
ReplyDeleteWhile Hoffman & Doheny are beating up on each other Barclay is coasting through to victory. Please keep on fighting children!!!
ReplyDelete11:09,
ReplyDeleteThere few things more unpopular than in NNY than NYC and Wall Street. Many NNYers blame them for the state's problems. The Democrats will be sure to point out Doheny's Wall Street/NYC ties.
That having been said, Doheny could be the strongest candidate. But I think it's a mistake for Republicans to assume NYC/Wall Street won't be a negative.
As for myself I'm voting for Owens.