NY 19 - Kelly Attacks Eliot Spitzer

In today's NYT's, Sue Kelly joined in the republican smear campaign against Eliot Spitzer.

http://www.nytimes.com/...

Why was she upset?  Because Spitzer stood up to her and opposed legislation she supported that would have protected white collar criminals and hurt the people of the district.

Democrats must stand up and fight these tactics!

In response, John Hall issued the following statement:

"On the same day that Sue's political boss Tom Delay is under indictment and resigning as majority leader, it is outrageous that she would level these baseless attacks against Eliot Spitzer."

Hall continued, "Spitzer has boldly stood up and fought white collar crime, protecting the people of the 19th district. Sue Kelly has done the opposite and puts special interests before the district and supports legislation that would hamper investigations of white collar crimes."

Hall concluded, "Instead of Sue Kelly attacking a dedicated public servant, maybe she should get to work returning Tom Delay's tainted campaign contributions."

http://www.johnhallforcongress.com

•  Good for Hall... <nt>

  by kredwyn on Sun Jan 08, 2006 at 01:16:36 PM PDT

•  I add Spitzer to my list.

       Democrats with conviction and courage. Dean and Feingold were two others. We need guys like these who are willing to do what they think is right rather than waiting to check the polls.

  by irate on Sun Jan 08, 2006 at 01:17:38 PM PDT

•  Sue Kelly?

  I'm in the district over from her (Big Mo' Hinchey - D - Well Coiffed), and if she wants to go after Eliot, she's spitting into the wind. How dumb are Sue Kelly's political handlers to let her, in a close race, go after someone with a 50 point poll cushion?    

  by mischaDC on Sun Jan 08, 2006 at 01:19:29 PM PDT

  •  Stupidity has become a prerequisite...

    ...for membership in the Rethug party. Or at least extreme gullibility.

    If she wants to attack a man with a 50 point lead, let her. Heck, encourage her to do it. The more rubber stamp Rethugs sign their own political death warrants this year, the better.

    by wiscmass on Sun Jan 08, 2006 at 01:35:09 PM PDT

    •  Agreed...

      She just personally invited Spitzer to come fundraise and actively campaign against her!!

      by EVale on Sun Jan 08, 2006 at 01:36:47 PM PDT

•  Tough? Brash? Bold? Not in New York, Buster.

  Spitzer's got to be controlling the spin here.

  It's keeping attention away from his real political shortcomings: he's reasonable and far-sighted.
  

  by macdust on Sun Jan 08, 2006 at 01:25:34 PM PDT

•  Not surprising

  from the NY GOP. Remember they were the ones that floated the rumors that Trump would run against Spitzer. Trump came out and said no, I'll probably support Spitzer, he has done an amazing job as Attorney General. So, now you have the most well-known businessman in New York saying that the Attorney General(who the GOP wants us to think is anti-business) is doing an amazing job. So the anti-business angle wont work. I guess they've now settled on "Eliot's a meanie."

  by jj32 on Sun Jan 08, 2006 at 02:57:16 PM PDT

•  I know Hall is in a primary,

  but that kind of sharp, instant response to Republican bullshit is what I would like in my Member of Congress.

  Hopefully, he gets some second-day coverage, works it into a letter to the editor and/or calls local talk radio about it.

  by devtob on Sun Jan 08, 2006 at 03:12:02 PM PDT

  •  Rapid Response

    is good, wish it wasn't making me miss football :)

    We're talking to reporters now trying to milk the story into a second day.

    Take 19 is also blogging on this and I'm sure they'll be generating LTE's too.

    http://take19.blogspot.com/

    by EVale on Sun Jan 08, 2006 at 03:48:43 PM PDT

•  if only....

  the national republican party was as pathetic anbd ineffective as the NY GOP is our country might be in a whole lot better shape.

  by KnotIookin on Sun Jan 08, 2006 at 03:28:28 PM PDT

  •  they are

    working on it- give em time...

    by Silent Lurker on Sun Jan 08, 2006 at 04:26:15 PM PDT

•  Sue Kelly's attack on Spitzer is...

  ...annoying and outrageous, but not suprising! Spitzer, in my opinion, is one of the best AG's that NYS ever had. He has done a world of good combatting crime in NYS and in my district, NY-19.

  This statement by Kelly and the other GOP cronys is just another attempt at democratic bashing while their party is in the hotseat.

  Spitzer, will definitely have my vote in November. Along with Darren Rigger, a candidate against Sue Kelly.

  At the a debate in Beacon, NY between the democratic candidates vying for Sue Kelly's seat in the house on Saturday, Rigger made an interesting point about Kelly, close to election time her position changes and she becomes more liberal in her ideas and thinking.

  It will be interesting to see if she changes her mind in the fall about Spitzer, will she characterize him as a "passionate" advocate for NYS citizens rights or continue to call him a "thug"? We will just have to wait and see. In the meantime, check out Rigger's website: www.riggerforcongress.com

  by NYliberal on Sun Jan 08, 2006 at 05:32:08 PM PDT

•  Live in the district or close enough?

  Here's links to send letters to the editors to the three major dailies that are in NY-19. Even if you don't live in the district -- but do live in the general area, take a few minutes to send a letter. Sue needs to be held accountable for calling Spitzer a thug:

  Poughkeepsie Journal (covers Dutchess, Ulster, Putnam and Orange counties)

  Times Herald-Record (covers Orange, Dutchess, Ulster and Sullivan counties)

  Journal-News (covers Westchester, Putnam counties)

  by Take19 on Sun Jan 08, 2006 at 06:28:56 PM PDT