"Hi! I'm Jeff Klein. Let me tell you about what a raging pathological hypocrite I am!"
With Working Families Party Gov. Andrew Cuomo refusing to debate anyone lest he come face to face with the rabble, primary challenger Zephyr Teachout has agreed to debate Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino. This has Cuomo surrogates flipping out because who the fuck knows why, but nothing beats
the reaction from Jeff Klein, the state senator who leads the Cuomo-baked renegade Dems who gave control of the state Senate to the GOP.
"Klein, whose breakaway Independent Democratic Conference joined with Republicans to lead the Senate, released a statement that was very similar to Paterson's: "Why would any progressive Democrat give right-wing Republican Rob Astorino a platform to broadcast his anti-women, anti-LGBT, anti-worker views? This sad gimmick is backfiring because New Yorkers know a publicity stunt when they see one. If Zephyr Teachout actually cares about Democrats, she should stop doing debates that elevate an extreme conservative."
Dear god, do we really want to count the many ways this is the dumbest thing anyone has ever said?
1) First, Let me repeat: Jeff Klein gave control of the state Senate to those "anti-women, anti-LGBT, anti-worker" Republicans, but a debate is out of bounds?
2) [Andrew Cuomo] claims to be a progressive but today [he will appear at Hofstra University in a] campaign event alongside the ultraconservative Republican nominee. Providing a platform for [Carl Paladino] to promote his extreme conservative agenda—anti-choice, anti-gay, anti-gun safety—will do nothing to further the progressive movement in New York. I guess [his] progressive ideals are negotiable if there’s a media opportunity involved.
3) [President Barack Obama] claims to be a progressive but today [he will appear in his third] campaign event alongside the ultraconservative Republican nominee. Providing a platform for [Mitt Romney] to promote his extreme conservative agenda—anti-choice, anti-gay, anti-gun safety—will do nothing to further the progressive movement in [the United States]. I guess [his] progressive ideals are negotiable if there’s a media opportunity involved.
4) Let's go back to #1, because THE GUY WHO GAVE REPUBLICANS CONTROL OF THE STATE SENATE is now worried about giving Republicans a measly podium, and actually says the words "if Zephyr Teachout actually cares about Democrats ..." WHEN HE STRIPPED DEMOCRATS OF CONTROL OF THE STATE SENATE!
He has to be pathological to say stuff like that, after what he's done to the progressive cause in New York over the past several years. Over 5,000 of you have already given over $100,000 to try and clear New York of these horrible Lieberdems. With the primary next week, this is the final chance to do something about this. Give $5 to one or all of the candidates working to punish these assholes for being among the biggest assholes in the political world.