NY-20: Does Tedisco Want Obama to Fail, Too?

Let's play a little game of connect the dots hates.

Rush Limbaugh:

The dirty little secret ... is that every Republican in this country wants Obama to fail, but none of them have the guts to say so; I am willing to say it.

Michael Steele:

Lauer: Do you agree with Rush Limbaugh when he says it's common sense that as a conservative, he wants the policies of Barack Obama to fail?

Steele: Well, my personal opinion doesn't matter in this. My personal -- my job as the RNC chairman is to take into account all the various views out there within our party, and try to put together a strategy and a team that's gonna help us win elections.

Shorter Michael Steele: If Rush says it, it's my job to make it happen.

What else is Michael Steele's job? Getting Jim Tedisco elected to replace Kirsten Gillibrand in NY-20.

"I’m focusing on things like the race in the 20th District in New York,’’ Steele told "Today" host Matt Lauer, who asked him whether he like conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh hoped that President Obama’s attempts to revive the economy would fail.

The question put Steele, who earlier this week apologized to Limbaugh for calling him an "entertainer,’’ in a tough spot.  If he said he agreed, he would be pilloried for rooting against the economic prospects of the country. But if he disagreed, he would risk picking another fight with the popular radio personality, who has millions of daily listeners. So he did neither.

In fact, just yesterday Steele was holding a $1,000 per ticket fundraiser for Tedisco.

So, uh, how does Tedisco feel about being supported by someone who won't disagree with Rush Limbaugh's desire for the president to fail? Does he feel good about campaigning on money from that guy?

Now, Tedisco still won't answer if he supports the stimulus, so it's probably a little much to expect him to answer a hard question like this:

Do you hope President Obama fails?

But if you were curious as to what his answer would be, you could call or email him and ask:

Jim Tedisco for Congress
518-373-2702
[e-mail]

It might give his campaign staff a nice break from answering questions about how he doesn't live in the district he's campaigning to represent on the slogan "He's one of us."

Meanwhile, Democrat Scott Murphy continues to pick up steam. Devtob brings us the news that the Civil Service Employees Association and the New York State United Teachers have endorsed Murphy.

Here in New York, public-employee unions like CSEA and NYSUT do not automatically endorse Democrats, especially longshots challenging Republican incumbents.

While Tedisco is not the incumbent, and does not even live in the district, he has been treated like one by the local media, due to his 26 years in the Assembly, his high name recognition, and the district's substantial Republican registration advantage.

And he sure acts like one, seeking to limit debates, campaigning with an entourage of Assembly staffers, speaking only in generalities about the issues, etc.

So these union endorsements are a clear sign that union leaders, who are politically savvy, think Murphy can win.

The union support Murphy is drawing will be a big plus in his ground game for the March 31 special election, where turnout no doubt will be key.

Update: Phillip at The Albany Project asks the same question:

Maybe they can get an answer to this question. Does Jim Tedisco hope, much like embattled RNC Chair Michael Steele (who appeared at a fundraiser for Tedisco last night) and his drug addled pal Rush Limbaugh, that the President of the United States fails? That's a serious question and one that deserves an answer.

Does Jim Tedisco agree with those who are raising money for him, those who are hoping for the President to fail? Does he agree with Michael Steele that his party shouldn't support Republicans, all three of them,  that voted for the stimulus package? Does he agree with Rush Limbaugh, who just forced Steele to grovel before him, that he hopes that the policies pursued by the administration, policies that are intended to create jobs, keep people in their homes and rebuild America, fail?

Will media types ask him that directly? Should we even wait for them?

On the web:
Scott Murphy for Congress