So I got the first email from Sue Kelly's campaign this morning and she's definitely scared, scared, scared.
I'm certainly no campaign strategist, but I'm hoping that John Hall will not only counter her arguments, but go on the offensive right away.
First off:
The Democrats nominated their most liberal candidate yesterday, John Hall - who defeated three more moderate contenders in the Democratic primary.
Huh? I would say that only Judy Aydelott was less liberal than John Hall, but there's the first salvo. Apparently to Sue Kelly, Hall is just too liberal for this true blue state with so many people suffering with lack of universal healthcare and jobs going overseas.
Next, taxes:
Judging from his past and the promises he's made, it's clear to me that Mr. Hall thinks you should pay more taxes and send more to Washington. I don't. As long as I'm in Congress, I will continue working to keep your taxes down.
To the extent that this campaign is about policy differences, we have nothing to fear. Having represented the Hudson Valley for the past 12 years, I know that voters prefer a tax cutting Congresswoman to a Howard Dean democrat who's never seen a tax he didn't want to raise.
Kelly knows that the high taxes in NY are a hot-button issue for her constituents, though she never mentions that just about all the tax cuts she voted for are targetted to the super-rich and that our huge deficit and debt are drowning this country and making us more vulnerable to the countries that hold our debt--like China--and will result in much huger tax increases on our children. Oh, and those federal tax cuts translate into higher state taxes when states get less money from the feds. Of course, we already know that, Sue is just trying to make John Hall into the tax "straw man" to scare her constituents. Oh, and you HAVE to mention Howard Dean if you're going to try to scare your base.
Third, the campaign misstep at the end exploited by Sue:
But judging from some of the tactics employed by Mr. Hall during the final stages of his primary campaign, we'll have to be on guard against the low-ball, below the belt stunts he employed against his democratic rivals.
Are we sure yet whether this was really authorized by his campaign? I'd urge the campaign to clarify.
And finally, Moveon.org and the "shadow" democratic party ROFLMAO:
We will also have to be on guard against the shadow democratic party, Moveon.org, and other organizations that will be soliciting money for Mr. Hall now that he has vanquished his more moderate opponents.
Hahahahahahahahaha. Or, as Jon Stewart would say: "Booga-booga-booga."
They got want they wanted. The democrats in the Hudson Valley have nominated a true blue liberal. Now that they are just one election away from putting one of their own in Congress, they will move heaven and earth to secure this seat for Mr. Hall.
Does Sue forget that SHE represents the democrats in the Hudson Valley and not just the people who voted for her? Seems to be a disconnect in the entire Republicant Party if you asked me.
But she did get that last sentence right. Let's move heaven and earth!