The special election in NY-26 is two weeks from today, and is shaping up to be another national race in New York state.
As with NY-20 and NY-23, Republicans have held this western NY seat for decades. In the wake of Chris Lee's disgraceful resignation, the race among Republican Jane Corwin, Democrat Kathy Hochul and tea party self-funder Jack Davis is too close to call.
John Boehner knows this race is close, that's why he visited the district yesterday.
Karl Rove knows this race is close, that's why his shady PAC is spending $650K to try to save the lackluster Corwin.
You can help win this race, and send a message to the radical Republicans to stop their attacks on Medicare and Social Security.
You can give money here.
You can drive out to the Rochester suburbs for some canvassing.
You can phone bank from the comfort of your home, email Blake@KathyHochul.com for info.
This is a winnable race, but turnout will be key. And turnout depends on voter contacts.
Please do something to help Hochul contact voters.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Gibson lies again – this time about restricting access to abortion services
It is the same theme over and over: “Gibson lies.” For a “man of honor,” he does a lot of lying in order to toe the Tea Party Line and also try to convince his moderate constituents that he is not such a radical guy.
This time, in trying to tamp down a flurry of dissent on this Facebook page over H.R. 3 re-defining rape, Gibson chided those who disagree with him and insisted there are no restrictions beyond the Hyde Amendment in H.R. 3. This is his post, written by him, not a staff member. When posts are written by his staff member, they are always signed by that staff member according to information on Gobson's page: "Both I and my spokeswoman Stephanie Valle will post on this page. Posts that come from my spokeswoman will be designated at the end as such."
Congressman Chris Gibson
Re H.R. 3, there's misinformation on this page that the bill redefined the word rape. That's incorrect. While a previous version of the bill contained different language, what we voted on contained the same language as the Hyde Amendment. This bill is about making sure taxpayer funds aren't used to pay for abortions but doesn't affect the use of private funds -- we're codifying the Hyde Amendment in the tax code.
One individual, Leo Geoffrion took Gibson to task with this post:
The Republican party has billed H.R.3 as making the Hyde amendment permanent but if you compare the Hyde Amendment to H.R.3, it is clear that they've moved the line considerably further. Where the Hyde Amendment explicitly exempted private insurance plans H.R.3 explicitly bans abortion from any tax-exempt health plan. Since it's crazy to purchase a health insurance plan that is not tax-exempt, this effectively bans abortion from ALL health insurance plans -- even those with no Federal funding. So, why mess up the long-standing compromise between the pro-life and pro-choice advocates? Let's deal with the deficit and not re-fight the social battles of the 90's.So far, Congressman Gibson has not responded to Geoffrion’s statement. Nor do we expect him to. He does not know how to respond when he is caught in a lie.
Which seems to happen with incredible frequency.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Guest Post - Gibson lies about the EPA
We snagged this post from DailyKos and got permission for the author to post it here.
by devtob
Tea party Republican Chris Gibson has a wholesome image -- clean-cut, well-spoken, church-going Catholic, veteran, Ph.D., hometown hero, family guy, etc. -- but he has become quite the shameless liar in his first few months in Congress.
Like every Republican, Gibson repeats the Boehner talking-points Big Lie that the Ryan Republican budget does not propose a voucher plan in place of Medicare and will not affect current Medicare recipients.
And Gibson lies about federal spending -- when challenged at a recent town hall to explain why the only federal budget surplus in decades occurred when income tax rates for billionaires were higher in the Clinton administration, he ignored the question and told a whopper about the EPA budget.
Here's the video, courtesy of the GibsonWatch website of Democracy for the Greater Glens Falls Area, an active DFA outfit:
The video catches Gibson in another BIG LIE:
Not. Even. Close.
The EPA budget was $7.2 billion in FY 2008, it went up to $10.3 billion in FY 2010, then down to $10 billion in FY 2011. The Obama EPA budget for 2012, which Gibson and other tea party radicals in the House will surely slash away at, proposes $9 billion.
Let's give a liar a break, and take the EPA's high budget watermark, the $10.3 billion in FY 2010. That's 43 percent more than FY 2008, not Gibson's weirdly precise 131 percent.
And it's less than 43 percent now, and will be even less in FY 2012.
Gibson is not just a liar about EPA, he's also a hypocrite.
While Gibson votes with the radical Republicans to cut EPA even more, he "applauds" the EPA spending federal money to investigate (and hopefully clean up) the notorious Dewey Loeffel chemical waste landfill in his district (Nassau, Rensselaer County).
The EPA budget under Obama has gone up substantially, which makes sense to those who care about the environment and recognize that EPA had been handcuffed under the Bush/Cheney administration.
Gibson could use a truthful number -- 43 percent from 2008 to 2010 -- to make his point, but he decided that telling a lie about a bigger number would impress his low-information constituents about the allegedly awful federal spending problem.
But his choosing to lie about EPA, as an example of "outrageous" federal spending, is essentially absurd, given that the EPA's share of total federal spending is well less than 1 percent. Gibson is a rookie, and gets his budget lies from Randroid Ryan, who is more experienced in Congress, and at lying with numbers.
Indeed, Ryan has been claiming that EPA spending has more than doubled by including stimulus money, about $7 billion over two years.
All of that money, save $20 million for administration and oversight, went to jobs-producing water and sewer projects, cleaning up hazardous waste sites, and reducing diesel pollution.
So, EPA's basic budget is really up some 30 percent or so from 2008, not the 131 percent Gibson parrots from Ryan.
In repeating House Republican lies, Gibson has become just another Republican who lies on behalf of billionaires to bamboozle his constituents.
And there is nothing wholesome about that.
(click to see post at DailyKos.)
by devtob
Tea party Republican Chris Gibson has a wholesome image -- clean-cut, well-spoken, church-going Catholic, veteran, Ph.D., hometown hero, family guy, etc. -- but he has become quite the shameless liar in his first few months in Congress.
Like every Republican, Gibson repeats the Boehner talking-points Big Lie that the Ryan Republican budget does not propose a voucher plan in place of Medicare and will not affect current Medicare recipients.
And Gibson lies about federal spending -- when challenged at a recent town hall to explain why the only federal budget surplus in decades occurred when income tax rates for billionaires were higher in the Clinton administration, he ignored the question and told a whopper about the EPA budget.
Here's the video, courtesy of the GibsonWatch website of Democracy for the Greater Glens Falls Area, an active DFA outfit:
The video catches Gibson in another BIG LIE:
"This level of spending is something we can't sustain.I'll just give you just one example, the Environmental Protection Agency, that budget went up, from 2008, it went up 131 percent. That's a fact."Well, no, it's not.
Not. Even. Close.
The EPA budget was $7.2 billion in FY 2008, it went up to $10.3 billion in FY 2010, then down to $10 billion in FY 2011. The Obama EPA budget for 2012, which Gibson and other tea party radicals in the House will surely slash away at, proposes $9 billion.
Let's give a liar a break, and take the EPA's high budget watermark, the $10.3 billion in FY 2010. That's 43 percent more than FY 2008, not Gibson's weirdly precise 131 percent.
And it's less than 43 percent now, and will be even less in FY 2012.
Gibson is not just a liar about EPA, he's also a hypocrite.
While Gibson votes with the radical Republicans to cut EPA even more, he "applauds" the EPA spending federal money to investigate (and hopefully clean up) the notorious Dewey Loeffel chemical waste landfill in his district (Nassau, Rensselaer County).
The EPA budget under Obama has gone up substantially, which makes sense to those who care about the environment and recognize that EPA had been handcuffed under the Bush/Cheney administration.
Gibson could use a truthful number -- 43 percent from 2008 to 2010 -- to make his point, but he decided that telling a lie about a bigger number would impress his low-information constituents about the allegedly awful federal spending problem.
But his choosing to lie about EPA, as an example of "outrageous" federal spending, is essentially absurd, given that the EPA's share of total federal spending is well less than 1 percent. Gibson is a rookie, and gets his budget lies from Randroid Ryan, who is more experienced in Congress, and at lying with numbers.
Indeed, Ryan has been claiming that EPA spending has more than doubled by including stimulus money, about $7 billion over two years.
All of that money, save $20 million for administration and oversight, went to jobs-producing water and sewer projects, cleaning up hazardous waste sites, and reducing diesel pollution.
So, EPA's basic budget is really up some 30 percent or so from 2008, not the 131 percent Gibson parrots from Ryan.
In repeating House Republican lies, Gibson has become just another Republican who lies on behalf of billionaires to bamboozle his constituents.
And there is nothing wholesome about that.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Save the Date, RennsCo Dems!
Save the Date - May 23 - for the Rensselaer County Democratic Committee's Spring Fundraiser! A formal announcement will be sent to all town chairs and we will also post details here.
It is always fun to get together with fellow Democrats over food and drink so make sure you plan on being there.
It is always fun to get together with fellow Democrats over food and drink so make sure you plan on being there.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Who's funding Gibson?
Rookie Rep. Chris Gibson had a relatively mediocre first quarter in fund-raising, according to this diary at Daily Kos.
Follow the link in the diary, and you'll find who's funding our Congressman who wants to eliminate Medicare.
There are the usual local Republicans, developers and builders mostly, and lots of PACs and lobbyists interested in Gibson's committee assignments (Agriculture and Armed Services).
Highlights include:
Longtime county GOP operative Rich Crist, who lies about his employment, gave $500.
Former county resident. and state and county GOP chair, Bill Powers, who now lives in Massachusetts, gave $250, and his kids gave another $950.
Mike Russo, a union guy who worked for Kirsten Gillibrand when she held this seat and now does PR for Global Foundries, gave $500.
Gerry Solomon's widow, in for $500 from her government entitlements.
Lots of money from sugar-related PACS -- American Sugarbeet Growers Association ($500), Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group PAC ($2,000), Great Lakes Sugarbeet Growers PAC ($1,000), Snake River Sugar Co, ($1,000), Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative ($1,000), South Texas Sugar Cane Producers ($125), Florida Sugar Cane League PAC ($375), Alexander And Baldwin Federal PAC ($62.50), and the American Crystal Sugar PAC ($5,000).
Lots more from special interests who agree with Gibson on killing Medicare -- Covidien PAC ($1,000), Independent Insurance Agents And Brokers ($2,000), MVP Health Care Federal PAC ($1,500), New York Life Insurance Company PAC ($5,000), Rain And Hail Insurance Society ($1,000), and Blue Cross/Blue Sheild South Carolina ($385).
The military industrial complex has bought instant access to Gibson -- BAE Systems PAC ($1,000), Boeing Company PAC ($2,000), Honeywell International PAC ($6,134.38), ITT Corporation PAC ($1,000), Lockheed Martin Corporation Employees' PAC ($2,000), Rockwell Collins Good Government Commitee ($1,000), and, last but not least, General Electric Co. PAC ($1.000).
These lists are necessarily incomplete, because some contributors have no doubt, like Rich Crist, decided to disguise the real reason they are giving to Gibson.
But one thing is crystal clear -- Gibson is and will be more interested in public policies that benefit his benefactors than he ever was in representing the interests of the working people of the 20th Congressional District.
His voting record so far has shown that in spades, and will continue to do so for what remains of his one term in Congress.
Follow the link in the diary, and you'll find who's funding our Congressman who wants to eliminate Medicare.
There are the usual local Republicans, developers and builders mostly, and lots of PACs and lobbyists interested in Gibson's committee assignments (Agriculture and Armed Services).
Highlights include:
Longtime county GOP operative Rich Crist, who lies about his employment, gave $500.
Former county resident. and state and county GOP chair, Bill Powers, who now lives in Massachusetts, gave $250, and his kids gave another $950.
Mike Russo, a union guy who worked for Kirsten Gillibrand when she held this seat and now does PR for Global Foundries, gave $500.
Gerry Solomon's widow, in for $500 from her government entitlements.
Lots of money from sugar-related PACS -- American Sugarbeet Growers Association ($500), Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group PAC ($2,000), Great Lakes Sugarbeet Growers PAC ($1,000), Snake River Sugar Co, ($1,000), Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative ($1,000), South Texas Sugar Cane Producers ($125), Florida Sugar Cane League PAC ($375), Alexander And Baldwin Federal PAC ($62.50), and the American Crystal Sugar PAC ($5,000).
Lots more from special interests who agree with Gibson on killing Medicare -- Covidien PAC ($1,000), Independent Insurance Agents And Brokers ($2,000), MVP Health Care Federal PAC ($1,500), New York Life Insurance Company PAC ($5,000), Rain And Hail Insurance Society ($1,000), and Blue Cross/Blue Sheild South Carolina ($385).
The military industrial complex has bought instant access to Gibson -- BAE Systems PAC ($1,000), Boeing Company PAC ($2,000), Honeywell International PAC ($6,134.38), ITT Corporation PAC ($1,000), Lockheed Martin Corporation Employees' PAC ($2,000), Rockwell Collins Good Government Commitee ($1,000), and, last but not least, General Electric Co. PAC ($1.000).
These lists are necessarily incomplete, because some contributors have no doubt, like Rich Crist, decided to disguise the real reason they are giving to Gibson.
But one thing is crystal clear -- Gibson is and will be more interested in public policies that benefit his benefactors than he ever was in representing the interests of the working people of the 20th Congressional District.
His voting record so far has shown that in spades, and will continue to do so for what remains of his one term in Congress.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Gibson wants to eliminate Medicare
Rookie Rep. Chris Gibson continues to be a Tea Party parrot, voting to shut down the government and expressing strong support for an extreme Republican/Tea Party budget plan that will eliminate Medicare.
The GOP budget proposal would eliminate the current Medicare program and turn it into a voucher system, with seniors getting inadequate vouchers to use to buy junk insurance from for-profit health insurance companies.
According to a Congressional Budget Office analysis, the Republican voucher (a measly $8,000 a year in 2022!) would pay for just a third of the cost of a health insurance package equivalent to the current Medicare benefit.
So, Gibson and the Republican extremists want to eliminate Medicare and substantially raise what seniors spend for health care, by more than $10,000 a year.
In a remarkably shameless lie, even for such an accomplished liar, Gibson says this will "strengthen and preserve" Medicare.
Far-right Republicans have always hated Medicare, because it actually helps people who need help.
They much prefer helping the rich pay less in taxes, and the Republican/Tea Party plan does some more of that, cutting the income tax rate AND the nominal corporate tax rate from 35 to 25 percent.
Thanks to those massive tax cuts, the extreme Republican budget plan would actually INCREASE the deficit relative to GDP in its first 10 years. Only after the screw-the-seniors Medicare plan kicks in does the deficit go down relative to GDP.
So, when Gibson says this is all about reducing the deficit, he is lying, again.
It's really all about even more massive tax cuts for the wealthiest, and killing Medicare.
The GOP budget proposal would eliminate the current Medicare program and turn it into a voucher system, with seniors getting inadequate vouchers to use to buy junk insurance from for-profit health insurance companies.
According to a Congressional Budget Office analysis, the Republican voucher (a measly $8,000 a year in 2022!) would pay for just a third of the cost of a health insurance package equivalent to the current Medicare benefit.
So, Gibson and the Republican extremists want to eliminate Medicare and substantially raise what seniors spend for health care, by more than $10,000 a year.
In a remarkably shameless lie, even for such an accomplished liar, Gibson says this will "strengthen and preserve" Medicare.
Far-right Republicans have always hated Medicare, because it actually helps people who need help.
They much prefer helping the rich pay less in taxes, and the Republican/Tea Party plan does some more of that, cutting the income tax rate AND the nominal corporate tax rate from 35 to 25 percent.
Thanks to those massive tax cuts, the extreme Republican budget plan would actually INCREASE the deficit relative to GDP in its first 10 years. Only after the screw-the-seniors Medicare plan kicks in does the deficit go down relative to GDP.
So, when Gibson says this is all about reducing the deficit, he is lying, again.
It's really all about even more massive tax cuts for the wealthiest, and killing Medicare.
Monday, April 4, 2011
2012 starts today.
We got this in our e-mail inbox from our GOOD FRIEND President Barak Obama:
Friend --
Today, we are filing papers to launch our 2012 campaign.
We're doing this now because the politics we believe in does not start with expensive TV ads or extravaganzas, but with you -- with people organizing block-by-block, talking to neighbors, co-workers, and friends. And that kind of campaign takes time to build.
So even though I'm focused on the job you elected me to do, and the race may not reach full speed for a year or more, the work of laying the foundation for our campaign must start today.
We've always known that lasting change wouldn't come quickly or easily. It never does. But as my administration and folks across the country fight to protect the progress we've made -- and make more -- we also need to begin mobilizing for 2012, long before the time comes for me to begin campaigning in earnest.
As we take this step, I'd like to share a video that features some folks like you who are helping to lead the way on this journey. Please take a moment to watch:
In the coming days, supporters like you will begin forging a new organization that we'll build together in cities and towns across the country. And I'll need you to help shape our plan as we create a campaign that's farther reaching, more focused, and more innovative than anything we've built before.
We'll start by doing something unprecedented: coordinating millions of one-on-one conversations between supporters across every single state, reconnecting old friends, inspiring new ones to join the cause, and readying ourselves for next year's fight.
This will be my final campaign, at least as a candidate. But the cause of making a lasting difference for our families, our communities, and our country has never been about one person. And it will succeed only if we work together.
There will be much more to come as the race unfolds. Today, simply let us know you're in to help us begin, and then spread the word.
Thank you,
Barack
Friend --
Today, we are filing papers to launch our 2012 campaign.
We're doing this now because the politics we believe in does not start with expensive TV ads or extravaganzas, but with you -- with people organizing block-by-block, talking to neighbors, co-workers, and friends. And that kind of campaign takes time to build.
So even though I'm focused on the job you elected me to do, and the race may not reach full speed for a year or more, the work of laying the foundation for our campaign must start today.
We've always known that lasting change wouldn't come quickly or easily. It never does. But as my administration and folks across the country fight to protect the progress we've made -- and make more -- we also need to begin mobilizing for 2012, long before the time comes for me to begin campaigning in earnest.
As we take this step, I'd like to share a video that features some folks like you who are helping to lead the way on this journey. Please take a moment to watch:
In the coming days, supporters like you will begin forging a new organization that we'll build together in cities and towns across the country. And I'll need you to help shape our plan as we create a campaign that's farther reaching, more focused, and more innovative than anything we've built before.
We'll start by doing something unprecedented: coordinating millions of one-on-one conversations between supporters across every single state, reconnecting old friends, inspiring new ones to join the cause, and readying ourselves for next year's fight.
This will be my final campaign, at least as a candidate. But the cause of making a lasting difference for our families, our communities, and our country has never been about one person. And it will succeed only if we work together.
There will be much more to come as the race unfolds. Today, simply let us know you're in to help us begin, and then spread the word.
Thank you,
Barack
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