Sunday, November 4, 2012

Thanks to Dean Skelos, Brooklyn GOP Chairman Craig Eaton’s so-called “Republican Rebirth” in Southern Brooklyn faces a complicated delivery in 2012 because few Republicans are top rated in their races by socially conservative Frum leaders >>> even State Senator Martin Golden is criticized by socially conservative Jews for his perceived part in allowing the passage of the “same-sex marriage law”


“ The Frum Voters Guide // General Elections 2012 ” rejects some Republican candidates because of what it calls “The Republican Sell-Out” on moral issues


State Senator Martin Golden was critiqued in "The Frum Voters Guide..." in his position as the Majority Whip. The Guide indicated that Golden almost certainly played a role in in helping in the  passage of the "same-sex marriage law”: first, as a  leader of the Republican conference, participating in the process which allowed the "same-sex marriage law” to have a vote on the floor of the NYS Senate; second, failing as Majority Whip in opposition to the "same-sex marriage law”  by allowing a sufficient number of Republican members to vote for the bill,  thus providing the margin of votes necessary for passage of the “same-sex marriage law” in the NYS Senate. 


The key take away from “The Frum Voters Guide // General Elections 2012” published/posted by Dovid Z. Schwartz at  zehjournal.com was the following:
 “Until recently the choice for supporting moral virtue was fairly simpl[e]. The Republican Party, which holds itself out to be the bearer[ ] of a conservative tradition, could be relied upon to staunchly oppose efforts to weaken the moral fiber of the country by virtue of spreading abortion and homosexuality. Unfortunately, that time has passed and the Republican [P]arty of of the early 2010[s] is in many ways a caricature of its noble tradition. The party label seems little more than access to a rolodex of supporters more than any platform of ideological beliefs.

Here’s how some Brooklyn GOP candidates running in Southern Brooklyn were extolled,  passed or panned :

8th CD, Congressional Candidate Alan S. Bellone: “Rishon L’Tumah (W-I )” ( Has taken troubling positions ...[rest is inconsistent]  –  we also recommend writing-in “End gay marriage now.”) “Mr. Bellone declared his support for marriage being a man and a woman at a candidate debate, but was quick to add that he supported recognition of homosexual conduct as “civil unions.” recommend writing in the message “End gay marriage now.”

11th CD, Congressman Michael Grimm: “Toshave” ( Distinguished as an advocate for personal morality );

17th SD, State Senator David Storobin: “Toshave” ( Distinguished as an advocate for personal morality ), however Mr. Storobin’s opponent Simcha Felder (Democratic, Conservative) received the superior designation “Chaver” ( outspoken on moral issues and a fellow religious Jew );

22nd SD, State Senator Martin Golden: “Pareve” ( No information available )  —  “... in his position as the Majority Whip he almost certainly played a role in organizing the Republican conference to the point at which they assembled the votes necessary to pass the [ “same-sex marriage law”, he ] may played a role in helping its passage.”  (Golden certainly did not take the necessary steps to stop the “same-sex marriage law” dead — which the Republican conference could have done, except that it followed the leadership of Dean Skelos in allowing the vote to proceed.);

46th AD, Assembly Candidate Thomas McCarthy: “Toshave”  ( Distinguished as an advocate for personal morality ) “Mr. McCarthy has agreed to vote yes to repeal the same sex marriage law if elected.";

45th AD, Assembly Candidate Russell Gallo: “Toshave” ( Distinguished as an advocate for personal morality ) “Mr. Gallo wrote a letter to Chick-Fil-A inviting them to open in Brooklyn.  He displays on his campaign website that he believes marriage should be between a man and a woman and the government should not fund or promote immorality.”  —   however, the Independence Party Candidate Ben Akselrod was awarded the superior “Chaver” ( outspoken on moral issues and a fellow religious Jew) “Mr. Akselrod has taken Mr. Cymbrowitz to task for his backing from the gay advocacy groups.”  ;

41st AD, Assembly Candidate Joseph Hayon: “Chaver” ( outspoken on moral issues and a fellow religious Jew ) “Furthermore he has secured the endorsement of many Rabbonim from the district.”

Too many of the remaining Brooklyn GOP candidates were rated “Pareve” ( No information available ), which indicates either a lack of interest in socially conservative positions or a lack of  technical know-how in pursuing appropriate endorsements.

Interesting sidelights of the “ The Frum Voters Guide // General Elections 2012 ” include:

9th SD Republican incumbent Dean Skelos, NYS Senate Majority Leader, received an “Av Hatumah- Traife (W-I) ” ( Advocated spreading immorality ) “Mr. Skelos is perhaps the single most responsible party for the passage of same-sex marriage in New York.  As majority leader he had the power to prevent it from coming to a floor vote, and further no Senator who feared sanctions from the majority leader would have voted for it....  We recommend writing in (W-I) “End gay marriage now.”

 48th AD Democratic incumbent Dov Hikind, who was the Republican and Conservative candidate, endorsed by Craig Eaton and Jerry Kassar  until Hikind was  thrown off the ballot on those lines by his “School Coice” opponent Mitchell (Moishe) Tischler  — the ratings in the 48th AD, Assembly Candidate Mitchell Tischler: “Chaver” ( outspoken on moral issues and a fellow religious Jew ); Dov Hikind: “Rishon L’Tumah” ( Has taken troubling positions ...[rest is inconsistent] )    “...he has displayed a glaring lack of judgment in his disregard for moral issues in his endorsements of fellow politicians, including recently pledging support for Governor Cuomo for President.  Further, Mr. Hikind has abdicated his position of influence which he could have used to quietly gather consensus among community leaders about issues he felt needed to be addressed by the community. Instead Mr Hikind... play[ed] directly into the hands of those who wish to slander us.”;

In the nearby Queens 15th SD, Republican State Senate Candidate Eric A.Ulrich received a “Rishon L’Tumah - Traife (W-I) ” ( Has taken troubling positions ...[rest is inconsistent] –  we also recommend writing-in (W-I), “End gay marriage now.”)  “Although Mr. Ulrich has claimed in campaign literature to be against same-sex marriage, his refusal to vote to repeal the law raises serious questions about his credibility.  If Mr. Ulrich states publicly he is against same-sex marriage, and yet refuses to vote to repeal the law, we are left wondering what is the value of his stance "against same-sex marriage."  His statement that same-sex marriage has been “positive” for “those couples who chose to get married… and their families” (meaning, adopted children of gay couples) is outrageous on its face.  We are concerned that Mr. Ulrich’s stance“against same-sex marriage” is little more than a political fig leaf covering unprincipled ambition, just as his mentor, Republican majority leader Dean Skelos, voted against the very same same-sex marriage law that he corralled his conference to bring to the floor and help pass. ***  Our main concern with Mr. Ulrich is that if he is now running on false pretences, who knows what sort of legislation he will end up supporting, with our blessing, after he is elected.  Most importantly, once he has secured the good name that comes with acceptance by the Orthodox community, he seems poised to embarrass us with a betrayal.  Authority, once granted, is not easily retracted.  This is a sad fact that is being learned by many frum Jews who supported Mayor Bloomberg’s re-election campaign, ignoring his vocal support for same-sex marriage, which later emboldened the Mayor to turn around to attack metzizahb’peh.”

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