KASSAR’S COLUMN ENTITLED “COMMON SENSE: THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY” SHOWS WHAT A LOCAL AND INBRED “PARTY” NEW YORK STATE’S AND BROOKLYN'S “CONSERVATIVES” ACTUALLY ARE
Kassar is careful not to mention his boss Marty Golden’s endorsement by the leftish SEIU or Golden’s praise of that “labor organization” in his "Common Sense" column this week
Corruption of Conservatism Shown by NYS Conservative Party’s “New” Leadership
“Nobody does it better.... Baby, you’re the best !”
There is no point in paraphrasing or spinning what Kassar says in his column sometimes, because Kassar on Kassar is often the best critique of all. Here’s what Kassar had to say this week:
“Congratulations to Mike Long on his re-election as state chairperson of the New York Conservative Party and to Fran Vella-Marrone who was re-elected the treasurer of the state party. I was re-elected a state vice chairperson. Ross Brady, David Ryan and Liam McCabe from Brooklyn were elected to the state party’s Executive Committee. *** Although it might seem like the entire state leadership of the Conservative Party is from Brooklyn there are actually 55- plus Executive Committee members from around the state. *** The party state headquarters has been at 486 78th Street in Bay Ridge since 1989 sharing space with the Brooklyn party. We have been fortunate to be able to maintain a fulltime staff resulting in the headquarters being open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and often in the evening and on weekends when we are involved in projects....” (See “Common Sense: The Conservative Party” by Jerry Kassar, 9/29/14, Home Reporter/ Spectator [http://www.homereporternews.com/news/government/common-sense-the-conservative-party/article_3f9af33e-4802-11e4-bf05-87ceb841bc32.html]).
What is very interesting is how many of the Brooklyn “conservatives” named above are on a “public payroll” or have been so over the years. When the net of “public employment” extends to family members, it gets even more interesting.
But Gale ( and for those, who for some reason use “Gail”), where’s the corruption in that ?
It’s simple. It’s definitional. It’s existential. The New York State Conservative Party is supposed to be CONSERVATIVE. On the local level and in the realm of intra-New York State third parties, that should mean not having local pols padding their payrolls with other local pols. That principle can even be pronounced with a little more fanfare and significantly more detail — in fact, it HAS been many times. That’s because, over the years, I have heard Mike Long and Jerry Kassar give very good speeches on the topic — lot’s of times. It’s my guess, because I haven’t heard any of their speeches lately, they are probably giving similar speeches to this day.
Golden shows what it means to be a Conservative Party endorsed candidate in 2014
According to press reports, this one from the New York Observer, “Left-leaning healthcare workers union 1199 SEIU has endorsed Brooklyn GOP State Senator Martin Golden for re-election–in spite of a vow earlier this year to work exclusively toward helping the Democrats win control of the upper house of the state legislature....” (See “1199 SEIU Backs Golden Despite ‘No Republicans’ Pledge” by Will Bredderman, 9/29/14, NY Oberver [http://observer.com/2014/09/1199-seiu-backs-golden-despite-no-republicans-pledge/] [@newyorkobserver on Twitter; newyorkobserver on Facebook]).
Was State Senator Golden embarrassed by any of this public lavishing of affection by such a left-wing government-growing, public-fleecing bunch of folks ? OF COURSE NOT !
Will Bredderman points out that “Mr. Golden said he was gratified to receive the support of 1199, the city’s largest union, in his re-election bid against long-shot Democratic challenger James Kemmerer. The labor organization has endorsed the senator every year he has faced an opponent for his seat....” And here’s what State Senator Golden had to say about it, “1199 SEIU which represents 200,000 men and women have worked tirelessly to improve patient care while ensuring the lives of those suffering from illness are a top priority. I am honored to have their endorsement.... Since being elected to the State Senate, I have worked consistently to pass legislation which would aid their membership and their cause of providing a higher level of health care. I will continue to work to make our shared goals a priority so that all New Yorkers have the best health care available.”
Mr. Golden also told the Observer that, despite his "conservative reputation," he and the union have many objectives in common.
I’ll say ! Conservative reputation, indeed ! Just lard it up for the S.E.I.U. and other public employee unions, Marty, there are elections to be won.
So, YOU TELL ME !
IS THIS THE KIND OF CANDIDATE FOR THE STATE SENATE THAT SOMETHING CALLED THE “CONSERVATIVE PARTY” SHOULD BE ENDORSING IN 2014 ?
“In his 12 years in the State Senate, Mr. Golden has earned a reputation as a generally pro-labor Republican, with close ties to police and firefighter unions as well as to liberal powerhouses like 1199 SEIU and the Hotel Trades Council....”
It is — especially, if the Brooklyn Conservative Party Chairman Jerry Kassar is on Golden’s payroll.
Now, some people think that’s an obvious corrupt and illegal “quid pro quo” deal, but I think Kassar might have some other explanation. Maybe, he can explain it to all of us in his next “Common Sense” column. That would greatly benefit Kassar, his boss and the rest of us. It’s a win, Win, WIN ! So he really should do it.
