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.
ReplyDeleteNo one reads Kassar's articles.
Are there more than two members of the Conservative Party? Each year Kassar and Long take the same position. Can't they switch it up?
UPDATE & BACKFILL: THE “RELATIVE & RELEVANT PRESENT” EDITION
ReplyDeleteHOME REPORTER’S COVERAGE OF THE OLA DEBATE BETWEEN GOLDEN AND KEMMERER MAKES “THE GREAT BAY RIDGE DEBATE” MORE THAN A ONE WEEK STORY — AND IT FOCUSES ON KEMMERER’S CHARGES THAT GOLDEN IS CORRUPT — AND — GOLDEN’S RESPONSE THAT IT’S LEGAL AND OTHER LEGISLATORS DO IT
ALSO KEMMERER BEATS GOLDEN IN THE FIGHT OF THE PHOTO
With coverage by the Home Reporter, the cycle of local papers’ coverage of the BRCC debate segment that involved state senate candidates Jamie Kemmerer and Marty Golden is complete, or nearing completion.
Helen Klein’s report in the Home Reporter started off with a description of the Democrat Kemmerer’s strong attack on the incumbent, Golden, “Kemmerer started out by challenging the Republican-Conservative incumbent on a host of fronts during the event, billed as the Great Bay Ridge Debate by its organizers, the Bay Ridge Community Council. *** Among the charges he hurled at Golden was giving grants amounting to tens of thousands of dollars to ‘a shady non-profit’ cited in the Moreland Commission report, he said, as doing nothing to benefit New Yorkers. Kemmerer also charged that Golden had ‘funneled’ business to the family catering hall, the Bay Ridge Manor. *** Such dealings, Kemmerer said, were ‘why I am running for state senator. You can always count on me to do the right thing. I am not for sale.’....” (See “Golden and Kemmerer battle it out” by Helen Klein, 10/1/14, Home Reporter/ Spectator [http://www.homereporternews.com/news/government/golden-and-kemmerer-battle-it-out/article_6ca75f6a-49ac-11e4-8b85-0f3ccb6e9b14.ht]). Those opening paragraphs frame the coverage of the BRCC debate exactly the way the Kemmerer campaign wants it framed.
Golden’s response was not nearly as effective as he would have hoped; and it appears that it was received by the Home Reporter’s reporter equally poorly. Here’s what Golden said, according to the Home Reporter: “Golden, in response, scolded Kemmerer, telling him, “You can’t make unfounded accusations as you did. To insinuate that I am anything else but a public servant serving his constituents makes you not a person that should be representing this great state senate seat.” *** With respect to the Bay Ridge Manor, Golden said that he had held events there and at other venues as well. “We did not funnel any type of money [to it],” Golden said, stressing that when events were held at the Manor, “We did it correctly and by the law.” *** And, with respect to the “shady non-profit,” Golden contended that it, in fact, did serve people in the neighborhood where it was located, and pointed out that it had gotten funding not only from him but from numerous other elected officials. “You’re entitled to your opinions, not your facts,” he told Kemmerer.”
As important as all of that, the photo of Golden and Kemmerer shaking hands after the debate was a 100% win for the younger, taller, more comfortable and obviously more photogenic Jamie Kemmerer.
I just do not understand 1199's endorsement of Senator Golden. It makes no sense. 1199 is one of the most progressive and leftist unions in the Nation. They seem to advocate for all things completely at odds with Republican political platforms. 1199 is on the forefront of fighting for the rights of immigrant workers supporting undocumented laborers receiving the same benefits as those who are working with proper documentation. Recently, it was because of 1199's active participation that Al Sharpton was able to galvanize thousands of protesters to march on Staten Island in support of justice for Eric Garner. A minor example,but certainly that march was not supported by the local Republican Party and its elected officials. What am I not understanding? Mr. Massey please shed some light on this endorsement.
ReplyDeleteRESPONSE: THE "FIX IS IN" EDITION
ReplyDeleteYour description of 1199 left out one of its most important characteristics, it is corrupt.