Democratic candidates from NY's 13th congressional district, Steve Harrison and Michael McMahon, discuss the race and the issues facing the district like traffic, congestion pricing and energy and fuel prices.
I hope some of my PUMA friends can help me get Steve Harrison elected to Congress. Hillary supported Steve in his 2006 bid but the DCCC, who urged Steve to run that year and promised their support, didn't come through. What a surprise huh? Now they've turned their support toward a Johnny-come-lately in McMahon. McMahon only just recently decided to run when the scandal-ridden incumbent, Vito Fossella, had to drop out of this year's race when after a DUI arrest in VA, it was discovered he was leading a double-life with a second family. Now the party insiders want to push Harrison out because they feel McMahon (who is widely perceived as the more conservative candidate) has a better chance of winning even though McMahon has basically tried to mirror some of the policies that Steve has advocated for the last two years (especially on energy, where McMahon has copied much of Steve's language such as the comparison to Kennedy's dedication to landing a man on the moon).
I hope you will consider supporting another Democrat who is trying to fight the party establishment and the NY party machine. If you can afford $5, please donate using the Act Blue widget at the sidebar on the right, or by going to Steve's website at SteveHarrisonFor Congress.com
Click here for coverage of New York's 13th congressional district where Steve Harrison is trying to re-capture the Democratic nomination against the party establishment and Beltway favorite, Michael McMahon.
What started out as a celebration of Pakistani independence quickly turned into a platform for the candidates vying for the 13th congressional seat.
Four candidates running for the job showed up at the 8th annual Pakistani celebration at Snug Harbor Sunday.
"This island is getting more diverse," said Dr. Mohammed Khalid, president of the Pakistani Civic Association. "There are more people moving in and more Pakistani Americans. Eight years ago there was less. Now they are in the thousands."
Democratic Candidate Steve Harrison says he stands for what these set of voters believe.
"We are out here right now talking to everybody about what we feel has to be done in order to make sure this nation is on the right path," said Harrison.
Pakistani community members say they welcome the recognition of the importance of their votes.
But the race we're here to look at today is the only in NY-13, the Staten Island/Brooklyn district being abandoned by the recently infamous Vito Fossella. A few days ago I heard from reliable sources that the grassroots candidate, Steve Harrison, was dropping out and that the DCCC had endorsed Michael McMahon. I had been following the race from afar and I smelled a rat immediately. The DCCC often will tell donors and Democratic interest groups and the media that there is no primary when they want to rally everyone around their own anointee. It just took me a few phone calls to find out that my instincts were correct and that, again, the spirit of Rahm was alive and kicking. Harrison hadn't only not quit the race, he had challenged McMahon to 5 debates. The part about the DCCC endorsing him, though... that was true.
(Staten Island/Brooklyn) Democratic Congressional candidate Steve Harrison (NY13th CD Staten Island, Southwest Brooklyn), who in 2006 received a higher percentage of the vote than any Democrat ever under the district’s current configuration, is challenging September 9th primary opponent Councilman Michael McMahon to five debates, 3 in Staten Island and two in Brooklyn. The primary winner faces the eventual Republican nominee in November to replace incumbent Vito Fossella, who is not seeking re-election because of his recent scandals.
Harrison wants to begin debating his opponent as soon as possible.
"I'm ready to go today" said Harrison, "Mike told the Staten Advance that he wants to discuss the issues. So let's discuss. I've been discussing Congressional issues for over two years. have a website, campaign team and money in the bank. It will be interesting to hear what Mike says about National issues and why he voted for congestion pricing and the largest property tax hike in history and why, as a Democrat, he's vying for the Conservative party endorsement."
It's widely believed Harrison soundly defeated Fossella, who ran on the Republican and Conservative lines, in all five times they debated in 2006.
The scandal-plagued, 5 term Republican Congressman from NY's 13th congressional district decides he will not be running for re-election. Clip is from NY Nightly News Channel 4 coverage. Democratic opponent Steve Harrison is interviewed.
Channel 7 mentioned Harrison in their coverage tonight but said that Democratic party insiders will probably try to push him to the side. They interviewed Democratic NYC Council member Mike McMahon who said he would like to throw his name in the ring.
After more than two weeks of damaging and scandal-filled headlines, Representative Vito J. Fossella of Staten Island has decided not to seek another term in Congress, according to several people close to him.
Mr. Fossella, 43, has been the object of intense scrutiny since he was arrested in a Washington suburb on May 1 and charged with drunken driving. At the time of his arrest, his blood alcohol level was reportedly 0.17 percent, twice the legal limit in Virginia. Under that state’s law, he faces a mandatory five days in jail if convicted.
A week after his arrest, Mr. Fossella, the only Republican representing New York City in Congress, disclosed that he had been on the way to visit Laura Fay, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel. He acknowledged that he and Ms. Fay had had an affair and that they were the parents of a 3-year-old daughter.
Mr. Fossella is expected to issue a statement on Tuesday, according to officials close to him. It states:
“Despite the personal mistakes I have made, I am touched by the outpouring of support and encouragement I have received from so many people. Their kind words and prayers during this difficult time mean more to me than I can express. And while many have urged me to run for re-election, I believe this course of action is best for my family and our community.”
Until Monday, Mr. Fossella offered signals that he intended to seek a sixth full term in November. After two weeks of near-seclusion, he re-emerged into the Staten Island political scene, attending a Conservative Party dinner and a parade.
Here's a statement from Steve Harrison is campaigning for the Democratic nomination: "I'm relieved Vito Fossella finally made a decision. I believe he made the obvious one. I hope he and his family find peace in the near future and I ask Mr. Fossella to represent us well during the remainder of his term.
I now turn my attention back to the issues facing the people of the district and America, like Iraq, health care, energy, the environment and, of course the economy. Many in the district have suffered foreclosures and lost jobs. I look forward to debating these issues with the Republican candidate, no matter who that may be. I have not been running against Vito Fossella. I have been running for Congress and I will continue to do so."
Soon after the 2004 election, after spending so much time, energy and money supporting John Kerry's failed bid, I remember being outraged by some remarks made by the the founder and CEO of the DLC, Al From. From, who is infamous for his centrist and hawkish policies, said in March 2005, “You’ve got to reject Michael Moore and the MoveOn crowd.” From added “rank-and-file Democrats ‘are more like us than MoveOn,’ which [Al] From called a group of ‘elites, people who sit in their basements all the time and play on their computers.’” (NBC’s “First Read,” 3/1/05)
I myself was a MoveOn member, and I guess I still am, although I haven't participated in any of their events in quite a while. So at the time, I took great offense to these remarks, and it seemed he was suggesting that the party needed to move toward the right if it ever wanted to win an election again.
I can't help but think that From's remarks have come to mind several times during the current Democratic campaign. Now I'm not saying that From was correct, but the vigorous support and vitriol shown by Obama supporters and the media which seems to now be overtly gushing over the junior senator from IL, have made things a little clearer. It's quite obvious that there is a rift in the party.
Obama supporters on blogs like Daily Kos, 527's like MoveOn and his supporters throughout the media would have you believe that Clinton supporters are all dumb, white racists and/or feminists. The many Clinton supporters I've met while campaigning are far from being dumb or racist. In fact, many of her supporters admire the work she's done over the years on civil and human rights and her collaborations with African-American and Latino leaders. Many of her supporters didn't even start out this campaign against Obama. They just felt he wasn't ready for the job and that Clinton was ready and much more experienced. After all, if Obama does become president, America will have chosen somebody who's last complete term was as a state senator.
Some of Hillary's supporters didn't start out supporting her. As their preferred candidates finally left the race, they were faced with a decision. I for one started out as an Edwards supporter. One thing that stuck in my mind from the beginning was how Hillary performed during the debates. She just seemed so much more experienced, so much more in control and her answers were always very detailed. It also became very obvious that the media was in Obama's corner. When the piling on started with pundits like Keith Olbermann making it a mission to bring Hillary down, then seeing the ugly diaries and comments at sites that claim to be for all Dems, and when Edwards finally decided to leave the race, the choice became clear for me.
Clinton supporters are passionate for sure. As they began to express their support online, in forums and blogs, they were met with a ferocious wave of disdain from fellow Democrats. The Obama supporters were so furious that many Clinton supporters found it necessary to seek out other places they would be welcome.
So if there is a Clinton wing of the party, I would say they range from being liberal to more moderate, just left-of-center Dems. Clinton liberals can be those with traditional progressive values who feel she is the best person to champion causes like universal health care, the rights of labor, immigrants, gays and despite her 2002 vote, they feel she is the best person to get us out of the war in Iraq. Clinton moderates feel she would be the strongest leader and be the best person on issues like national defense, the fight on terrorism and the security of the nation.
On the other hand, although I don't agree with From's past statements, there is an element in the party that sees itself as entitled. They are ultra-partisan and don't feel the party should be tolerant of any part of the country that is even a fraction to the right of them. They realize that there will be more conservative Dems, in areas where there are a majority of Republicans and will even campaign for them, but they won't let them into their conversations or clubs; they won't let them speak for the party. If they had their way there would only be one party and everybody would be as vile, snarky and liberal as they are. Sounds like a mirror-image of right-wing republicans.
So here lies the danger. If Obama wins, this wing of the party will surely dominate. How will Obama unite the country as he says he can, when his supporters are unwilling to compromise and are not even tolerant of the more moderate views within their own party? And before you reply with comments about how divisive Hillary is and polls showing her supporters are unwilling to support Obama if he's the nominee, remember that she didn't start the attacks. She was very civil and withstood constant attacks from the other candidates early in the race. In fact, I remember one line vividly from the Las Vegas debate: “They're not attacking me because I'm a woman,” she said. “They're attacking me because I'm ahead.” This is from Politico's coverage (which hasn't always been friendly to Sen. Clinton) of that debate:
LAS VEGAS – New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton responded to weeks of increasing criticism from her rivals at a debate here Thursday night with a rhetorical show of force of her own.
She accused former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards of “throwing mud” and said Illinois Sen. Barack Obama is being too modest in his plans for health care and too aggressive in aiming to raise Social Security taxes.
Clinton was cheered — and her rivals' criticisms were, at times, booed — by an unusually raucous crowd made up of students, labor union members and Democratic activists at the University of Nevada Las Vegas.
Clinton supporters have to stay relevant. We have to show the blogs and the pundits that we do count and that bias and sexism will never be tolerated. The most obvious way to do this would be to not support Obama. Without us, he may never get his hands on the prize. However, to be able to make this statement, is it really worth the alternative outcome? I'm not sure that McCain doesn't keep us in the war and maybe start a new one. Universal health care will be out the window. So how will I vote if Obama is the nominee? I'm still not sure. For me, the choice will not be as relevant as I will be voting in NJ this year. I can't see either Dem losing here. But for many of you, a tough decision is pending. I also know for others I've spoken to, the decision will be very easy because you've already decided that there is no way you will vote for Obama, and as long as it's not based of race, I respect that decision.
There is another way we can show our unity and strength. We should start looking toward local races where we can make a difference. We should seek out candidates that share Sen. Clinton's values and show our support. For me, one candidate in particular comes to mind. His name is Steve Harrison from New York's 13th congressional district. I'm sure many of you have heard of the recent troubles of the incumbent Republican Vito Fossella, NYC's only Republican Congressperson.
This seat is clearly up for grabs. My good friend Steve Harrison ran against Fossella in 2006 and received an unprecedented 43% even though he was heavily under-funded and outspent 13:1. Despite promises from the DCCC that they would step in, they never did. This year could be different. He has already received endorsements from DFNYC, the NY Times, Progressive Democrats of America and National Peace Action. "We found that Mr. Harrison would bring to Congress an intelligent and educated approach to the real security of this country based on international cooperation, respect for human rights, and diplomacy," said Peace Action NY State Chair, Sally Jones. "Among the positions taken by Mr. Harrison that garnered him the support of Peace Action is his opposition to the Bush war policy that is destroying the American economy and driving down living standards."
Harrison wants the country to approach our energy problems with the same vigor and national resolve as we did putting a man on the moon. He feels that in a decade we should be free from foreign and domestic fossil fuel dependance.
Steve is also for single-payer universal medical coverage for all Americans. He opposes the war in Iraq and calls for the immediate withdrawal of forces, consistent with our troops' safety. As of the 2006 election, Fossella had voted with Bush administration policies an incredible 91% of the time.
Hillary played a big part in Steve's campaign in 2006, including robocalls from her and Bill. However, the help came too late in the race. With more name recognition this year and more support from people like us, we can get Steve to DC.
I know everybody is tapped out from helping Hillary, but a nominee will be chosen soon. Whether or not it's the person we want is a different matter. However, it would be great to show we can keep this coalition together and actually make a difference. We can send a strong message to the media by supporting candidates that share Hillary's vision and values. This will also help put her in a much stronger position if she decides to run again in four years. Think how many more superdelegates she can win if we are the ones to help put them in that position (unless they become like Bill "Judas" Richardson, kidding).
So whether you can spare $5 now or later on after the convention, I urge you to my ActBlue page and show a little love.
If you can't give anything right now, I would love for you to go to Steve's site at SteveHarrisonforcongress.com and let him know that Marc from Blue Spot sent you and that Hillary supporters have his back.
While Republican incumbent, Rep. Vito Fossella is contemplating his political future due to a recent scandal, Democrat Steve Harrison is fighting for the chance to serve NY-13.
(Staten Island/Brooklyn) Vito Fossella’s Democratic opponent for the Staten Island/Southwest Brooklyn based NY 13th Congressional District seat, Steve Harrison, has received a flurry of endorsements recently including a 2800+ person strong independent New York City group that’s part of a national grassroots network founded by Howard Dean. Other recent Harrison endorsements include two African American political leaders, a union president and Staten Island and Brooklyn district leaders.
Democracy for New York City (DFNYC), which is part of a coalition of independent grassroots groups nationwide belonging to the Democracy for America” (DFA) network, has endorsed Harrison with an unprecedented 100 percent of the vote. DFA was founded by Democratic National Committee chair and former presidential candidate Howard Dean and is run by his brother Jim.
Organizer Tracy Denton says her organization will provide troops for Harrison.
"We are very excited to mobilize our volunteer base to help Steve Harrison, a solid Democrat who will not be afraid to stand up on the issues that matter."
She adds “As part of a national network of Democracy for America groups all across the country, we are seeing that voters want to return a Democratic majority to Congress, but not just any Democrats. They want to support Democratic candidates who will be strong enough to do what it takes to end this war in Iraq and bring our troops home. The future looks good for good Democrats like Steve Harrison."
Kelvin Alexander, co-founder of 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement has endorsed Harrison because he will fight for those who can not fight for themselves.
“Steve has the energy, desire and passion to fight for those left out of by the system.”
Alexander founded 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement with Eric Adams, now a State Senator, in 1995. Kelvin is Adams’s chief of staff and is a former State Senate and Assembly candidate in Staten Island.
Harrison has recently received the endorsement of another Staten Island African American leader, Debi Rose, past president of the African American Political Association and an Obama delegate. Ms. Rose is a 2009 candidate to replace term limited City Councilman Mike McMahon. Rose came within 170 votes of defeating McMahon in the 2001 primary.
Other recent Harrison endorsements include John Strika, President of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades Local 806, Marc Zink, Staten Island’s 61st Assembly District Leader and Joanne Seminara, 60th Assembly District Leader (Brooklyn/Staten Island).
Harrison says he received these endorsements because of his issue stances.
“I am proud of these endorsements. These groups and individuals endorsed me because of my opposition to the war in Iraq and support for civil liberties protection, universal, single-payer healthcare, a solid energy policy, fair trade, repeal of the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations and ethics reform, all of which are in line with the thinking of the majority of Americans.”
Other Harrison endorsements include: The Democratic Advancement Political Action Committee (DAPAC), the Progressive Democrats of America, the Staten Island Democratic Association, the Democratic Organization of Richmond County, the American Heritage Democratic Organization, legendary feminist Gloria Steinem, former judge and Assembly member Frank Barbaro and 60th AD District Leader Ralph Perfetto.
Diana Williams discusses Vito Fossella's (NY-13) political future on Eyewitness News Close Up, with Tom Wrobleski of the Staten Island Advance. Oddly, neither of the Dems currently fighting for the Democratic nomination, Recchia or Harrison, were mentioned. Steve Harrison, who lives in the district (Recchia does not) lost to Fossella in 2006 by 14 points, but was extremely under-funded. This year Harrison has gained some key endorsements, including the DFNYC.
Rep. Fossella (R, NY-13) apologizes to his constituents of NY-13th CD for his DWI arrest in VA. Dem. Steve Harrison who ran against Fossella in 2006, and is now facing a challenge from Dem. Domenic Recchia, is featured in this clip as Fossella's main opponent. This could do wonders for Harrison's bid to take back the Democratic nomination.
Rep. Vito J. Fossella (R-N.Y.) was arrested overnight in Alexandria and charged with driving while intoxicated, court records showed today.
Fossella is scheduled to appear in Alexandria General District Court on May 12 for an advisement hearing, the records said.
No other details were immediately available.
Late this afternoon, Fossella released a statement, saying, "Last night I made an error in judgment. As a parent, I know that taking even one drink of alcohol before getting behind the wheel of a car is wrong. I apologize to my family and the constituents of the 13th Congressional District for embarrassing them, as well as myself."
Here is NYC's only Republican Congressman, using fearmongering tactics on his constituents during debates with Democrat Steve Harrison in October, 2006.
Here's Fossella's 2006 challenger, Democrat Steve Harrison on Hardball.
*UPDATE: Statement from Steve Harrison concerning Vito Fossella's DWI
Driving while intoxicated is a very serious charge. Over 17,000 people die every year as a result of such irresponsible and illegal action according to Mothers against Drunk Driving Only 2 days ago MADD held a luncheon at which I was represented. I stand shoulder to shoulder with MADD in its quest to rid our society of this scourge and I certainly hope that all candidates and elected officials from all parties and all places would do the same. As elected officials and potential elected officials we have an obligation to set an example for society. Lawmakers cannot expect the people to follow the laws if they themselves disregard them.
SI and Bklyn residents protest congestion pricing plan
(Staten Island) Democratic Congressional Candidate Steve Harrison (NY 13th CD, Staten Island and Southwest Brooklyn) will lead a group of Staten Island and Brooklyn residents protesting Mayor Bloomberg’s congestion pricing plan at a 2 pm April 3 press conference inside the Staten Island Ferry Terminal.
Harrison, who is running against Vito Fossella, New York City’s only House Republican, does not oppose congestion reduction in theory, just Bloomberg’s plan.
According to Harrison using the congestion pricing stick to force working and middle class drivers into already overcrowded trains, buses and ferries, while the limo taking CEOs targeted by the plan will continue to drive in because they can easily absorb the fees, is unfair. He prefers a carrot approach of improving service first to get people off the roads. “The Mayor’s plan puts the cart before the horse,” says Harrison.
The plan is billed as a green initiative with the contradictory goals of reducing pollution and improving public transportation. “These goals will allegedly be accomplished by charging a fee to drive in lower Manhattan. The theory is that the fee will force many drivers off the road and, at the same time, the collected fees will be used to finance public transit improvements,“ says Harrison.
Harrison continues, “The contradiction here is glaring. The green objectives of the plan and the revenue raising objectives work at cross purposes. Every commuter forced off the road is one less driver to pay the fee. If the fee is set high enough to drive cars off the road and commuters into trains and buses, revenues will go down because there will be fewer drivers to pay the fee. There will be insufficient funds to pay for transit improvements. On the other hand, if fees are set so low that revenues are maximized, traffic and emissions will continue unabated and the green objectives will fail.”
“There is simply no incentive to set the congestion pricing fee at a level that would significantly reduce traffic and emissions. On the contrary, fees must actually be set to encourage a certain minimum level of traffic in the congestion pricing zone to sustain the cash flow.”
The Bloomberg plan’s exemption from filing an environmental impact statement causes Harrison to question congestion proposal’s “greenness”. “Exempting this plan from an Environmental Impact Statement under SEQRA is unconscionable. If it is truly a green initiative it should go through a green process - SEQRA. The fact that those who support the initiative want it waived is a good indication that they fear the results of such a review. There is no study whatsoever to indicate what will happen to metropolitan area traffic patterns as a result of this major change.”
I would support a congestion reduction plan that accomplishes green objectives. This plan is not that plan.”
As solutions to encourage mass transit use, Harrison advocates creating high speed ferries in Staten Island and Brooklyn and extending the Westshore railway into Jersey. In the interim, he advocates expanding current ferry and bus schedules to encourage people to avoid driving into Manhattan. Harrison will also discuss his proposals to eliminate the Verrazano toll for Congressional District residents on both sides of the bridge and collect from non-district residents with boothless technology similar to what the congestion pricing plan will use.
NY 13th Congressional District (Staten Island/Southwest Brooklyn) Democratic candidate Steve Harrison captured 87.5 percent of the Staten Island Democratic Association (SIDA) endorsement vote yesterday, trouncing Coney Island City Councilman Domenic Recchia 42-6. SIDA is considered the most progressive of Staten Island's five Democratic clubs.
Harrison, who in 06 received a higher percentage of the vote than any Democrat ever in the Congressional District's current configuration, is scheduled to face Recchia in a September primary for the right to face Vito Fossella, NYC's only house Republican.
Recchia does not actually live in Fossella's 13th Congressional District. He lives in Jerry Nadler's 8th CD and can't vote for himself in the primary or general election.
SIDA also passed a resolution to publicize the Harrison endorsement in letters to the Staten Island Advance, the DCCC and Richmond County Democratic Chair John Gulino.
Democratic candidate for NY-13th CD, Steve Harrison speaking to several anti-war organizations assembled earlier this week in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Harrison is running against the only Republican Congressman in NYC, Vito Fossella who is ranked 365th in the nation, with only three congress persons with a lower rank in NY State according to Congress.org.
The campaign may only be a few hours old, but the gloves are already off.
Two years after Democrat Steve Harrison lost to Rep. Vito Fossella (R–Bay Ridge), the Bay Ridge lawyer is looking for another shot at the conservative law maker. He said this week that he would again be a candidate for the seat representing Bay Ridge and Staten Island.
He and Fossella have already begun to set the tone for the debate, and it looks like it is going to be war — literally.
Harrison plans on using the war in Iraq as his rallying cry to counter the hawkish Fossella.
“I am running because I believe we have to build a majority of Democrats in Congress to stop this ill-conceived war,” said Harrison. “I absolutely believe the war in Iraq was wrong, and I would prefer to not even use the term war on terror.”
Councilman Vince Gentile and Rep. Vito Fossella haven’t always seen things eye to eye — and now you can add their noses into the equation.
While Gentile (D-Bay Ridge) is still fuming about the city’s slow response to the stink at the Owls Head sewage treatment plant, Fossella (R-Bay Ridge) said the mayor and his Department of Environmental Protection have come out of the nasty fight smelling like roses.
“The DEP has been less than forthright about the status of the plant,” Gentile told the mayor in a Jan. 16 letter. “They have failed in their commitment to the Bay Ridge community.”
The Democratic Party — which failed to do even basic behind-the-scenes work for its candidate in 2006 — now says it will go after Rep. Vito Fossella (R–Bay Ridge) with a vengeance in 2008.
The powerful Democratic Congressional Committee — or the “D triple C,” as it’s known in politico parlance — announced via its blog that the city’s only Republican congressman has been targeted for elimination in the next election.
“We will aggressively work in districts targeting ethically challenged incumbents like … Vito Fossella,” read the announcement posted on the Stakeholder, the DCCC’s blog.
NY13FOSSELLA LOSES HIS MONEY BASE This should reduce Vito's campaign contributions for several hundred thousand. Click here: Dem takeover costs Vito committee postVito has gotten hundreds of thousands in campaign contributions just by being on the House Financial Services Committee and has flaunted his power because of it. For the 2006 Election he received $266,000 from them and still ended with $209,009 in debt. This is a boost to the DCCC and the 2008 candidate for this seat. posted by Rosalie907 at
Vito has gotten hundreds of thousands in campaign contributions just by being on the House Financial Services Committee and has flaunted his power because of it. For the 2006 Election he received $266,000 from them and still ended with $209,009 in debt. This is a boost to the DCCC and the 2008 candidate for this seat.
Despite the Republican Party's loss of the House of Representatives in this month's midterm elections, Rep. Vito Fossella is standing by his GOP leader.
Fossella (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) has told the Advance that he plans to vote for Rep. John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) to be House minority leader when Republicans meet to fill House leadership positions tomorrow.
I wrote the following post back in August and I think most of it still applies, except that I have to mention that there are much more active Dems and progressive groups in SI than I thought. They are over there fighting the good fight and I applaud there stamina and courage. Just to be clear, the folks I speak of below are what I consider to be Vito's core followers. These are the folks that I call Red-State New Yorkers.
How Does A Conservative Keep Winning in NYC? I don't mean a RINO like Bloomberg. I'm talking about a real rubberstamping, Bush kiss-ass conservative. His name is Vito Fossella and he's the Republican Congressman representing New York's 13th CD since 1997. And as much as Vito wants to run from his party, he can't hide the obvious: the man loves Bush.
From The Daily Gotham I'm sorry but a conservative? In one of the most liberal cities in the country? In a city where registered Dems outnumber Republicans over 5:1? You have to ask yourself, why? Well let's take a look at NY-13.
For those of you not familiar, NY-13 covers Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn such as Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Gravesend and Bensonhurst. Ah, Staten Island...If you're going to be a conservative in NYC, this is where you would most likely be happy. Now obviously, not everybody in the district will fit the same type, but generally speaking, you will find many folks who fit the right-wing authoritarian follower mold described in John Dean's book "Conservatives Without Conscience." Dean compiled data that provides some insight about the dispositions of these right-wing authoritarians. Many of them share the following traits:
* They travel in tight circles of like-minded people.
* Their thinking is more likely based on what authorities have told them rather than on their own critical judgment, which results in their beliefs being filled with inconsistencies.
* They harbor numerous double standards and hypocrisies.
* They are hostile to so many minorities they seem to be equal-opportunity bigots, yet they are generally unaware of their prejudices.
* They see the world as a dangerous place, with society teetering on the brink of self-destruction from evil and violence, and when their fear conflates with their self-righteousness, they appoint themselves guardians of public morality.
Some of the other traits that they may commonly share, according to Dean: they are submissive to authority, aggresive (on behalf of authority), conventional, prejudiced, mean-spirited, narrow-minded, intolerant, bullying, zealous, dogmatic, uncritical toward chosen authority, hypocritical, inconsistent, highly self-righteous, moralistic and prone to panic easily.
In this district you will find (and I have nothing against any of these occupations) many blue-collar, hardhat types such as construction & sanitation workers, police, firefighters and other first responders, many of which were at Ground Zero on 9-11. Also, union workers who no longer follow the traditional political paths of past generations. Instead they buy the way the Democratic Party has been framed by the GOP regarding moral issues and believe the distortions peddled through the right-wing noise machine.
If you could be a fly on their wall, you would see them tuned to the Fox News Channel cheering along another O'Reilly or Hannity rant. They maybe listening to Rush on the radio or maybe something non-political...like wrestling on the Spike Channel, NASCAR or 24 (although I confess I watch this too). They read the NY Post (religiously). Their idea of an idol is Tony Soprano. They hate the French. They defend Ann Coulter. Many of them have never been outside the Tri-state area except for maybe Florida. Some of them don't know a thing about politics or the details of current events, but they nevertheless wrap themselves in the flag and shout at the top of their lungs, all the jingoistic, vitriolic b.s. they may get from their buddies at work or clueless relatives. They are men's men, and so are the women. In fact, some of them swear they have balls.
My father lives in this district. He has always been kind of a right-center type. I remember when I was a kid, he supported Nixon. However, as he got older he began to lighten up on certain issues. He even voted for Clinton twice and for Gore in 2000. But a funny thing happened after 9-11. It was that speech...you remember. The one where Bush is standing on top of the rubble at Ground Zero with a bullhorn, alongside the NYFD Commissioner. It was right after this pep rally that my father turned to me and said, "now that's my president!"
Many New Yorkers see SI as a fort against the evil gays and liberals that inhabit the rest of the city. Of course, that isn't exactly true. Although, that $9 toll makes you wonder sometimes. It's funny how you have to pay so much to get to another part of your own district.
In 2004, during the height of the right-wing hysteria, a few months before the election, my uncle actually got into a fight in a diner with one of these rah-rah Republicans, because the guy didn't like that my uncle was criticizing the president. I mean, is this NYC or Texas?
So you would think that the Dems in the rest of the city would get together to kick Fossella out of office. After all, he's voted with Bush about 89% of the time (with Delay, 91%). He's been in the news recently for his questionable use of campaign funds. He's constantly siding with big business and has a cozy relationship with Halliburton. He co-sponsored HR 5252 (the COPE bill that threatens Net Neutrality). Fossella voted for the GOP energy bill that gave billions to oil, gas and nuclear industries. You can see more of his disastrous record here.
Yet, there's a Democratic candidate named Steve Harrison who has been endorsed by SEIU 1199, UFCW Local 1500, the United Federation of Teachers and the Working Families Party but still virtually ignored by NY's Democratic incumbents. I mean, I don't remember seeing any public photo ops with people like Schumer or Clinton. Where are the fundraisers? It's like everybody just forgot about this race. It can't be because they think Harrison is not progressive enough. He's against the war in Iraq. He would like to roll back the Bush tax cuts for the nation's wealthiest. He has vowed to work toward ending our dependence on fossil fuels if elected, within a decade. If they think he can't win, they are wrong. If he had their support, the numbers would change almost instantly. Take Hillary for instance, who is building a huge war chest for a race that is practically uncontested (thanks to the media). Any money she's collecting now would most likely be needed for her 2008 presidential bid. She can easily help Harrison's chances for regaining this seat and make a lot of friends in SI & Brooklyn at the same time.
If there's any criticism I have for Harrison is that I wish more attention would be put toward reaching out to the Netroots. There are several blogs covering the race including NY13,The Daily Gotham,Take Back NY and my own blog, Blue Spot. But there needs to be more effort to reach out to the national blogs. This is in part why I'm writing now. It's my hope that some of you fellow Kossacks can help out (you like the way I slipped this in-jk). Even just a little support would go a long way in convincing yet another aspiring polititian that the influence of the netroots can't be ignored. Even if you can't give financially, I urge you to take a minute and email the campaign and send him a note of encouragement. If you do, remember to mention that you're from Daily Kos.
After Vito finishes with the victory parties, he'll have to get back to work with the thought of having Nancy Pelosi as his new, soon to be Speaker of the House. He'll also have to start learning to work with his new Democratic colleagues like the new Reps. for NY's 19th, 20th and 24th congressional districts. Congratulations to John Hall, Kirsten Gillibrand and Michael Arcuri. Vito has said that he's used to working with the other side but that's always easy to say when you're in control and not willing to compromise with the minority party. Fossella can not take too much comfort in the fact that his "power ranking" will be dropping 196 points to a dismal 333. Hopefully, Vito will take some time to really consider that wonderful "endorsement" he received from the SI Advance, the one that says that he "exudes an air of entitlement." Hopefully he will remember that he represents the entire district and he is a public servant not the king of SI.
Well, Mr. Harrison does not go to Washington...yet. I think I speak for many Harrison supporters when I say that Mr. Harison can be proud of his campaign to become Rep. for NY's 13th congressional district. When you consider that he had no money and no support from the party as promised until it was way too late and still got a higher percentage (43%) than the previous Dem challenger, Frank Barbaro, it's easy to see that this race will be in play the next time around if the party big-wigs jump in early enough. Granted, we may not have an environment that is this favorable to Dems nationally but I don't think that would matter in SI if we have a candidate that can get his message out. It would have been incredible to beat an incumbent without airing one single commercial. Harrison couldn't even afford to buy the typical campaign items that are necessary for any campaign to help build name recognition; such as buttons bumper stickers, t-shirts, etc. A flyer passed out buy the NY State Dems listed every Dem in the city except for Harrison. You have to give Harrison much credit for having the courage to go it alone and take his "High Noon" campaign right to the incumbent. He never backed down and his small staff did a wondeful job. When you don't have the resources to counter negative ads and distortions from a rich incumbent, you will often see these results. So Mr. Harrison has earned the right to get a second chance at this if he is willing and hopefully next time he'll get the support he deserves.
NY-13 (Harrison-Fossella): There is a growing chorus of analysts now saying that Rep. Vito Fossella may not be as safe as once thought. First, Congressional Quarterly reported that “Fossella’s Seat Less Secure Than Expected.” Then the Brooklyn Papers reported “Tide Turns on Fossella.” Now, Errol Louis of the Daily News writes today that Democratic challenger Stephen Harrison has a shot to defeat Fossella whose A- NRA rating, poor voting record on labor issues, and habit of spending taxpayer money on luxury trips, on top of Harrison’s “devastatingly strong performances” at debates, have put the seat in play.
Severely under-funded, Mr. Harrison has run under the radar for months, but perhaps sensing momentum, leading Democrats have offered help in the final stretch of the race for the 13th district seat.
STATEN ISLAND/BROOKLYN, NY, November 4 – Former President Bill Clinton, Senator Hillary Clinton, former Presidential candidate General Wesley Clark, Congressman Anthony Weiner and Staten Island City Councilman Michael McMahon are voicing their support for Democratic Congressional candidate Steve Harrison (NY-13, Staten Island and Brooklyn) in robocalls.
He says, "New York Needs a Representative who will Restore Integrity to Government"
November 3, 2006. Little Rock, AR. Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander General Wesley Clark today endorses the candidacy of Stephen Harrison in New York's 13th Congressional District.
General Clark said, "Today Americans face many difficult challenges at home and abroad. There has never been a time when foreign affairs were as closely linked to our daily lives as they are now. While fighting the causes of terrorism that threaten our country, we also face a changing global economy that demands America educate its young men and women so that they can successfully compete for good jobs in the global marketplace. We need Stephen to fight for us in Congress, and I am pleased to endorse him today.
"As a community activist, attorney, and family man, Stephen has devoted his life to serving others. Married and the father of two children, he is committed to family values, economic growth, a strong military, healthcare and education reform, lower taxes and energy costs, Social Security protection, and ending government corruption.
"Stephen's integrity and experience are much needed in government today. In voting for Stephen Harrison, New Yorkers will return honesty and accountability to our political system and reduce the influence of special interest groups. They will gain a representative who looks out for their concerns and places the good of our country above partisan politics."
General Wesley K. Clark is a retired four-star general and served as the Supreme Allied Commander of Europe where he commanded NATO forces and directed Operation Allied Force in the Balkans, putting a stop to the ethnic cleansing by the Serbs. More recently, he was drafted in 2003 to seek the Democratic nomination for President. General Clark remains engaged in public policy and private business development. Authoring two books, Waging Modern Wars and Winning Modern Wars, he and his wife, Gert, still live in Little Rock. He can be reached through his website, www.securingamerica.com.
But the war in Iraq, like no other issue, defines where this country is headed. During the last mid-term election season, when our battle against Taliban-backed Osama bin Laden (remember him?) was just beginning, Americans chose not to change horses in mid-stream.
Four years later, the Bush administration and the Republicans who control Congress have a record of failure on which to run. And Rep. Vito Fossella has been with the president every step of the way.
In his four-terms, Fossella has been on the wrong side of issues that affect his mostly Democratic constituents. He has called for Social Security to be privatized. He has supported the gun lobby. He has been weak on the environment. He opposes many abortion rights.
It is no small coincidence that Fossella is three times more likely to vote with the noxious John Birch Society than with the Service Employees International Union — many of whose members live in his Staten Island and Brooklyn district.
The district has changed a lot, thanks to an influx of upper middle class voters priced out of Brownstone Brooklyn. These voters would be shocked to find that their elected congressman votes like a red-state hack.
Weiner said the Bush administration had proposed closing Veterans Affairs facilities in the city and put forth proposals that would increase the financial burden on older veterans.
"We claim to be patriotic," Weiner said, "we send troops off to war, say a prayer every night that they come home safely, then when they return, we are simply not providing them with the care that they need."
Harrison, an attorney from Brooklyn who is challenging Fossella, said veterans "are the group that has been hurt the most by the Bush administration over the last five years."
Fossella, he said, "wraps himself in the flags," but voted against granting Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans a $1,500 bonus and, in 2003, against expanding Tricare health benefits to National Guard and Reserve troops serving in the war.
"These are the kinds of things we have to reverse in this nation," Harrison said.
"If you think we're on the right path, you have a candidate in this race," Weiner said. "If you think it's time for a change, if you've had enough with the status quo of this administration, then Steve Harrison is going to get the vote of many citizens."
The scare ad features a phone call between two terrorists that suddenly goes dead. An announcer says Democrat Steve Harrison wants to stop wiretapping terrorists who are planning new attacks.
"Steve Harrison: putting terrorist rights above the safety of you and your family," the spot says.
Harrison, a Brooklyn lawyer who hasn't enough cash to air a response ad, called the radio spot a scurrilous lie and a sign that the once-mighty congressman is running scared.
"These are more than distortions. They are fabrications," Harrison said.
Like most Democrats and some Republicans, Harrison opposes the National Security Agency eavesdropping program that allows agents to spy on domestic phone calls without getting a warrant as long as one party is overseas.
"I've repeatedly stated that I do not oppose surveillance. I don't know of any person who does," he said. "But I do want warrants - not for the protection of terrorists, but for the protection of Americans."
The idea for the ad appears to have been lifted wholesale from an Oct. 23 Dick Morris newspaper column in which he dispensed campaign advice to Republicans under the headline "Best GOP Hope: Scare 'Em Silly." He laid out almost the exact script Fossella used.
In the Fossella-sponsored campaign piece, the reader first learns how the Congressman “secured an agreement with Mayor Bloomberg to make $16 million in repairs” to the Shore Parkway bike path and walkway, where “15 foot craters closed sections to this magnificent waterfront promenade.”
The ad then charges that “Steve Harrison allowed the bike path to crumble into the ocean.”
He did this from his lofty position as chair of Community Board 10, the ad states.
“As Chairman of Community Board 10, from 2001 to 2003 Steven Harrison presided over the deterioration of the bike path and walkway,” the ad states. “He failed to get the job done and allowed the promenade to literally crumble before his eyes.”
As anyone involved in community politics would tell you, the Community Board, the chairman included, only acts in an advisory capacity and can’t make policy, which is left in the capable hands of the Borough President, City Council, Assembly and Congress.
Brooklyn Papers: Critics see Fossella damaged by Bush link
BrooklynPapers.com by Dana Rubinstein On the eve of one of his hardest-fought elections, four-term Rep. Vito Fossella — an unstinting supporter of America’s adventure in Iraq — this week bucked popular belief and the preponderance of evidence to say that the war is going well.
Fossella (R-Bay Ridge) offered a rosy outlook for what some call a civil war at best and a quagmire at worst — even finding optimism in Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki’s flouting of the American military on Tuesday by demanding its withdrawal from Baghdad’s embattled Sadr City.
Talk about a backhanded compliment. Fossella gets a very reluctant endorsement from the SI Advance. Below is an excerpt. EDITORIAL In an election campaign season as fraught with rancor as this one has been, it's been difficult for thinking voters to get beyond the hyperbole and distortions to get to what matters. Nowhere has that been more true than in the race in the 13th Congressional District that pits incumbent Rep. Vito Fossella, a Republican, against newcomer Stephen Harrison, a Democrat.
While more objective experts may disagree, partisans believe that Mr. Fossella is facing in Mr. Harrison a serious challenge for the first time since 1997 when he won the seat. They predict that Mr. Fossella will be a casualty of the nationwide "blue wave" they foresee sweeping the country and turning over control of at least one, if not both, houses of Congress to Democrats on Election Day.
That heady talk may be more wishful thinking than realistic assessment.
There's no question, however, that Mr. Harrison, a lawyer and former chairman of Community Board 10 in Bay Ridge, is a smart, able challenger. He has given the incumbent a run for his significantly larger sum of campaign money.
Mr. Fossella, who often exudes an air of entitlement, may not appreciate that strong challenge, but voters in the 13th District should.
We applaud Mr. Harrison for giving it the best run anyone could possibly give with a woefully underfinanced campaign.
All that said, however, the Advance, after much consideration and discussion among its editorial board members, endorses Mr. Fossella for re-election.
The impetus for the "blue wave" cited above is a growing general dissatisfaction with various policies of the Bush administration, as crystallized by the unending and unimproved situation in Iraq. No rational person who hears the daily drumbeat of reports about deaths, atrocities and foul-ups can subscribe to the administration's delusion that things are moving in a positive direction.
However, as former Secretary of State Colin Powell famously said as the administration was moving toward the 2003 invasion, "You break it, you bought it." We broke Iraq with the invasion, got rid of a monster in Saddam Hussein, but at the same time, unleashed a hurricane of ethnic and sectarian forces that had been ruthlessly suppressed by tyranny. We've been paying ever since. The idea first advanced by the administration that this bloody chaos was somehow going to morph into a model Middle East democracy because we wanted it to be was a reckless fiction.
Now, three years and 2,804 American and an untold number Iraqi deaths later, the United States and its few remaining coalition allies are no closer to that goal than we were in 2003. Having created a government that seems to have already made a separate peace with Iranian-backed Shiite extremists, we may even be further away from it...
We are also deeply troubled by Mr. Fossella's campaign's blatant distortions, such as linking Mr. Harrison with Osama bin Laden and taking a single provision of his Verrazano toll plan out of context for its red-meat effect. Most recently, Mr. Fossella's campaign sent out a mailing which purports that Mr. Harrison opposes the national security wiretapping program because it "violates the rights of terrorists." And the same preposterous claim is repeated on a radio ad now being aired.
Mr. Harrison never made any such comment -- not to the Advance nor to anyone else. He didn't use the word "terrorists" in his statement. He opposes warrantless wiretapping on strictly constitutional grounds, but not wiretapping for national security reasons, per se.
Mr. Fossella's spokesman offered the facile -- and utterly false -- rationale that these amounted to the same thing.
Once again, the apparently desperate Fossella campaign has shamelessly distorted his opponent's reasonable position, and lied about the source of the fabrication by attributing it to the Advance. For a candidate who tries to project such an ivory-tower, above-the-fray image, such scorched-earth tactics are outrageous, especially when Mr. Fossella's got some well-documented skeletons, such as lobbyist-fianced junkets to resorts, in his own career closet.
Voters should take his willingness to stoop to this level into account, as we do.
Senator Charles Schumer wants Democratic Congressional Candidate Steve Harrison with him in Washington fighting for Brooklyn and Staten Island Democratic solidarity press conference with Schumer, Harrison, State Senate candidate Matthew Titone and State Assembly candidate Janele Hyer-Spencer.
STATEN ISLAND, NY, October 31 – “I want Stephen Harrison in Washington with me, to fight for the people of Staten Island and Brooklyn,” said Senator Charles Schumer during an October 31 press conference opposite breathtaking views in Staten Island’s Ft Wodsworth. “He will not be a rubberstamp, rather he will truly represent his constituents’ interests, on everything from protecting our country to protecting the rights of working families.”
Harrison (NY 13th CD Brooklyn and Staten Island) is running against Vito Fossella, New York City’s only Republican House member.
Schumer and Harrison were joined by State Senate candidate Matthew Titone (24th NYS SD Staten Island), and State Assembly candidate Janele Hyer-Spencer (60th NYS AD Staten Island and Brooklyn). Titone faces New York City Council person Republican Andrew Lanza on Election Day and Hyer-Spencer is opposed by Republican Anthony Xanthakis. The New York Times endorsed Harrison, Titone and Hyer-Spencer on Sunday. State Senator Diane Savino (Staten Island and Brooklyn) and Staten Island New York state assembly members John Lavelle and Michael Cusick, a former Schumer aid also attended.
“I am proud to stand with these three distinguished candidates,” said Schumer bout Harrison, Titone and Hyer-Spencer. Schumer “They each understand what it takes to get the job done, and I plan on congratulating them all on November 7th.”
“Senator Schumer has accomplished a great deal for the people of New York, and I look forward to working with him in Washington two months from now,” Harrison stated.
Senator Schumer went on to express his support for Matthew Titone and Janele Hyer-Spencer saying they’d fight for safer communities and improved services for their constituents.
Titone remarked, “In light of the fact that Charles Schumer is one of the smartest and hardest working United States Senators, I am truly honored to have his endorsement and look forward to working with him to continue to improve the lives of all Staten Islanders."
Hyer-Spencer said, “Senator Schumer has served our families well in the Assembly, the House and the U.S. Senate, and he knows first hand the challenges facing our communities.” She continued, “I will do everything I can to make sure our neighborhoods are better places to live, work and raise a family. We should feel safe, always. I will fight for what’s important to our families.”
Leading Democrats and labor leaders goofed this year by not putting a lot more money and muscle behind Steve Harrison, the Brooklyn lawyer waging an impressive, David-versus-Goliath campaign to unseat incumbent Rep. Vito Fossella on Election Day next Tuesday. Nationwide, Democrat strategists have been battling to regain control of the House of Representatives, a feat that will require picking up at least 15 seats. The Dems have poured millions of dollars and dispatched campaign troops into a patchwork of districts from Pennsylvania to Arizona where Republicans have retired or been snared in scandal.
But despite early promises to target Fossella, the only GOP incumbent in the city's delegation, Democratic fund-raisers and labor activists have given Fossella a pass.It's a mistake that could come back to haunt the Dems if they end up one or two seats short of a majority next week.
Snubbed by state and national party leaders, Harrison picked up this year's Democratic script and ran with it on his own, raising a shoestring budget of just over $100,000 compared to Fossella's $1.3 million.
Building on the 2004 campaign by ex-Assemblyman Frank Barbaro, who won 40% of the vote against Fossella, Harrison has been hammering away at Fossella's connection to President Bush's least popular positions - notably, the Iraq war, the privatization of Social Security and the weakening of gun control laws.
Fossella, who has never lost an election, normally relies on his personal amiability and a fat election account to paper over votes that put him considerably to the right of his constituents.
Fossella has an A-minus rating from the National Rifle Association in a city that favors gun control, and casts pro-labor votes only 20% the time, according to the state AFL-CIO, despite the fact that the district has tens of thousands of union households.
Fossella also has ethics issues: As my Daily News colleague Greg Smith has reported, the congressman spent more than $53,000 in campaign funds on questionable expenses, including luxury trips to Colorado, Florida and Las Vegas.
Although Democratic leaders left Harrison to press these issues alone, all indications suggest the challenger's barbs have Fossella worried. Weeks after ignoring Harrison's demands to debate, Fossella abruptly reversed course and agreed to five debates - at which Harrison, a trial lawyer, turned in devastatingly strong performances and posted video highlights on his campaign Web site. Fossella has lately resorted to the ultimate sign of political desperation: flyers with a photo of Osama Bin Laden next to Harrison and text implying that voting Dem helps terrorists.
"Fossella's Seat Less Secure Than Expected," Congressional Quarterly reported recently. "Tide Turns on Fossella," said a headline in The Brooklyn Papers, a community newspaper.
In other words, Harrison the long shot has put a once-secure GOP seat in play.
Dems who slighted this aggressive long-shot candidate may be in for a surprise next week.
Senator Charles Schumer joins Democratic Congressional Candidate Steve Harrison, New York State Senate candidate Matthew Titone, and New York Assembly Candidate Janele Hyer-Spencer in party solidarity press conference.
STATEN ISLAND/BROOKLYN, NY – Senator Charles Schumer will join Democratic Congressional candidate Steve Harrison, State Senate candidate Matthew Titone, and State Assembly candidate Janele Hyer-Spencer at 1:15 PM Oct 31 in a party solidarity press conference at the entrance to Fort Wadsworth, east end of Bay Street, near the Verrazano Bridge, Staten Island, NY.
Harrison, who was endorsed by the New York Times, as were Titone and Hyer-Spencer, is challenging Vito Fossella, New York City’s only Republican house member. Titone faces New York City Council person Republican Andrew Lanza on Election Day and Hyer-Spencer is opposed by Republican Anthony Xanthakis.
The participants will be available for questions following the program.
The city’s most interesting election races are in districts that cover Staten Island and parts of neighboring Brooklyn. Reflecting the general state of voter discontent across the country, the usually comfortable incumbent congressman, Representative Vito Fossella, is in an unexpectedly spirited match-up, while two retirements in the State Legislature offer an opportunity to bring fresh faces and ideas to a State Capitol in dire need of both.
13th Congressional District (Staten Island and Southern Brooklyn).
Mr. Fossella, the only Republican in the city’s Congressional delegation, possesses a well-known name on Staten Island. But his 10 years in Congress have defined him as anything but the independent fighter for constituents that he claims to be in this campaign. He has been a real water-carrier for the Bush administration and the Republican leadership, staunchly backing the war in Iraq while at the same time denying health benefits to National Guard and Reserve members who make up much of the American force there.
The congressman, who declined an interview with The Times editorial board, has been unsympathetic to environmental concerns and has opposed a woman’s right to choose. He does his constituents no favors by his support for privatizing Social Security. He has voted to protect gun makers and sellers. While Mr. Fossella has lately sought funding to deal with health problems related to to the attacks of Sept. 11, he has largely been missing on important local issues. His Democratic colleague, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, who represents the Sixth District, has often been left to advocate Staten Island’s many transportation needs, including the North Shore rail.
Mr. Fossella has offered only lame excuses for improperly using his campaign funds for skiing holidays in Vail (including lessons and equipment), as well as vacations in Florida — transgressions first reported by the Daily News. He has received donations from a lobbying firm with ties to Jack Abramoff. Earlier this year, he was fined a reported $60,000 for misusing his taxpayer-funded official mailing privileges.
He has also gone negative in a nasty way against his underfinanced Democratic opponent, Stephen Harrison. Voters should beware of any politician who tries to scare them, as Mr. Fossella has done, by pasting his opponent’s photo alongside Osama bin Laden’s. Mr. Harrison is a lawyer who has not previously held public office and who entered the race when other more experienced Democrats demurred, believing Mr. Fossella was unbeatable. He deserves credit for making the stand, and is an attractive alternative to Mr. Fossella in his own right. Mr. Harrison has a presence in both sides of the district; he resides in Brooklyn, while his mother and sister live on Staten Island.
As chair of Community Board 10 in Brooklyn, he demonstrated leadership as he oversaw one of the city’s largest efforts to contain overdevelopment through rezoning. He has a good command of the issues, and a feel for the concerns of the district. Mr. Harrison surprised many with his passion and keen intelligence in a series of debates with Mr. Fossella. The distinctions could not be clearer. We endorse Mr. Harrison for Congress.
State Assembly 60th District (Staten Island Eastern Shore, Bay Ridge in Brooklyn). Matthew Mirones’s decision to leave the Assembly has given Janele Hyer-Spencer, a Democrat, another crack at the seat she competed for two years ago.
Her Republican opponent, Anthony Xanthakis, a partner in an insurance litigation law firm, did not respond to requests for an interview. Except for a few public appearances and the odd negative flyer about his opponent, Mr. Xanthakis, who served as counsel to Mr. Mirones, appears not to be mounting a very active campaign.
Ms. Hyer-Spencer, who resides in the Great Kills section of Staten Island, is a highly regarded, tough-minded lawyer and advocate on family issues. She is an admitted policy wonk who understands the minutia of local issues, including how to best win a cemetery for veterans on Staten Island. She has a record of standing up for what she believes, which should serve her constituents well. Ms. Hyer-Spencer wins our endorsement.
State Senate District 24 (Staten Island). This contest to replace Senator John Marchi, who is retiring after 52 years, has been remarkable and commendable for its civility. Decorum aside, though, the two frontrunners, Andrew Lanza, one of only three Republicans in the 51-member City Council, and Matthew Titone, a Democrat and first-time candidate, have large differences.
In his four years representing Staten Island’s south shore in the City Council, Mr. Lanza has made a start towards relieving overcrowding but has otherwise failed to truly distinguish himself as a lawmaker. It is not easy to be a member of a small minority in the overwhelmingly Democratic council, as Mr. Lanza is. Still, given the opportunity to tilt at the majority, Mr. Lanza did not choose well; he was the only member from Staten Island to vote against two important gun control bills.
Representing the city as a Republican in the State Senate requires an aggressive willingness to stand up to the suburban and rural party leadership. Mr. Lanza is a likeable candidate, but he has not exhibited enough of what’s needed to be an independent force in Albany.
Mr. Titone, on the other hand, promises to join in the continuing and still-needed shake up of Albany. He seems well-equipped for the job. He built a successful law practice handling personal injury cases and civil litigation, often offering his services pro bono for needy cases.
A leader in promoting awareness, prevention and treatment for H.I.V./AIDS, he has developed a high-energy, idea-filled campaign, offering initiatives to address especially thorny problems like overburdened transportation, health care and schools. Mr. Titone exudes an eagerness to get to work, and we hope he gets the opportunity.We endorse him for the State Senate.
DMI: Vito Fossella gets "F" for Middle-Class votes
Congress at the Midterm: Their 2005 Middle-Class Record The third annual congressional scorecard from the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy evaluates each member of the U.S. House and Senate based on their 2005 votes on select legislation of significance to current and aspiring middle-class Americans.
A Vito vs. Steve scorecard Q: “Mr. Fossella, two weeks ago, you said you voted in favor of the [creation of] the 9-11 Commission. You did not. Why did you lie to us?”
VF: “The most serious issue in this country is what happened on 9-11. There is a vast difference between my opponent and myself in ensuring that we are never attacked again. We have secured billions of dollars of homeland security funding for New York. I have dedicated my time to securing $125 million for 9-11 responders. I supported the Patriot Act. I supported terror surveillance programs, and I support efforts to question and interrogate terrorists. When I determined there was sufficient reason for a 9-11 commission, I voted to create a commission. And we have worked to implement many of those recommendations.”
SH: “Three times you denied you voted against the 9-11 Commission. [But] you did vote against the 9-11 Commission … I believe you owe an explanation.”
Edge: Harrison
Q: “Mr. Fossella, I have over a dozen articles from newspapers outlining the money you stole and your admission of guilt [a reference to reports that he misused campaign funds]. Are they telling the truth or are they lying?”
VF: “No.” (He did not go further that that.)
SH: “It’s a matter of credibility. It’s a matter of trust. That’s what the election is about. Foley, Hastert, Ney, Abramoff, DeLay, Elmo, Vail, Las Vegas. Take your choice.”
Edge: Harrison
Q: “Congressman Fossella, I went onto the American Association of Retired Persons Web site and [saw] a questionnaire they sent around. For some reason, you chose not to tell them anything! Why won’t you answer AARP with reference to Social Security and health benefits for the elderly?”
VF: “Social Security is a sacred covenant that must be maintained for all generations … With respect to Medicare, it’s another sacred program. I worked with AARP to create the Prescription Drug Program, which has been beneficial to thousands in this community. I opposed privatization [of Social Security].”
SH: “In 2002, Congressman Fossella favored privatization [of Social Security]. [When] he found out that 70 percent of Bay Ridge doesn’t want [privatization], he sent out a letter saying ‘I never have and never will favor the privatization of Social Security.’ That wasn’t true. Then he turned around and said that everything should be on the table. So his position is that he’s against it, he’s for it, then he doesn’t know what to do with it.”
Edge: Harrison
On a personal note, I really have to take strong exception to a couple of statements:
The president of the Bay Ridge Community Council, which organized the debate, scolded the audience like so many unruly children: “As members of a very well respected community, we are not going to allow anyone here to be insulted,” said Barbara Vellucci. “This is a forum for information. If you feel that this is not the right place for you … you may leave.”
After the debate, Fossella campaign manager Matt Mika blamed Harrison’s supporters for the unruliness. “A candidate should appeal to the very best of people, not the worst,” he said. “These same folks who were screaming and cursing … are part of the Harrison team. It says a lot about a person by the company he keeps.”
You know, Vito Fossella and his supporters are so used to folks just bowing down to him like he's Staten Island royalty that they are just stunned to hear all this criticism. If by chance Vito is re-elected he will have to face up to the fact that there are some very angry constituents. What Vito called "lack of civility" during the debate, I call direct democracy. Dissatisfied citizens, constituents who are fed up with an ambitious Congressman who is not truly representing their best interests. So to the president of the BRCC I say: grow up! You started the evening by noting that there were students in attendance and encouraged everybody to show them democracy in action. Well democracy is not always quiet and orderly. Especially when incompetent leaders are misrepresenting the community, distorting positions and playing politics with our fears.
To Matt Mika I say: You call Vito's Brooklyn constituents "unruly", I call them fighters. Which is what Harrison is. He's fought this battle with very little support and he hasn't backed down which is why he still has a shot of winning this thing. These fighters in Brooklyn and even parts of SI are fed up and tired of the BS and they are going to let you know about it. Win or lose, Fossella is going to have to start paying attention to us.
Steve Harrison is running hard — both against Rep. Vito Fossella and in preparation for the New York City Marathon next Sunday, just 48 hours before Election Day.
*Thanks you all for being patient while I worked out the bugs. I'm back!
Congressional Candidate Steve Harrison leads contingent of prominent Democrats in addressing inappropriate development of Staten Island neighborhoods at Thursday, October 26, 2006; 2 pm press conference
State Assembly Members John Lavelle and Michael Cusick, and Councilman Michael McMahon to attend
STATEN ISLAND, NY – Democratic Congressional Candidate Steve Harrison (NY-13, Staten Island, Bklyn) will be joined by Assembly Members John Lavelle and Michael Cusick, and Council Member Michael McMahon at the intersection of Van Duzer and Broad Street in a Thursday, October 26, 2006, 2 pm press conference on inappropriate development in Staten Island’s neighborhoods.
Since he first went to Congress in 1997, Representative Vito J. Fossella Jr. has been re-elected by fairly commanding margins and has slowly become the most influential Republican in his home borough, Staten Island.
But this year, with Republicans on the defensive around the nation, Democrats are hopeful that they may land a prize by taking the seat. Mr. Fossella's rival, Stephen A. Harrison, a lawyer who has never been elected to public office, has been relentlessly critical of the military involvement in Iraq, and that message, along with other positions, has given Democrats fresh hope that they may give Mr. Fossella his toughest race to date.
"This is a race where the people of this district have a real choice in important issues," Mr. Harrison said. "Take the war. Vito Fossella has supported President Bush. And they have said that they want to stay the course. But I say it's time for us to deal with the errors of our ways and to pull out."
Final debate last night between Steve Harrison and Rep. Vito Fossela at the BRCC in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Steve with momentum from his Chris Matthews interview, knocks it out of the park again. Vito visibly disturbed by angry constituents.
WHAT'S YOUR WORKOUT? By JEN MURPHY Editor's Note: What's Your Workout? is an Online Journal column that looks at busy people's fitness routines. Here we talk with congressional candidate Steve Harrison, a Democrat, about how he's found time to train for the New York City Marathon while also running for office.
THE POLITICIAN
Steve Harrison, 57, a trial lawyer who has his own practice in Brooklyn, New York, is running against incumbent Republican Congressman Vito Fossella for a seat in New York's 13th Congressional District. The 13th District covers Staten Island and the Bay Ridge, Gravesend, Bensonhurst and Dyker Heights neighborhoods of Brooklyn. According to Congressional Quarterly's Web site, CQPolitics.com, Mr. Fossella is favored to win. Mr. Fossella declined a request to be interviewed.
THE WORKOUT
Mr. Harrison has competed in four marathons and was told he was crazy to even consider training for a fifth marathon while simultaneously campaigning. "When people told me I had gotten the [Democratic] party nomination in February, they said it would take all of the time and energy I had," says Mr. Harrison, who will run in the New York City Marathon on Nov. 5, two days before Election Day. The lifelong runner had already made a pact with his 25-year-old daughter Michelle to run the race together this year and could not be swayed to break his word.
Mr. Harrison has been running nearly every day since age 26. He hit a three-year slump between 2000 and 2003 while serving as chair of Brooklyn's Community Board 10, in addition to his full-time job as a trial lawyer. His weight got up to the 200-pound range, nearly 30 pounds heavier than his normal weight. He got back on track by joining Michelle on runs.
The father and daughter frequently race and train together, and both are members of the New York Road Runners Club. They often go to Central Park on Sundays and compete in one of the Club's races and then return home for breakfast. "It's a very nice way to make family time," says Mr. Harrison, who lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Alice. The couple also have a 23-year-old son, Jeff.
Mr. Harrison ran the Long Island Marathon in 1986 and New York City in 1985 and 1986. He completed the 1986 New York City race in a personal best time of 3:34:86. Last year, Mr. Harrison accompanied his daughter on her first attempt at the 26-mile, 385-yard distance in the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington D.C., where he clocked in at 3:58. "I left her at mile 22 last year but this year I expect she'll be passing me at mile 15," he jokes. "I might have to run, walk and limp to the end but I'm looking forward to it," he says.
Mr. Harrison usually runs in the mornings between 6 and 7 a.m. The campaign, however, has made that nearly impossible. "I have to wake up at 5 a.m. just to get to campaign events," he says. Sometimes he'll run when he has a lull between 9 a.m. and noon and if not he'll run at night on his treadmill. "The treadmill is one of the best tools ever invented," he says. "I can watch C-SPAN while I'm running."
Although he didn't begin training for the upcoming marathon until the end of July, Mr. Harrison has been running three to five miles daily. On weekends, he fits in longer runs of about 10 miles and sometimes uses races to train. He competed in the Staten Island Half Marathon on October 15. Last weekend was his last long run before November's marathon, an 18-miler. He has begun to taper off to five- and eight-milers and the week of the race will keep to three-milers. "I'm not expecting my best time for obvious reasons," he says, "but my goal is to finish running." He says his goal is to finish in under 4:30.
THE DIET
Mr. Harrison admits that the demands of the campaign have to some extent affected his diet. "I would like to eat more regularly but you just can't during the campaign," he says. "You're going from place to place and have to be really careful not to pick at food along the way. People are always trying to feed you and you just have to say thanks very much but no thanks."
THE WORKOUT
One trick on controlling his weight is drinking water exclusively throughout the day. He tries to have tea and a banana or Wheat Chex cereal for breakfast, though he sometimes skips a morning meal because he doesn't like to eat before a run. He usually tries to avoid high-fat foods at lunch and dinner, opting instead for salads and pasta. "Lately, dinner is usually something in a can that I eat when I get home around 10 or 11," he says. Despite the rigors of a hectic schedule, his weight has remained consistent. At 6'2" and 170 pounds, he roughly is at the same weight as what he weighed in his 30s. During the marathon, he'll try to stay fueled with packets of energy gel to help his body maintain blood sugar during the long run.
THE COST
"Running is a cheap sport," says Mr. Harrison. He usually researches which running shoes are on the market but avoids looking at price and instead goes with what fits best. Right now, he has three pair of shoes that he alternates using. He bought his treadmill for about $700 ten years ago and he estimates the stationary bike he got for Christmas last year costs between $300 and $400.
THE EFFORT
Mr. Harrison has never needed a lot of sleep and rarely goes to bed before 1 a.m., waking up by 7 a.m. In order to train, he's learned to multi-task, using his running time to plan out the day and work on speeches in his head. He also believes fitting in time to train has helped him stay balanced. "Even though I'm running for office, I still need to make time for my family, my passions and my health." He's always found the marathon distance frustrating. "Once I hit 20 miles, I have to hop, skip and roll to get to the finish line," he says.
THE BENEFIT
On Nov. 5, the marathon will take Mr. Harrison through the district he's campaigning in, giving him some extra visibility. "Whether or not I was campaigning, I would have run the marathon," says Mr. Harrison, "but when I run or race I wear my 'Harrison for Congress' shirt and that gets me more exposure and is just as beneficial to the campaign as me shaking hands all day long. It shows people that I have the energy and ability to do what's necessary in Congress." Mr. Harrison says the running has also kept him energized throughout the campaign. "The campaign might be more intense than the marathon," he jokes.
Democratic Congressional Candidate Steve Harrison to appear on MSNBC Interviewed at 3pm by Hardball host Chris Matthews
STATEN ISLAND/BROOKLYN, NY – Democratic Congressional Candidate Steve Harrison (NY-13, Staten Island/Bklyn) is scheduled to be a guest on MSNBC’s “Decision 2006: Battleground America — The Homestretch,” on Tuesday, October 24. His appearance is part of the MSNBC special, an all-day look at critical races across the country. Harrison will be on during the 3pm hour, anchored by “Hardball” host Chris Matthews. Harrison is running against New York City’s only Republican House member, Vito Fossella.
Chris Matthews isn’t the only pundit to start paying attention to the much tighter than expected NY’s 13th Congressional District race. On Friday, October 20, Congressional Quarterly changed the race’s status.
CQ reporter Marie Horrigan wrote, “With New York 13 hardly immune to the political atmosphere facing Republicans in general this year, CQPolitics.com has changed its rating on the race to Republican Favored from Safe Republican.”
Harrison welcomed the news. “As we always knew it would, this race is gaining momentum. People are recognizing that Vito Fossella, supposedly our representative, does not represent the interests or values of his constituents.”
Harrison is very busy on Oct 24. In addition to MSNBC on Oct 24, Harrison will participate in the fifth of five scheduled debates with opponent Fossella that have highlighted the differences between the two candidates. The final Harrison/Fossella debate, hosted by the Bay Ridge Community Council, will take place at 7:30 pm, October 24 at the Shore Hill Senior Center, 9000 Shore Road in Brooklyn.
About Steve Harrison: Steve Harrison is a community leader and activist running for Congress to serve the people of Staten Island and Brooklyn. He was the chair of Brooklyn’s Community Board 10 and has held key leadership positions in organizations such as Brooklyn Remembers and the American Heritage Democratic Organization.
Well you may have heard by now about Vito's dismal rating (C+) by the Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America. From what I hear it's tied for 19th place. There's a host of votes by Fossella that went against the IAVA. You can see them here. One of the key votes that influenced the low score was Fossella's vote on TRICARE as described by the IAVA below:
TRICARE for Reservists (109th Congress; House vote # 221; May 25, 2005)
Representatives who voted in favor of this motion were voting to extend free health care to all Reserve and National Guard soldiers. After 2003, Congress extended TRICARE to allow Reservists and National Guard soldiers to buy-in at subsidized rates, dependent on their deployment status. Still many soldiers have not bought into the system and lack health insurance coverage. Although the medical readiness of the Reserves and National Guard is vital to the security of this nation, Congress refused to extend free TRICARE coverage to Reservists and National Guard soldiers.
Vito voted NO (You can see his vote by clicking the link above). However, here he is the night of the debate in Brooklyn (10/10) saying he supported TRICARE. Luckily, Steven Harrison was able to clear everything up for us. This is a must see.
Fossella’s campaign has taken some steps in his campaign that have raised eyebrows. The blogosphere was abuzz last week over a mailer from the congressman’s campaign titled “Steve Harrison’s Anti-Staten Island Agenda,” which featured a picture of Harrison next to a picture of Osama bin Laden. “If you vote for Steve Harrison for Congress, or don’t vote at all, here’s what you will be supporting,” the mailer said in part. “Steve Harrison opposes key tools in the war on terror.”
Incidents such as the Fossella mailer unintentionally helped Harrison win attention in the “free media,” which is vital for a campaign that lacks the funds to match the incumbent’s mailed, TV and radio ads.
From Today's SI Advance (Letters) Sunday, October 22, 2006
Why are our much-needed social programs being attacked and slashed by the Republican leadership? If you don't register your protest vote, then you are allowing our so-called leaders to make fools of us. Staten Islanders deserve better!
The Republicans on Staten Island, led by Vito Fossella dishonored state Sen. John Marchi's wish for a successor to carry on his work.
Now's your chance, Staten Islanders, to pay the Republicans back for their arrogance. Let's do it on Election Day! Vote Democratic this year!
JOE PANCILA WEST BRIGHTON
[The writer is a registered Republican.]
ON THE VALUE OF TORTURE IN WAR, JUST ASK OUR MILITARY VETERANS
Sen. John McCain, a veteran and former prisoner of war, and Gen. Colin Powell, have both been quite vocal in speaking out against President Bush's torture legislation. As the wife of an Operation Iraqi Freedom combat veteran, I am horrified that Congressman Vito Fossella would dismiss the wise guidance and military experience of two highly decorated combat veterans in regards to this matter.
Clearly the president, like our congressman, who never served a day of combat in their lives, does not understand the severity of the issues at hand that will ultimately be most damaging to our soldiers, let alone our credibility as a powerful democracy.
As I write this letter, American soldiers are under investigation for allegedly committing acts of torture overseas involving detainees in their care. These soldiers, whose lives and the lives of their families are irreparably harmed due to their actions, are under investigation for the very same actions Congressman Fossella and President Bush endorse.
How can an elected official support the torture of detainees and at the same time allow our American soldiers to rot in a military prison who did just that? Any elected official who supports the torture of detainees, which often results in misinformation and a proclamation to the world that if it's OK for Americans to torture foreigners, it's OK for foreigners to torture Americans, does not support our country's most basic of principles....
What's to become of the mental health and well-being of our soldiers who doled out torture only to come home and suffer for the rest of their lives?
From where I'm sitting, they're being tossed aside and forgotten about by our own government and elected officials who wave flags at parades and vote against legislation that will help them financially and physically. Haven't our soldiers and their families suffered and sacrificed enough?
For the safety and well-being of our soldiers, I would encourage our elected officials to take a hard look at what Bush's legislation actually entails and the damaging impact it will have on our men and women in uniform, let alone our country.
Drive for veterans' cemetery dominates Harrison - Fossella forum
Drive for veterans' cemetery dominates forum This was a fairly low key forum that addressed some vets' issues. There was one contentious moment when an elderly gentleman asked Sen. Diane Savino about the Bush tax cuts that are benefitting the already rich C.E.O.'s. Savino tried her best to answer the question even though the question should have really been posed to Fossella. Harrison took the opportunity to dispell some of the distortions being peddled by the Fossella camp such as tax hikes for the middle class and two-way tolls at the bridge.
More buzz about the recent Fossella propaganda campaign against Steve Harrison. It was definitely expected that Vito would try to paint a Dem as weak on terror, after all what else does he have to run on? But this goes over the top.
Here's the flyer in question that has a picture of Osama bin Laden side by side with Harrison.
Fossella’s campaign has taken some steps in his campaign that have raised eyebrows. The blogosphere was abuzz last week over a mailer from the congressman’s campaign titled “Steve Harrison’s Anti-Staten Island Agenda,” which featured a picture of Harrison next to a picture of Osama bin Laden. “If you vote for Steve Harrison for Congress, or don’t vote at all, here’s what you will be supporting,” the mailer said in part. “Steve Harrison opposes key tools in the war on terror.”
Incidents such as the Fossella mailer unintentionally helped Harrison win attention in the “free media,” which is vital for a campaign that lacks the funds to match the incumbent’s mailed, TV and radio ads.
Friends for Vito Fossella has ended its online “friendship” with The Brooklyn Papers, following a Papers report showing that a Web site for the four-term Republican congressman’s campaign was filled with lurid content.
As The Brooklyn Papers reported last month, the Friends for Vito Fossella MySpace page had more than 1,500 online “friends,” some of whom had profiles so sexually charged that they would surely knock the socks off the congressman’s socially conservative base.
The following is from a September 29th post called "Vito's Virtual Friends": There's some really interesting characters on Vito's "Friends" list on his MySpace page.
I wonder if Vito's socially conservative followers would approve of "Gentle when stroked, fierce when provoked" (actual profile name), who has the following graphic boldly displayed on her page:
posted by Marc1A at 8/31/2008 07:30:00 PM
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