Skip to main content

GOP launches new attack ad on Corwin opponent

By Howard B. Owens

This ad was released today by the National Republican Congressional Committee.

It makes several undocumented claims:

Kathy Hochul voted to raise fees on all kinds of things, such as:

  • Going to the beach…
  • Getting in shape at the gym…
  • Playing a round of golf…
  • Ice skating...
  • And owning that lovable four-legged friend.

As a matter of fact checking, I did a number of internet searches and searched the Buffalo News archives going back three years. I could find no documentation for any of these claims (if anybody can find documentation, please post in the comments).

On the flip side, when the Buffalo News endorsed Hochul for Erie County Clerk, they did so, they said, based on Hochul's record of saving taxpayers money.

It's unclear when the GOP claims Hochul voted on these things. As a clerk, and not a legislator, she doesn't vote on legislative matters. I've seen reference to her having served on a town board at one time, but can find no confirmation of that. Such service is not mentioned on her LinkedIn profile nor her Web site. So if she "voted" on these matters, it's hard to tell where.

As for being a Washington lobbyist at one time, that much is true. According to her LinkedIn profile: "Kathy also established her own practice in Washington, representing the computer industry on legislative issues."

She was a legislative aide prior to starting her own practice.

Again, further fact-checking or fact confirmation is welcome in the comments.

Bea McManis

The GOP doesn't need to document. All they have to do is put it in print and their folks will follow like trained little pigs regardless of validity.

Mar 21, 2011, 2:01pm Permalink
Chris Charvella

Kathy was on the Hamburg Town Council. I don't know if there is a hard copy voting history, but her constituents kept re-electing her if that counts for anything.

Mar 21, 2011, 2:06pm Permalink
Bob Price

Great....2 months of listening to this bullsh*t...how about this? You're both going to lie your ass off to get into office-then do nothing......how about we the voters are tired of this negative ads?

Mar 21, 2011, 3:07pm Permalink
C. M. Barons

Sadly enough, the GOP has perfected the negative-ad campaign to such a degree, they may have forgotten how to produce anything else. ...Of course the cynic in me leans toward recognizing that a lion share of GOP candidates are 'stealth candidates,' and if they revealed their actual agendas- no one would vote for them except their parents and grandparents. Voters need to focus on agendas and demand details pertaining to 'what will you do if elected?' instead of settling for Corwin's potty-training as an example of business achievement.

Mar 21, 2011, 4:11pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

I just did a FOIL request with the Town of Hamburg for any meeting minutes or resolutions, and Hochul's voting record on such for

* Going to the beach…
* Getting in shape at the gym…
* Playing a round of golf…
* Ice skating...
* And owning that lovable four-legged friend.

Mar 21, 2011, 4:13pm Permalink
C. M. Barons

I wonder? Would the Republicans of the 26th District have voted for Chris Lee, knowing his aim was to pick up side-action on Craig's List, demonstrate what an incredible dope he is and earn his 15 minutes of fame as laughing-stock of the nation?

Bea, would the piggies break rank if they knew Lee's motivation?

Mar 21, 2011, 4:31pm Permalink
C. M. Barons

Speaking of which... I heard he's honoring requests from contributors who want their share of his campaign funds ($743,000) returned. It would be interesting to see, Lee in his doorway with a line of nincompoops waiting for their refunds. That would be a Kodak moment. A genuine 'A' list! Alas, a pipe-dream: it will all be very discretely managed- to be sure. I would have thought he might donate it to Sex Addicts Anonymous- sort of restitution.

Mar 21, 2011, 4:46pm Permalink
Bea McManis

C.M.,
I doubt it. He was the GOP candidate. They don't break ranks. They didn't for Kinky Carl in Genesee Co., what makes you think they would have for Lee?

Mar 21, 2011, 4:49pm Permalink
Beth Kinsley

A close friend of mine got a letter from Chris Lee with a check refunding his donation. He just showed it to me today. He's still using his old letterhead!

Mar 21, 2011, 4:59pm Permalink
Jeremiah Pedro

"The GOP doesn't need to document. All they have to do is put it in print and their folks will follow like trained little pigs regardless of validity."

Bea,

The same can be said about the Democratic party. The poll from the other day was proof that people will mostly vote along party lines regardless.
If there is to truly be change that so many people claim to want then there will need to be a large amount of elections that end up being won by third party candidates. Until that happens it will be business as usual.

Mar 21, 2011, 5:16pm Permalink
Bea McManis

The point is that Genesee Co. will go Red regardless of the candidate.
Maybe some Democrats would stay with the party line for the likes of that idiot in the southern tier. I can't speak for all, but I know what I would do - or wouldn't do.
Chris Lee, turned me off at his town hall meeting.
That was long before his sordid story hit. The guy was arrogant, ill informed, and too chicken to stay for a Q & A when it was apparent he wasn't prepared to answer the tough questions posed to him.
Those are the things that stick in my mind. That is what will sway my vote regardless of party.

Mar 21, 2011, 5:46pm Permalink
bud prevost

Bea said " That is what will sway my vote regardless of party. "
That never happens, though, does it?

I'm already tired of the same rhetoric regurgitated over and over. A viable 3rd party candidate would be a God-send. I mean, look at the clowns people associate to NY....Massa, Lee, Rangel, Spitzer, Bruno...it's a joke.
Let's cut to the chase. Corwin wins, she is the most junior of junior reps, we don't have near the prestige we had in Lee's House position, and WNY takes it in the ass once again. And then the icing on the cake?? Re-districting puts us with Louise Slaughter as our rep. The only NY congress(wo)man with a Kentucky/Rhode Island accent, and visions of high speed rail between Churchville and Byron. WTF

Mar 21, 2011, 6:13pm Permalink
C. M. Barons

John, I don't know. Why don't you ask one of them? I was responding to Bea's assertion that party trumps everything else in Carl Country. I've seen what Republicans do in Carl Country; I've lived here for close to six decades. I've never lived in the Southern Tier. Lacking that qualification, I hesitate to reflect on Southern Tier politics or Southern Tier Democrats, specifically. I will say that my reason for being neither a Democrat or Republican reflects on the result of having a two-party monopoly on government. We are reminded of the downside to that monopoly (or should I say duopoly?) every time an elected official finds office privilege more important than duty.

Mar 21, 2011, 6:40pm Permalink
Bob Harker

CM and Bea, I understand your frustration. After all the democratic party, on every level, always runs such positive and aboveboard ad campaigns.

CM, I believe you when you say you are neither a democrat or republican. Your views are way too far to the left for the democrats. Except for maybe Chris Dodd :) See below.

In a bid to stem taxpayer losses for bad loans guaranteed by federal housing agencies Fanny Mae and Freddy Mac, Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn) proposed that borrowers be required to make a 5% down payment in order to qualify.

His proposal was rejected 57-42 on a party-line vote because, as Senator Chris Dodd (D-Conn) explained,

"passage of such a requirement would restrict home ownership to only those who can afford it."

I can't add anything to this.

Mar 22, 2011, 1:55am Permalink
Bea McManis

I don't like negative ads. I don't care who runs them.
I have a far more respect for a candidate that makes an effort to run a clean campaign devoid of the rumor mongering and outright lies we sometimes see.
Corwin's handlers came out fighting with negative ads before the Democrats even had a candidate. While this may seem to be the status quo for local GOP supporters, one would think that even they would shake their head and wonder why.
On another note regarding my voting record.
I'm celebrating the 50th year of going to the voting booth. In that time, I can probably count only ten times that I voted a straight ticket.
My affiliation with the Democrats started when I was 18. There are times when I've been very upset with the local and the national party. Yet, when I look at the other options, I know that I made the right decision for me. It is a good fit with my idealogy.
I will not allow anyone to sneer at me and point a finger while calling me a commie or question my patriotism.
The name calling is childish and those who resort to school yard antics are wasting my time.
There was a time when I respected the local GOP leadership even when I disagreed with them. There was a civility that is lacking now.

Mar 22, 2011, 5:24am Permalink
John Roach

Bea,
You have bad mouthed Corwin since she was nominated. Not her record, but her. An example is your attacks because she is rich, as if that is evil.

While not as negative as that GOP ad, it's been all negative from you for a few weeks.

You say you don't like name calling, but the first post on this was you calling Republicans "little pigs". And you're still calling Paladino "Kinky", so who is calling names?

Mar 22, 2011, 6:46am Permalink
Bea McManis

Please point out where I mentioned that her economic status was evil.
Evil? That is a word I never use.
I said 'trained little piggies", that is an expression not name calling. That is a common expression I use when friends seem to follow the expected line in anything.
Kinky Carl deserves the moniker. Sorry, if you found him and his actions acceptable, I didn't.

Mar 22, 2011, 7:44am Permalink
John Roach

Bea,
Where did I say Paladino's actions were acceptable? They were not, but there is no need to keep calling names. But I guess if you do it, then it's OK. And I never said you mentioned being rich was evil, I said, "as if that was evil", and you have.

Fine line using "piggies" and saying its an expression and not name calling.

So far, both Republicans and Democrats seem to be name calling. At least Bellavia's campaign is staying out of that.

Mar 22, 2011, 7:56am Permalink

Authentically Local