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Video: NY-26 candidate barred from candidate's forum

By Howard B. Owens

Ian Murphy, the Green candidate for the NY-26, was barred from a Tea Party candidates' forum by organizer Rus Thompson of Buffalo because, supposedly, Murphy isn't a "serious" candidate.  

David Bellavia, who didn't even get a line on the ballot, was allowed to speak.

The forum was hosted somewhere in the Buffalo area.

Murphy showed up dressed in Revolutionary War-era garb.

Chris Charvella

Tea Partier: 'They're not gonna live [here] if you're gonna tax 'em. They're gonna go to the Cayman Islands.'

Murphy: 'They do that anyway.'

Apr 9, 2011, 11:23am Permalink
Ed Gentner

In what appears to be a monkey, see monkey do, imitation of the local Republican committee chair annointing their choice behind closed doors then annoucing the choice with great fanfare. Thompson went as far as to claim that Jack Davis who actually is on the ballot as the Tea Party candidate would be at the forum. A claim that was simply not true. Jack Davis wasn't ther, in fact at the time Corwin's mini coranation was taking place Jack was hosting a TEA PARTY event in Clarence.

Jack Davis, by virtue of his collecting 12,000 signatures on nominating petitions for the TEA PARTY line on the ballot. The nominating petitions that clearly stated that Jack Davis was seeking the TEA PARTY line on the ballot for the May 24th special election for the 26th, District seat.

That Ian Murphy Green Party candidate who has a line on the ballot, or anoyone else was barred from what was touted as a public forum for the candidates running for the 26th District seat speaks volumes about Republican Jane Corwin's campaign and its transparent attempt to claim an endorsement from the TEA Party which clearly she does not have. The organizer of the event Rus Thompson who is trying to hold on to the last couple of seconds of his 15 minutes claim to fame is a long time Republican operative. Rus Thompson does not the TEA PARTY he is a Corwin operative. The "forum" was set up with the express intention of Thompson and the Republicans endorsing Jane Corwin as the Tea Party choice. So much for the Republican big tent

Apr 9, 2011, 11:59am Permalink
Charlie Mallow

Am I missing something? Last time I checked there wasn't an actual "Tea Party". It's a movement that wasn't supposed to form into an official organization, right???

Apr 9, 2011, 4:04pm Permalink
Ed Gentner

Charlie you are missing the point here who is Rus Thompson to organize a "candidates forum" for t public to attend to hea from he candidates then to exclude Ian Murphy who is in fact on the ballot, on the Green Party Line or anyone else on the ballot....the whole thing was put together by the Republican candidate Jane Corwin's campaign to give the impression of inclusion and being open....Say what you will about Ian Murphy the Green Party candidate he is a legitimate candidate with a legitimate point of view. As to the "Tea Party" as a non-official organization, I will leave that to the 12,000 people who signed the nominating petitions for Jack Davis to decide how much of an "official" organization it is, not some Republican party candidates operative the likes of Rus Thompson.

I am hoping that all of the candidates that have lines on the ballot for the 26th. District special election to be held May 24, 2011 will meet several times to debate the issues and take questions from the public...note to Jane Corwin and Rus Thompson a public debate or candidate forum is open to the public and you do not get to choose who is the serious candidates and who gets admitted to it. There are four candidates running for the seat Jack Davis on the Tea Party line, Ian Murphy on the Green Party line, Kathy Hochul on the Democratic line and Jane Corwin the Republican....I for one want to here what all four have to say and what they bring to the table.

Apr 9, 2011, 7:43pm Permalink
Frank Bartholomew

This thread speaks for itself where political reform is sorely missing, and has the look and feel of politics as usual. If nothing changes, then nothing changes.
Edmund, I agree, if there are 4 candidates, I for one, want to hear all 4 voices together in the same forum.
I've seriously had thoughts of not bothering to vote, I am not going to jump on the party bandwagon, nor vote for those I don't have exposure to.
Carlin is starting to make more sense to me, we are all spectators, and for many of us, we have no stake in the game.

Apr 10, 2011, 10:27am Permalink
Ed Gentner

The simple fact is every vote counts and every vote should be counted....I often point out that in the many electons over the years I have seen and particapated in several have come down to a handful of votes....it doesn't matter so much who you vote for as much as it matters that you vote. Low turn out elections often leave the victor with the idea that he/she has a mandate from on high and speaks exclusively for the people...a candidate that gets 70% of the vote while running with no real opposition, think Chris Lee (R) who had a token candidate on the ballot, if Lee had to work for the votes and knew that 40-45% of those who voted were not on board would he have acted so foolishly...I doubt it...the upside is now we have a real choice of who we the voters want to replace him in the Special Election May 24th, 2011. I support Jack Davis Tea Party candidate because he will be an independent voice whose vote is not up for sale to the highest bidder....Ian Murphy the Green Party candidate is another independent voice who unfortunately lacks the resources to mount an effective campaign, however as the Green Party nominee he should be heard along with Jack Davis (T),Hochul (D) and Corwin (R)....we the voters have the right to hear from all of the candidates...

Apr 10, 2011, 10:49am Permalink
Lorie Longhany

Jerry Zremski has an interesting article in today's Buffalo News focusing on two of the competing leaders of the Tea Party faction's in WNY and some of their problems with taxes. http://www.buffalonews.com/incoming/article389049.ece

One supports Corwin http://www.janecorwin.com/posts/statement-from-lenny-roberto-active-tea…
The other Davis http://rochester.ynn.com/content/top_stories/538147/jack-davis-stirs-up…

Apr 10, 2011, 11:57am Permalink
Ed Gentner

Lorie, the Zremski article on the front page is little more than a distraction from the issues that should be on the front page of the largest daily newsaper in the district and served no other purpose than to try to discredit the movement away from the Republican and Democratic parties by voter fed up with both. That either had tax issues is a non issue. Had the tax issue involved any of the candidates you might have an issue. The article does raise the question of why is the newspaper raising the question at all? Your links to the Corwin campaign and to an older article regarding the Tea Party heavely quoting Rus Thompson don't give the article any relevance in relation to the issue of Rus Thompson excluding Ian Murphy the Green Party candidate from a candidates forum that was obstenivly open to the public as to allow the public the opportunity to hear from the candidates. The direct link to Corwin's campaign site is more of the Corwin campaign claiming support from organizations that claim they are not organization. It reminds me of the mafia don who stood up and proclaimed there's no such thing as the mafia....only to be found sometime later in the trunk of his car. Roberdo and Thompson start by saying they represent the TEA PARTY but then loudly proclsaim there is no TEA PARTY...except for the fact that Jack Davis is on the TEA PARTY line on the ballot for the special election for the 26th. District to take place on May 24, 2011 nominated by the 12,000 voters who signed the petitions that were accepted and resulted in....once again....having the TEA PARTY line with Jack Davis as the candidate, a fact that REPUBLICAN Jane's campaign and Corwin campaign workers Roberdo and Thompson don't seem to understand.

Apr 10, 2011, 1:08pm Permalink
JOSEPH MAROTTA

For Gods sake people at least hes not taking half nude photos of himself and sending them to transexuals like C hris Lee did. And if hes wearing revolutionary garb wouldnt anyone with half a brain assume that would be proper etiquet for dressing the role you wish to play? Now the so called leader of the tea party is going to be the dress code police weve got enough code enforcement narks in this county!

Apr 10, 2011, 1:34pm Permalink
JOSEPH MAROTTA

It looks like hes writing him up a ticket Barney Fife rides again! LOL! Fife and Drum=TEA PARTY.Its a 1976 thing anyone who wasnt even born back then wouldnt have a clue what Im talking about.

Apr 10, 2011, 1:46pm Permalink
Ed Gentner

Joseph, thought the revoltionary war outfit was a good match for the occassion...As a Jack Davis Tea Party candidate supporter I believe Ian Murphy the green Party candidate sould be welcomed at any forum, debate or public event with the other candidates...I do however draw the line on another one of Rus Thompson's convaluted explanations of why he should be the one to define who is a serious candidate and who isn't, I'm sure Ms. Corwin can explain to him in terms that even he understands that a candidates forum is for the public to hear from candidates who are actually on the ballot....well almost sure she can explain it to Mr. Thompson.

Apr 10, 2011, 3:43pm Permalink
Charlie Mallow

Edmund, the "Tea Party" is a faction of the Republican Party. Jack stole the name and wrote it on the top of his petitions. It's that simple, he doesn't represent the "Tea Party". The Tea Party isn't an official party and Jack is being disingenuous using the name. Jack is running as an independent and chose to use the name of a movement. The Republican party owns the name and the movement. The Republicans can invite anyone they want to their event.

Apr 10, 2011, 8:01pm Permalink
George Richardson

Charlie, most Republicans want to pretend that the Tea Party has nothing to do with them. They want the votes without the Cooties. Reality doesn't work like that, for more than two years or so. Tick, tick, tick.

Apr 10, 2011, 8:39pm Permalink
George Richardson

I'm starting the "Pee Tardy" for those like me who wet themselves a little bit before getting up from their computers. My motto is: "If you don't care that's good, because I still do."

Apr 10, 2011, 8:44pm Permalink
Ed Gentner

That was a bit more than anyone needed to know George...have you considered adult depends? Or was that are we considered adults depnds? In either case Jack Davis is on the TEA PARTY line which seems to upset Republicans as well as Democrats. Given that niether party has been responsive to what people actually voted for I believe it is time for a change....Say what you will about Jack Davis he will be an independent voice who can't be bought.

Apr 10, 2011, 9:32pm Permalink
George Richardson

Ed, I'm having fun. I pee in closets most of the time, no need to sweat it. Jack has no chance, but Ian Murphy does. Have I thought about Depends? My handlers say: "It Depends, will it get you the incontinent vote, will they contribute to your campaign?" I think it just might and they just might too. Vote for Ian Murphy, a guy I can relate to. But I love you also, because I know Jesus won't let you not love me back, even if you hate it, and I don't think you do. Ian Murphy, a real voice for the 26th District of New York. WNY rules! I belivia in Batavia almost every dayvia, except when the manic shifts to depressive, that sucks.

Apr 10, 2011, 10:04pm Permalink
Charlie Mallow

Edmund, you know very well, there is no Tea Party line. When you pass an independent petition you can call your party anything you want. Most people pick a name that isn't associated with a real party or movement unless of course they are attepting to scam people. Jack isn't the "Tea Party" candidate. He calls himself that name because he is attempting to pull the wool over peoples eyes. Everyone knows, Democrats, Republicans, and Greens, that the Tea Party candidate is the Republican nominee.

But, to end the night on a positive note, I'll agree with you. Jack Davis would be an independent. He won't speak for anyone but, Jack. That's of course because, he doesn't give a shit about anyone else.

Apr 10, 2011, 10:09pm Permalink
George Richardson

Ian Murphy says: "Vote for Jack Davis, he hates you." The Irish stole my heart when I met the fiestiest woman in the world thirty eight years ago and she hasn't dumped my sorry ass yet. Plus she makes good money and treats me like a human being. I'm not sure why, but I like that.

Apr 10, 2011, 10:19pm Permalink

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