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Corwin goes on attack even before opponent is announced

By Howard B. Owens

Let the mudslinging begin -- Assemblywoman Jane Corwin, the handpicked GOP candidate to replace ex-Rep Chris Lee, issued a press release this afternoon slamming her future Democratic opponent as a Nancy Pelosi lackey, even before the Democrats have started to interview candidates.

Full press release:

Statement from Matthew Harakal, communications director for Jane Corwin for Congress, regarding the list of Democratic candidates announced today:

“Jane Corwin has spent more than 30 years in the private sector creating jobs in Western New York, and if given the honor to be the next Representative for New York’s 26th Congressional District will lead the fight to reduce spending, cut taxes, and strengthen our economy for both the short- and long-term.

“The reality is that whoever Washington Democrats tell their local members to select, the Democrat candidate will be the handpicked choice of Nancy Pelosi and be another reliable vote to raise taxes to push her borrow-and-spend, big government agenda. That’s just a fact.”

Earlier today, local Democratic county chairs announced the names of seven people vying for their party's nod on the March 24 ballot.

Jeff Allen

I hope the first thing Corwin does is dump this guy as Communications Director. What a stupid statement. The Nancy Pelosi yes-person slant is dumb and how does a freshman, mid-term, late-comer lead any fight?

Mar 9, 2011, 6:20pm Permalink
James Renfrew

If anyone is a "lackey" it appears to be Corwin for mouthing the talking points of her handlers without even noticing that no candidate has been named yet by the Democrats. Independence? Good Judgment? Common sense? Not demonstrated here.

Mar 9, 2011, 10:46pm Permalink
bud prevost

Michele Bachman would be proud.

Another good point for public campaign financing...how many millionaires have run for public office around here in the last decade? Chris Lee, Jack Davis, Carl Paladino, Andrew Cuomo? Now this woman. How does an average citizen have any chance against such deep pockets?

Mar 10, 2011, 7:43am Permalink
John Roach

Bud,
The answer is both yes and no. If you jump in at the top (Governor, Congress, etc.) then you better have very deep pockets.

But if you are willing to starting off at the lower end (Town Boards, School Boards, City Council, etc.), then the average person can run. And if you win, you can work your way up the political ladder. If people like you, they will give you money to run.

Mar 10, 2011, 8:00am Permalink
bud prevost

Exactly my point John. Government should be of the people, all people, not just rich folks. This woman is going to attempt to buy this seat.

Mar 10, 2011, 9:15am Permalink
Chris Charvella

Pelosi isn't even a member of the majority party in Washington anymore. Republicans need to find a new enemy, the old one is getting boring.

Corwin's acting like a hack, her campaign manager is a hack and Republican County Chairs are parroting this nonsense talking point wherever they can find an audience.

Yesterday, Corwin's new campaign manager erased a bunch of posts from Twitter because he was praised for supporting high speed rail That's right, I said he was praised, but reminded that HSP was a stimulus program that his candidate was supposed to hate. Away go the Tweets.

Here's the whole story on that, it's fairly amusing.

http://wnymedia.net/buffalopundit/2011/03/ny-26-called-for-may-24th/

Mar 10, 2011, 9:18am Permalink
Chris Charvella

Wow, that was asinine. Other than attempting to let the Bush tax cuts expire, I'm not sure I've heard his name in six months. I certainly haven't mentioned it. We're also not calling Corwin 'Bush's choice' for congress, because that would be stupid.

Mar 10, 2011, 10:09am Permalink
John Roach

Chris,
It seems your national Dems didn't get you memo. But even at that, even they ran against him in last Novembers election. Just wanted to point out how memories have a why of fading when convenient.

By the way, they are the Obama cuts now (Bush is gone).

Mar 10, 2011, 10:18am Permalink
Chris Charvella

I'm not concerned with the national Dems.

Anyway, if you want to get silly about it, Republicans are still running with Reagan and against Clinton. Time to find a new hobby.

All of that is irrelevant anyway, because no Democrat is making ridiculous accusations about John Boehner picking candidates for congressional elections because, like I said before, that would be stupid.

I'll remind everyone of the actual process here: Each County Chair in the district has a weighted vote. Nancy Pelosi has zero votes. I don't speak for the chairs, but I'm fairly sure not a single one of them has gotten a phone call from the ex-Speaker.

Mar 10, 2011, 10:25am Permalink
John Roach

Chris,
Let's see if you'll go out on a limb. Who, of the announced Dems is you favorite (if you had a vote)

While I think it will still be Kathy Hockul (she is rich), I hope they pick Satish Mohan. I think he'd be better than Hockul or Corwin and he did a good job as Amherst Town Supervisor.

Mar 10, 2011, 10:38am Permalink
Chris Charvella

The only listed candidate I've ever met in person is Kathy Hochul so I don't really have an opinion on any of them.

My preference would have been Mark Poloncarz had he chosen to throw his name in. I've known Mark for a few years and he is an outstanding person and public servant.

Kathy Hochul is an extremely popular County Clerk. She won 80% of the vote in her last election and that's a number you have to take very seriously when you're trying to win a tough congressional seat.

Some people whose opinions I respect have an affinity for Mark Manna. So I'd say he's worth a look.

I know the Democratic County Chairs, they are thoughtful, dedicated people. They will take this interview process seriously and come out of it with the best candidate.

Mar 10, 2011, 11:18am Permalink
Chris Charvella

By the way, you used the term 'rich' to describe Hochul, which may be true, but not specific. She is not 'rich' like Corwin who can self-fund her campaign. None of the Dem candidates are.

Mar 10, 2011, 11:21am Permalink
M. Gary Guiste

Mud slinging is not natural for this GOP candidate.

All that has really happened, is we replaced one self-funded candidate for another. In this case, we are hoping to GOD that she can just do her job until redistricting.

I do not understand why Erie County holds so much sway over Genesee County on both sides of the Isle.

The breadbasket of the 26th is right here in the GLOW region.

For one, I can not wait for the redistricting and the ensuing primary season after that.

I look forward to getting involved locally and finding out what this is all about and stepping up to serve when called upon.

As a newer member to the over 40 club-it is my demographic that needs to be spoken to. It is this generation that is bearing the weight of the past ills of poor governmental oversight and it it this generation that will have to give the bad news to the next about how they will be boned out of their American Dream as well...

Mar 10, 2011, 11:55am Permalink
C. M. Barons

John, I'm curious- just what are you, politically? I don't mean philosophically; I've read your opinions and know where your boat is anchored (beached). I mean organizationally; which party do you work FOR? I thought you were a Democrat, but when you refer to the Democratic Party you hold it at arm's length as if it were begrudged, out-of-town relatives. Would you call yourself a fair-weather Democrat? ...An opportunist? ...Saboteur? ...Mole?

Mar 10, 2011, 1:54pm Permalink
John Roach

CM,
I don't "work" for any party, as you seem to do.

I am a registered Conservative and have supported both Democrats and Republicans for local elections, as I will this year.

Mar 10, 2011, 3:56pm Permalink
Daniel Jones

C.M. - John is a conservative ideologically as well as being a member of the Conservative party. He and I disagree on many issues and we make no qualm about having those disagreements, he and I have publicly debated on those disagreements on this forum. That being said, John's agenda has always been government transparency, accountability and being against corruption. He and I have supported the same candidates in the past on a local level because I share those aims with him. He has aggravated the establishments of both parties because he is more for good governance rather than a party line, as he said, he has supported Democrats and Republicans in the past. I am a Democrat, I am proud of it and I support my party but that doesn't mean that John and I don't have some of the same ideas and priorities.

I also know that he is one of the hardest campaigners you will ever meet and is fiercely loyal to his friends (whom I have seen him defend with vigor). Much like you with your write-in campaigns, John has fought uphill battles as a third party candidate to take on the status quo. He has my respect and whatever party he is in is irrelevant in that regard.

I also count him as one of my friends. I can tell you this, if I'm in the fight of my life, John Roach is one of the people I want in my foxhole with me.

Mar 10, 2011, 4:40pm Permalink
Charlie Mallow

CM, John is one of those swing votes that party types are always looking to woo. He doesn't represent a party and even a five minute conversation with him would lead you understand that. John believes what he believes and he doesn't take marching orders from anyone. He became a Democrat because, I asked him for help.

Mar 10, 2011, 4:42pm Permalink
John Roach

CM,
Charlie is referring to my very short term enrollment with the Dems. Charlie asked that I do that to help him with getting legal signatures for what might have been his race for a 2nd term on City Council. There was good reason to think the City party leadership would not help him. I also did it to help Rose Mary Christian who was going to have the same problem.

Mar 10, 2011, 5:03pm Permalink
Mark Janofsky

"Jane Corwin has spent more than 30 years in the private sector creating jobs in Western New York"

Mr. Harakal: Can you expand on this? I'd like to know how a teenager creates jobs delivering phone books.

Mar 10, 2011, 9:12pm Permalink

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