New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Shouldn't Be a 'Shoo-in'

A Contributor Perspective: 2010 United States Senate Race in New York

MJ Stevenson
NEW YORK - This fall Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) is up for election, not re-election because she was not elected. When President Barack Obama chose former New York Senator Hillary Clinton to be his Secretary of State, New York Governor David Paterson selected then Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand to fill Clinton's Senate seat. There is a special election this year to determine who will serve the remainder of Secretary Clinton's Senate term which expires in January 2013. The people of the state of New York have had a trial period with Kirsten Gillibrand as their junior Senator and they now have the choice of whether or not to renew their subscription.

As a Congresswoman, Gillibrand was a "Blue Dog" Democrat; meaning that she was somewhat conservative and leaned right on issues such as gun rights and immigration. Since becoming New York Senator, she has made a hard left turn, falling in lockstep with Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) in support of Barack Obama's big government leftist agenda. When defunding scandal plagued ACORN came up for a vote, Kirsten Gillibrand was one of only seven Senators who voted against the measure. Senator Gillibrand has also reversed her positions on same sex marriage, immigration and gun control.

The mainstream media, predictably, is portraying Senator Gillibrand as a "shoo-in" to continue on in her current job, and has virtually neglected the fact that she is not running unopposed in the general election or the Democratic primary. Previous possible Democratic contenders who had sought to run against Gillibrand have been muscled out of the competition by party bigs, but one brave woman, Gail Goode, has risen to the challenge. Ms. Goode is a lawyer who has worked in public service for nearly a quarter of a century. This September 14, New York's registered Democrat voters will make the choice to enable a serial flip-flopper who swings right and left based on which way popular political winds blow or to give a woman with a proven record of standing for her beliefs the opportunity to represent them.

If Gillibrand wins the Democratic primary, she will have to compete in the general election against one of the tree candidates vying for the GOP line on the ballot. The New York Republican primary on September 14 will determine whether David Malpass, Joe DioGuardi or Bruce Blakeman run against Kirsten Gillibrand.

Whether Conservative or Liberal, Democrat or Republican, New York voters who do their homework will not let the media dictate who their junior Senator will be. New York voters should choose a person who is interested in serving New Yorkers' best interests and who is willing to stand up, unwavering, for their principles rather than someone who will just go along with whatever serves their own political gain at any given time. Kirsten Gillibrand has proven herself to not be that person; the people of the state of New York would do well to choose someone else for the job.

Sources:
"Kirsten Gillibrand Stands for nothing", NY Post
Dick Morris and Eileen McGann, "Chameleon on plaid", NY Post
Matthew Vadum, "Ex-Moderate Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) Embraces Communist Van Jones", Big Government
Mary Alice Miller, "MSM Silent on NY Democratic Challenger for U.S. Senate", Room Eight New York Politics
"NY Senate GOP hopefuls debate, bash Gillibrand", The Wall Street Journal

Published by MJ Stevenson

MJ is a political blogger, freelance writer, wife and mother living in New York State's Hudson Valley region.   View profile

  • The mainstream media, predictably, is portraying Senator Gillibrand as a "shoo-in".
  • Gail Goode is running against Kirsten Gillibrand in the Democratic primary.
  • The trial subscription that is Kirsten Gillibrand should not be renewed.
The mainstream media, predictably, is portraying Senator Gillibrand as a "shoo-in" to continue on in her current job, and has virtually neglected the fact that she is not running unopposed in the general election or the Democratic primary.

6 Comments

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  • MJ Stevenson 9/7/2010

    After the September 14 primaries, hopefully we will see at least one debate before election day.

  • Lee 9/7/2010

    I personally would love to see a tea party candidate attempt to debate the very capable Ms. Gillibrand. She's working to bring jobs to New York State and the farmers love her for her interest in their behalf.

  • Donald Rothra 9/4/2010

    Great report and I agree with Kim Weninger.

  • Kim Weninger 9/4/2010

    Well put! I think this article is an important part of letting the democrats and republicans know that people are watching...and learning from the mistakes of this presidency. I just hope it's not too late in your state to get someone responsible there! Good reporting!

  • Jack P. 9/3/2010

    I expected better things from Gillibrand and as you so nicely wrote, thought that she fell flat on her face. I have the impression that she has become a slave girl to one of the worst politicians of our time: Chuck Schumer.

    I think that Gillibrand's turnabout is because Schumer tells her what to do and she salutes and says, "Yes, Sir."

    Gillibrand has become a Schumer clone, which is the last thing that New York needs.

  • Peg C. 9/3/2010

    Gillibrand is a Schmucky Mini-Me and she does as she's told by him, thus her hard-left turn. He's destroying NY and she's his junior partner-in-crime. She NEEDS to get the boot (just as he does!).

    I wonder if more than 1% of the state has even heard of Gail Goode. All Tea Partiers know about Malpass and Dioguardi and most of our groups have met, heard and vetted them. (None of us has met or heard Blakeman, to my knowledge, nor is he courting Tea Partiers or I'd know about it.) If the energy remains mostly with Tea Partiers and conservatives going into the Nov. election, things could get interesting indeed.

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