October 21st, 2006 10:08 pm
No-show McCain phones in
Arizona senator skips Reynolds fundraiser, citing relative's illness
By Joseph Spector / Democrat & Chronicle
(October 21, 2006) ?- The banner read, "Congressman Tom Reynolds Welcomes Sen. John McCain."
It looked nice. The problem was McCain was not there to receive the welcome.
Because the Arizona senator's mother-in-law is "gravely ill," McCain cancelled a planned fundraising event Friday with the embattled Reynolds in Rochester. McCain spoke to the 350 attendees by telephone for about 15 minutes, discussing national policies and the need to re-elect Reynolds.
Democrats "believe that if they could beat him, then it's much larger than just one congressional district, because he's one of the foremost leaders of our party in the Congress," McCain said of Reynolds over speakers in a banquet room at the Clarion Riverside Hotel.
Democrats have been knocking Reynolds after McCain, a leading Republican candidate for president in 2008, last week canceled visits to Buffalo that were initially scheduled as part of Friday's swing through western New York. Democrats questioned whether McCain wanted to be seen with Reynolds, who has been embroiled in the sex scandal involving former Rep. Mark Foley. McCain has called for an independent investigation of the House page scandal.
But aides insisted Friday's cancellation was legitimate. Presidential political strategist Karl Rove was to take the place of McCain at the Erie County Republican events later Friday.
McCain repeatedly said how sorry he was for missing the event, saying his mother-in-law was recently placed in hospice. And he heaped praise on Reynolds, calling him a proven leader and "one of the most respected men that I know."
Reynolds, chairman of the GOP Congressional Campaign Committee, is in a fierce battle to retain his seat in the 26th Congressional District against Democrat Jack Davis. The district runs from Buffalo to Greece.
A rematch from two years ago, the race turned on Reynolds after his role in the Foley scandal garnered national headlines.
As head of the GOP fundraising arm in the House, Reynolds said he was notified last spring about "overly friendly" e-mails sent by Foley to an underage male congressional page. Reynolds said he told his boss, House Speaker Dennis Hastert, about it; Hastert has said he didn't remember the conversation.
Still, Reynolds admits that he had encouraged Foley to seek re-election this year until he found out about more sexually explicit electronic messages sent by Foley. When he learned of the e-mails in September through the media, Reynolds said he forced the Florida Republican to resign.
While Reynolds is running television ads defending his position, he made no mention of the issue during a fiery speech to supporters at the fundraiser. He left the event through a back door, avoiding reporters waiting to interview him.
During the speech, Reynolds banged the podium and told the crowd, "I have a great record. I need you to help me sell it. And together I promise you we are going to win on Election Day."
He also took shots at Davis, claiming Davis wants to cut off U.S. borders to trade and raise the age eligibility for Social Security benefits. Reynolds has been running television ads chiding Davis over the issues.
Davis said he is starting to run new ads to combat Reynolds' allegations and counter prior statements where Davis said he would raise the Social Security eligibility age. He said Friday he would not change Social Security benefits.
State and Monroe County GOP boss Stephen Minarik charged that special interests outside the district are trying to force Reynolds out ?- even though the Republican National Committee recently began airing ads attacking Davis.
McCain, who sought the GOP nomination for president in 2000, has been stumping across the country for Republican candidates in the mid-term elections. Some attendees said they were disappointed that McCain canceled but understood it was a personal issue. And they urged that Reynolds be re-elected.
Reynolds has "done a terrific job for the county of Monroe," said Jean Rivoli, head of the town of Ogden GOP, adding that "Democrats are just as scandalous ?- or more so."
For all interested in having some political fun, go to the link below, and pass the information along to others who might be interested.
http://www.able2know.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=2332041#2332041
Somebody else can manage the team because I really don't want to do it.
IN case you haven't heard, vote fraud will run rampant in this election.
If the Dems win control of Congress the world will surely end. Those republican controlled machines are going to produce the miracles needed to keep those thugs in control.
Of course there is the usual purging blacks from the voter rolls and letters being sent that tell them to vote on the wrong day and other nasty tricks.
Our only hope is if some of the corporate masters are sick of republican corruption, lies, cheating, blackmailing, stealing & hyprocisy.
mysteryman wrote:
I think that the finger pointing and the name calling that will go on will eventually split the dem party.
Here, in Massachusetts, its the Republicans who are name calling, just like they do on these threads.
Power of encumbacy? Like the power GHWB had?
Madison32 wrote:Mr. Blatham presents one of the most persuasive and brilliant analyses of the fact that the Republicans are doomed to lose both Houses in November. Certainly, the Democrats should hire Mr. Blatham as an analyst as soon as possible. His combination of links shows a truly impressive intellect at work.
Yet another bernagatto persona.
Magginkat wrote:IN case you haven't heard, vote fraud will run rampant in this election.
If the Dems win control of Congress the world will surely end. Those republican controlled machines are going to produce the miracles needed to keep those thugs in control.
Of course there is the usual purging blacks from the voter rolls and letters being sent that tell them to vote on the wrong day and other nasty tricks.
Our only hope is if some of the corporate masters are sick of republican corruption, lies, cheating, blackmailing, stealing & hyprocisy.
The prospect of their cheating, and the smug looks on Bush and Rove lately, scare me.
But I will hope that enough votes get through to get us the House and restore a little sanity.
I wonder, will Plainoldme dress like a pot or a kettle for halloween this year?
1. The GOP Will Hang On
2. Cover Story -- Part II
3. Enjoy the Ride
4. Interview -- Part II
5. Strike Up the Band
FREE PREVIEW
Survivor!
By Jim McTague-Barron's
JUBILANT DEMOCRATS SHOULD RECONSIDER their order for confetti and noisemakers. The Democrats, as widely reported, are expecting GOP-weary voters to flock to the polls in two weeks and hand them control of the House for the first time in 12 years -- and perhaps the Senate, as well. Even some Republicans privately confess that they are anticipating the election-day equivalent of Little Big Horn. Pardon our hubris, but we just don't see it.
Our analysis -- based on a race-by-race examination of campaign-finance data -- suggests that the GOP will hang on to both chambers, at least nominally.
McGentrix wrote:I wonder, will Plainoldme dress like a pot or a kettle for halloween this year?
And will you dress like a puddle of sewer water?
Workers for Republican gubernatorial candidate Healey appeared at the home of her Democratic rival, Deval Patrick, and at the home of his campaign manager, dressed in prison garb, chanting about letting rapists roam the streets.
Typical republican stunt.
difference between a midget magician and a republican going for election?
A midget magician is a cunning runt....
plainoldme wrote:McGentrix wrote:I wonder, will Plainoldme dress like a pot or a kettle for halloween this year?
And will you dress like a puddle of sewer water?
Like your favorite beverage? Perhaps, perhaps not.
Hey guys, can we not get this thread locked?
snood wrote:Hey guys, can we not get this thread locked?
I'll second that. And as the author of the thread, I should have some say in the matter.
Snood, are you one of those crybabies?
Good grief...... with all the filth and vile produced by the republicans in the past few years, what do you expect?
Good morning, Maggincat, how are you this fine Autumn day?
RCP SENATE RATINGS--REAL CLEAR POLITICS
Dems Need Six For Control
RCP Avgs Project: Dems + 4
---------------------------------
TOSS UPS
MO: Talent (R) | Chart
MT: Burns (R) | Chart
NJ: Menendez (D) | Chart
TN: Open (R) | Chart
VA: Allen (R) | Chart
LEANS DEMOCRAT
MD: Open (D) | Chart
MI: Stabenow (D) | Chart
OH: DeWine (R) | Chart
PA: Santorum (R) | Chart
RI: Chafee (R) | Chart
LEANS REPUBLICAN
AZ: Kyl (R) | Chart
LIKELY DEMOCRAT
MN: Open (D) | Chart
WA: Cantwell (D) | Chart
LIKELY LIEBERMAN
CT: Lieberman (
snood, old chum
I respectfully enjoin you to completely ignore the previous poster. Don't bother reading (after all, why?) and continue discussion as if he hadn't appeared at all.
