The Republican spin machine is in over-drive trying to redirect attention away from the real reason a Democrat, Kathy Hochul, defeated the GOP candidate in New York’s 26th congressional district yesterday. Hochul, who won with a 47-43 percent margin, becomes only the fourth Democrat to hold the seat since 1857. Republicans who have previously represented the 26th include Jack Kemp, Bill Paxon and, most recently, Chris “Shirtless” Lee.
The real reason Hochul won — besides the fact that she proved to be an extremely effective campaigner — is, of course, the Kill Medicare provision in the House Republican budget bill:
As the results came in, Eddie Vale, communications director of national the “Protect Your Care” campaign, mused: “Evidently Medicare wasn’t just a winning issue in NY-26 — it came thundering off the top rope with a flying elbow worthy of Randy ‘Macho Man’ Savage.”
“Although the polls have now closed, because of the court order obtained by the Corwin campaign there may not be a winner certified tonight but there already was a clear loser – anyone who supports the Republican budget that ends Medicare. The only reason this race in a red district, that John McCain won, was even competitive was because of the rejection – especially by seniors – of the Republican budget that ends Medicare,” explained Vale. “This is not just our take, it is demonstrated by Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty refusing to clearly say if they will support a plan that even Newt Gingrich called ‘radical’ and ‘right-wing social engineering.’ It is why a growing number of Republican Senators will be voting against it this week. The message the people in NY-26 sent tonight was loud and clear – hands off our Medicare.”
Nothing can stop the GOP noise machine — it was designed to suppress inconvenient truths just like this. And, in fact, Rep. Paul Ryan, author of the Kill Medicare bill, was on MSNBC’s three-hour right-wing snoozefest “Morning Joe” this morning, doing what Republicans do best: Blaming Democrats for the problems they create.
With a straight face and looking into the camera, Ryan complained that Democrats won in NY26 because they used “scare tactics” against seniors.
In reality, of course, it was the Kill Medicare bill — not Democrats — that scared seniors and younger middle aged voters into voting for Rep.-elect Hochul.
