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Republicans are up to their old tricks again – non-aggression pacts to be exact. These are deals Republicans make with Democrats to keep incumbents in office. One has to wonder why Democrats make deals at all, they do run New York State government –some say running into the ground – however Democrats make deals because what is at stake this election cycle is redistricting of election seats.
2010 is the U.S. Census year when federal officials attempt to calculate the number of people residing in America. Analysis provided to state governments gives states like New York the ammunition to redistrict areas that favors officials already in office. Essentially, these officials use the census to further their own political careers, and, since the #1 goal of every politician is to stay in office, redistricting becomes a game of “What will you do for me?”
Making deals with Democrats hurts Republicans
Because Republicans want to lose to sixteen year incumbent Democrat, Elliot Engel, is the only reason (I can think of) why Party leaders in District 17 (includes Rockland, Westchester and Bronx Counties) are NOT supporting Republican Anthony Melé for Congress, over stand-in candidate Republican York Kleinhandler.
Tony Melé’s credentials speak for itself; he is a U.S. Army Veteran with a military, intelligence, security expertise background that is unbeatable. His straightforward and honest approach makes him likeable to the public, the Tea Party, Conservatives and Independents. Melé, dedicated to Republican principles of free market, low taxes and less government, has promised to follow the U.S. Constitution and bring sanity to a broken Republic (a promise Tony takes seriously!).
The sad truth is Republicans who follow along with non-aggression pacts – leverage the people’s vote – and do not represent the people at all. When Republicans in comfy positions with deals already in play, see a candidate like Tony Melé they run, far, far, away because they want an insider that will play along, not Tony Melé, a man of the People, unafraid to fight the good fight.
Inadequacies of York Kleinhandler and the Republican Party
Kleinhandler, for one, is a moderate, socially liberal, act like a Democrat-Republican. That was the first clue that York is a stand-in so that Engel keeps his seat. When voters want to vote for the Democrat they do, they do not need Democrat-lite. For two, Kleinhandler is being sued in Federal Court in Florida for life insurance fraud (cheating from Grandma), and Party leaders act like its “no big deal”.
The third clue was the improper maneuvers the Party effectuated to hand the GOP designation to Kleinhandler. Kudos to Westchester County for attempting to run a fair convention that resulted in a slim win for Kleinhandler, but keep in mind, that win came after three vote counts that had Melé ahead, and in the final and fourth count with mounting pressure, two delegates switched to Kleinhandler affording him the win.
In the Bronx, Melé did not have access to the delegate count and was unable to verify votes, making such count unverifiable, and (in my eyes) fraudulent at worst; in bad faith at best. In Rockland County, things are much worse, County Chair Vincent Reda (is also Vice Chair of the State Party) is on a mission to keep Engel’s seat safe.
Reda gave Melé delegates in Rockland County the wrong date for the convention on purpose so that a designation “win” for Kleinhandler would be forthcoming and a loss for Republicans inevitable. When that was not enough to stop Melé from petitioning primary voters to be placed on the ballot, Reda, of all people, decides to question Melé’s honor (what a joke!).
The convention process has given us our officially designated and endorsed candidates. It is time to put Party before personal ambition and to unite behind all of them as move ahead with the campaign. This is particularly the case in the 17th Congressional District where York Kleinhandler is our official nominee…Joe McLaughlin and Anthony Melé agreed to abide by the will of the party and not run a primary. Mr. McLaughlin has kept his promise. Unfortunately Anthony Melé has broken his word of honor. Do not carry or sign his petition! Support our nominees!!!! Vincent Reda’s letter to Republicans dated June, 2010
Mr. Reda: Where is the honor in making misleading and disingenuous statements while pretending to be the caretaker of truth?
Lessons in Honor
Our opponents would detract from our efforts here today by characterizing us as being motivated by fear of change. They would seek to deceive us with the falsehood of redefining honor to mean yielding to their will and that expressing a difference of opinion is disloyal.
I look around this room and I do not see a people motivated by fear, lacking honor or exhibiting disloyalty. Honor means to do what is right even when no one is looking or will praise you for it.
The difference between loyalty and lemmings are lemmings will blindly follow the lemming in front of them over the cliff into oblivion and loyalty is the one who prevents those behind him from suffering the same fate as the ones in front of him.
It falls to us to remind the political party leadership that we are Republicans, a fiercely independent minded, free people and not the Sopranos. – Anthony Melé, June 27, 2010
Republican voters in District 17 have two options:
1. Help Tony Melé get on the ballot by collecting petitions for him; or
2. Do what Reda says, support party candidates only, and see incumbent Democrat Engel win for the eighth election cycle in a row.
The choice in this election is a cake-walk – Tony Melé for U.S. Congress!
Do you know that even the NYS Hispanic Republicans are not even endorsing Anthony Mele and endorsed the other guy. Mele is definitely the best candidate out there for the 17th district and the best chance for us to win in November.
By Rock on Jun 28, 2010
Hi Rock, Welcome to my blog!
Yes, I am aware that the National Hispanic Republican organization did not endorse Anthony Mele for Congress. I made a personal complaint to the state organization questioning the use of the term “Hispanic” in their title.
I was informed that the organization supports non-Hispanics for office. But, there’s something more at play here. The Bronx chair, Lorraine Lopez, refused to give Anthony Mele an interview saying that her choice of candidates would be the standard-party bearer, York Kleinhandler.
Anthony Mele is exactly the kind of candidate to move Hispanics to the Republican Party, and some Hispanics apparently have another agenda in mind.
By Raquel on Jun 28, 2010
It’s interesting the Reda says that it’s time to put the Party ahead of personal ambition when this is in fact what he is guilty of. Tony continues to be a man of honor. I question Reda’s honor.
By von on Jun 28, 2010
Let’s elect Tony Mele and start to repair what has been lost to back room dealmaking. We need to restore the party back to the conservative principles. No gray areas only stark bold differences between the parties. The Republican committee leaders have lost their way. No more deals with Democrats. Tony Mele can and will stand up for “the people”.
By IT on Jun 28, 2010
What York Kleinhandler does for a living is illegal in 29 states, including New York.
The lawsuit against York started with inquiries made in 2006/2007. It’s been in court since June of 2009.
Why weren’t Republican leaders and committee members warned earlier this year of York’s legal problems?
The following comment was posted on my blog by someone who attended a Kleinhandler event Sunday:
“… All he could do was recite a well rehearsed litany of the blame game. Blame his own brother, blame the victim, blame the court, blame the lawyers, No mention of the cover up that hid these facts from Republican committeman, screeners and everyone else.”
Why weren’t Conservatives and Independence Party members told that York’s predatory business practices had landed him in court?
As of last week, this lawsuit was not settled but what’s unsettling is that Kleinhandler has never apologized for his line of work.
By Bob Fois on Jun 28, 2010
The fact that York is willing to throw his own brother under the bus and blame him, speaks volumes of his character, or shall I say, lack of. This shows he has no allegiance to anyone. His supporters should be taking note of this and coming to their senses to support the one person who has a strong moral compass and can beat Engel, that person is Tony Mele.
By von on Jun 28, 2010
On April 26, 2010, York Kleinhandler submitted an affidavit disavowing the lawsuit.
After ten months of litigation and three years of investigation, York suddenly claimed to have never dealt with the client who sued his company. He claimed that his
“mistaken signature” on the paperwork was a clerical error. He pretended to have nothing to do with the lawsuit and blamed his brother.
Yes … in court, he really blamed his brother.
P.S. — As of a few days ago, the case still named York as a defendant, so neither the judge nor the plaintiff acknowledged the validity of that affidavit.
I’m not saying York Kleinhandler perjured himself in court — but he did try to fib his way out of a civil proceeding with what could be called the Bart Simpson defense.
By Bob Fois on Jun 28, 2010
Bob, after working in human resources for 30 years and 25 of those years in the insurance industry, I would find it hard to believe that the judge will let that fly. Now that he has submitted his affidavit, he will most likely be deposed. He will then be asked to explain what he wrote in the affidavit. This may take at least another year to be resolved. This is not going to simply go away. He should just step aside so we can focus on getting Tony elected to Congress.
By von on Jun 28, 2010
I am so tired of hearing everyone bashing the Republican Party and not doing anything about it! Why doesn’t Tony stop taking this abuse from them and go third party? If the Republicans are too stupid to choose him, he should go third party. Can’t he still get on the ballot without the Republican Party?
By johnnie on Jun 28, 2010
Johnnie, while Tony may not have the support of Party leaders, as long as he gets on the Republican ballot, he will win in a primary race. Primary voters are behind him, that’s all he needs.
By Raquel on Jun 28, 2010
Johnnie: No one is bashing the Republican Party. You mistake a small gang for the party. Tony, we the people and committee – men like me are the party. Tony has stated publicly and repeatedly he is a proud Republican.
I agree when Tony said: “Republicans are fiercely independent minded, free people, not the Sopranos.” He doesn’t have to run on a third line. He will run as a Republican on the Republican line.
Here is the real deal: Vinnie Reda is trying to engineer a nullification between Tony and Kleinhandler to give Eliot Engel an unopposed race. He is trying his hardest to keep them both off the ballot and hand the seat over to Engel. Reda backed democrat Levy over Lazio along with Cox then switched to Lazio, breaking his word of honor to Cox that he would back Levy, until he heard the RNC would not give money to the State Chairman but will give money to the County Chairs to back Lazio. He wants to get his hands on RNC money since he can’t raise a plugged nickel. Its all musical chairs and selections not elections. The money may not be given to the County Chair’s either until after the primary. The RNC just may direct support the candidate without the Chairman.
Look at that shameful rip off in Ramapo over this stadium rubber stamped passed tonight. It has nothing to do with baseball. The Republican chairman Mike Dolan and Joe Brennan were named on some phoney boloney advisory committee. Instead of opposing it; they sold out to the democrats for a pretend make up position.
This will tee off every solid republican property tax payer in ramapo. Is that how we get republicans elected? Only these gangsters can sleeze up baseball and wreck elections the way they have.
Johnnie: If you are so tired of learning the truth stop reading these blogs. You posted on News Copy too. If you are for the Republican party taking back Engel’s seat; then back the only Republican running for the 17th, Tony Mele.
One thing I have always observed of Tony is that he has a keen nose for political analysis and finding out the inside deals. Every thing he had predicted to me has come out 100% all the time.
By exfirefighter on Jun 29, 2010
I’ve said for months that the Republican Party is in the hip pocket of the Dems. Have you seen the Republicans in Congress? Do any of them know what Conservatism is? Tony will bring Conservative values back to Congress, but even the Conservative Party in New York showed their traiterous stripes by endorsing York as the candidate. I heard York at our Tax Day rally. I don’t think he could convince a three year old to eat an ice cream cone. He’s going to convince a judge that he’s innocent? The new Healthcare bill has provisions for killing granny off. Has York invented a new way for Granny to die penniless after Obama’s legislation gives her the job of pushing up daisies?
By Judith Bron on Jun 29, 2010
Read this endorsement letter from Ruben Estrada about Tony Mele. It drives the point home. Tony has two important qualities that Kleinhandler does not have: 1. electability and 2. a motivation to win.
http://www.raquelokyay.com/tony_mele_letter.pdf
Congrats Tony!
By Raquel on Jun 29, 2010
I’m glad to see Bob Fois is finally writing about the “intrigue” in the Tea Party. This is funny since folks are talking that Fois has been funneling “backdoor” campaign money from his Conservative Party folks to his Tea Party puppet Anthony Mele.
Go to opensecrets.org to see how little Mele has raised…yet he still has money to advertise, even on radio. Where is this secret money that Fois is getting for Mele coming from?
Oh, and Mele has still not answered why the Army has no record of his medal for valor.
Look out Tea Party folks, you are being played.
By RGRTHT on Aug 9, 2010