Weiner Seat Goes Republican in a Landslide Win By Bob Turner

Hey, Mr. President, are you paying attention yet? Your constituency is telling you something _ no, correct that _ they are screaming for your attention, Mr. President.

Democratic state Assemblyman David Weprin  was supposed win New York’s 9th district seat which was vacated by the resignation of Anthony Weiner earlier this year. Turner, a political novice, didn’t just win; he annihilated (54 to 46%) Werpin in a district where three-fourths of the registered voter are registered as Democrats. This mostly white working  class district has been in Democrat hands since 1923. HOW BIG IS THAT!

There can be no question about it. This was an absolute repudiation of Obama and his policies. The voters of New Yorks 9th district are saying they have had enough.

But, it may not be so much Obama’s spending policies that were rejected as it was his policies concerning issues important to Orthodox Jews. Here are some snips from a Fox News article:

Weprin, a 56-year-old Orthodox Jew and member of a prominent Queens political  family, seemed a good fit for the largely white, working-class district, which  is nearly 40 percent Jewish.

Weprin became embroiled in New York-centric disputes  over Israel and gay marriage, which cost him some support among Jewish  voters.

Orthodox Jews, who tend to be conservative on social  issues, expressed anger over Weprin’s vote in the Assembly to legalize gay  marriage. In July, New York became one of six states to recognize same-sex  nuptials.

And from The Atlantic we learn this:

 One of the major issues in the race was U.S. policy  towards Israel. Weprin, a former city councilman from a prominent  Queens political family, repeatedly came under attack for President  Obama’s Mideast policy, and in particular Obama’s call in May for  negotiations over Israel to use the country’s pre-1967 boundaries as a  starting point. The so-called Ground Zero Mosque also made an  appearance in the race, with Turner framing  Weprin as a supporter — even though Weprin has advocated moving the  building  to a place “less offensive to 9/11 families.”

So, we have a congressional district where the Democrats have 3 to 1 margin and where the Democrats have controlled the seat for 88 years and where the population is 40% Jewish and they elect Republican Catholic by a 10% spread. That my friends is awesome! All I can say is God bless America!

From the Washington Post, it is more of the same:

Republicans sought to turn the race into a referendum on President Obama, tying Weprin to the surprisingly unpopular commander-in-chief at every turn. (Obama’s approval rating was at 43 percent in the district, according to a survey conducted by Siena Research Institute).

Obama’s position on Israel became, fairly or not, an effective wedge against Weprin. The Democratic candidate tried to distance himself from Obama’s assertion that Israel should return to its pre-1967 borders but Turner effectively linked that position, deeply unpopular in the district’s Jewish community, to his Democratic rival.

Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, a Democrat, endorsed Turner and explained that a victory by the Republican would be the best way for Democrats to send a message to the President.

Bottom line, this old man is one happy camper today. I’ll leave others to post on today’s bad news. I want to thank the voters of New York’s 9th district for helping to renew my faith in my fellow countrymen.

Well, that’s what I’m thinking. What are your thoughts?

 

Tagged: Anthony Weiner, Bob Turner Wins, David Weprin Loses, Democrats, New York's 9th Congressional District, Republicans, Repudiation of Obama

Posted in: Republicans win Weiner's Congressional Seat