NYT profile of anti-war Democrat Jonathan Tasini - opposing Clinton in NY

[Stephanie]

This profile is good but I don't like the headline. Tasini's campaign is not "anti-Clinton," it is PRO-progressive Democratic values. She may be running for president, but New York is electing a Senator, and we deserve someone who represents us and our beliefs. Why should she just be handed a second term without having to answer for her stand on the issues?

His website:
http://www.tasinifornewyork.org/

A Democratic Bid That's Anti-Clinton All the Time

By RAYMOND HERNANDEZ
Published: June 26, 2006

With his glasses, balding head and leprechaunish smile, Jonathan Tasini doesn't look like a political threat to anyone. But he has become a thorn in Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's side as she seeks a commanding re-election victory this year to provide momentum for a possible presidential run in 2008.

***


"I am convinced that the majority of Democratic primary voters agree with me," he said the other day as he waded through the noontime crowd in Bryant Park collecting signatures. "And if this race were not about name recognition, celebrity and her $25 million in campaign contributions, I would win."

Political analysts say Mr. Tasini embodies the frustration that is building on the left toward more mainstream Democrats like Mrs. Clinton. In her case, a strong showing by Mr. Tasini could foreshadow the challenges she might face in 2008 with Democratic presidential primary voters, who tend to be more liberal than the Democratic electorate as a whole.


***

But Mr. Tasini's campaign has, to some measure, become a vehicle for liberals who are disenchanted with Mrs. Clinton on other issues as well, including her support for a ban on flag burning, her support for tougher work requirements for welfare recipients or her attempts to reach out to opponents of abortion.

Recently, Barbara Ehrenreich, the political essayist and author, sent out a fund-raising solicitation on behalf of Mr. Tasini accusing Mrs. Clinton of turning her back on core liberal beliefs. "I know the right sees Clinton as an archliberal, but there is less and less evidence for any liberal inclinations on her part," Ms. Ehrenreich wrote.

***

"He is a symbol," said Yayoi Tsuchitani, explaining why her group, the Village Independent Democrats, voted overwhelmingly to endorse Mr. Tasini. "Hillary has really disappointed her base," she continued. "She has forgotten her New York liberal following and basically abandoned us."

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/26/nyregion/26challenger.html

[Greeby]

1. Go John!

I'd like to see him win, as Hillary is just gonna give up this seat in 08 and the appoitment will be made by a Republican governor. May as well get a real Democrat in there :yourock:

[Stephanie]

2. Help him out if you can

Rupert Murdoch will not be throwing any fundraisers for Jonathan Tasini.

[Greeby]

9. I'm a furriner and I'm on the dole

So I'm unable to help on both counts :(

[Stephanie]

14. well tell your friends

tell everyone you know in the U.S.!

[leftchick]

3. As an ex-NYer

I believe I will contribute to his campaign! Thank you for the link. :)

[Stephanie]

4. He could use it

He's up against a money machine. Read this one:

http://www.kpvi.com/index.cfm?page=nbcheadlines.cfm&ID=34431

[leftchick]

5. nice company she is keeping

she needs to be thrown out along with the rest of the corporatist Democrats....

<snip>

The New York Democrat will speak at a barbecue on July 9th at a ranch owned by businessman Tom O'Gara.

The resort communities of central Idaho are quickly becoming an essential fund-raising stop for the nation's premier candidates.

O'Gara also hosted Vice President Dick Cheney at a fund-raiser for President George W. Bush's re-election campaign.

[im10ashus]

6. I agree.

Taking the middle road has won no favors with me.

K&R!!!

[Stephanie]

8. I really don't get that

Who is this guy and why does he support both Clinton and Cheney?

[leftchick]

16. how about Ruppert Murdoch?

wtf was that about? Hilary has gone to the dark side along with quite a few others.

[november3rd]

32. This was precious ...

A little http://www.kpvi.com/index.cfm?page=nbcheadlines.cfm&ID=34431">description of Hillary's host in Idaho.

O'Gara also hosted Vice President Dick Cheney at a fund-raiser for President George W. Bush's re-election campaign.

[leftchick]

7. Everyone should visit his website!

It is very well done. Here is his entry from today...

<snip>

If you are visiting here today because of The New York Times article today, consider this: would you like to vote for a Democrat who actually shares your values and principles? If the answer is "yes," read on (and, then,make a donation to our campaign to offset our opponent's support from Rupert Murdoch).

I have been opposed to the immoral and illegal Iraq war from the beginning. Hillary Clinton voted for the war and, as Bob Herbert previously wrote in The New York Times, "you still need a magnifying glass to locate the differences between Mrs. Clinton and the Bush administration on the war."

I am for single-payer health insurance ("Medicare For All"). My opponent has never supported single-payer health insurance because that would mean having the spine to stand up to the drug and insurance industries.

I support fair trade and have always opposed so-called "free trade." Hillary Clinton still says NAFTA was a good thing and supports trade agreements that will send good-paying jobs abroad.

[Stephanie]

10. Better photo from the Times story >

Well, bigger...

[im10ashus]

11. Did you get pictures from the Gay Pride Parade yesterday?

Of course the press talked about Clinton and Schumer and had pictures of them.

[MamaBear]

12. Go Jon!

How's he doing on signature collection? He needs 30,000, right?

Happy to K&R.

[Stephanie]

13. 15,000 to get on the ballot, 30,000 realistically, 45,000 to be safe

Yikes!

[leftchick]

15. Give a few bucks if you can!

https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/tasini-private

I am very excited about this. :)

[DistressedAmerican]

17. THAT'S MY BOY! READ EM AND WEEP WAR HAWK!

:applause:

[Stephanie]

18. why don't people know that about her?

it's baffling

[faithnotgreed]

19. kick

[readmoreoften]

20. TASINI IS AN AMAZING MAN!!!!

I cannot wait to vote for him. Jon Tasini walked the picket line with us against NYU and even GOT ARRESTED with us. He ACTUALLY CARES about his potential consituency. He has a lot of courage and really represents core progressive values. He is the senator NY should have. I am planning on campaigning for Tasini when I get back to the city. He's the real deal.

[Stephanie]

21. With the grad students union?

How's that going?

[KingFlorez]

22. These people need to go away!

Stop challenging good Democratic senators! There no need to!

[Stephanie]

23. We have elections in this country, not coronations.

There is NO viable Republican challenger to HRC in New York. Whoever wins the Democratic primary will win the election. I want a progressive senator, someone who opposes this illegal, immoral war. There is support for Lamont, for Winograd, for many other progressive challengers to centrist Democratic incumbents. Why shouldn't Hillary Clinton have to explain why she supports the Iraq war. What is WRONG with that? Or should we just give up on the democratic process and let the cool kids in DC decide our elections.

[KingFlorez]

25. She's a good senator, which is what we need

Opportunistic primary challengers are not needed

[Stephanie]

26. That depends on your point of view. I want a progressive senator.

I don't want a senator who votes for the Iraq War Resolution, who refuses to support Kerry's amendment to withdraw the troops, who won't support censure, who sponsors a flag burning amendment, who won't support marriage equality for same sex couples. I am not obliged to sell out my principles for her ambition. That is MY choice, MY vote.

[leftchick]

29. unless you are a corporation

she does not give a fuck about you.

[im10ashus]

30. Ain't it the truth.

Sadly, there are a lot of democrat's with those same priorities. Time to take back the party in the primaries.

[KingFlorez]

33. nonsense

The Repukes hate her, so that must mean she's doing something right

[bobbieinok]

34. they hated her when the Clintons were in Little Rock

The republicans do not like, indeed hate with a deep passion, any woman who has even one independant thought.

The republicans will hate her no matter what she does, how she votes, or what she says. I do not understand why she does not 'get' this. She could do and say things to the right of Rush/Bush/Santorum/etc and the REPUBLICANS WILL ALWAYS HATE HER. She's a woman with her own agenda.

Also I think they hate her b/c she had some sort of job as a young lawyer with some democratic congress people during Watergate.

[im10ashus]

24. Good Democratic Senator's don't stand by * in his illegal invasion.

Time and again Hillary sides with * and refuses to admit her vote was wrong. She NEEDS to be challenged in the primary. What's your problem with that? Should she just be handed the nomination?

[Stephanie]

27. I don't understand why Lamont gets support against Lieberman

But Clinton gets a pass on her votes.

[im10ashus]

28. I'm not sure why either.

The Nation had a good article last week on Hillary's Hypocrisy.

How do you triangulate among death, hypocrisy and stupidity? Not at all logically, which is why Hillary Clinton's dissembling on Iraq has become a fatal embarrassment not only for her but for anyone who hopes she can provide progressive leadership for the nation. If she has still not found the courage to reverse course on this disastrous war, why assume that as President she would behave any differently?

It is unconscionable that those who can accurately measure the true cost of the Iraq folly in wasted lives and resources--more than 2,500 Americans, tens of thousands of Iraqis and hundreds of billions of dollars--dare prefer her to potential 2008 presidential election rivals John Kerry, Al Gore, Russ Feingold and John Edwards, who have all come to speak honestly of this quagmire and our need to extricate ourselves from it.

If your priority is to support an inspiring female candidate to break America's ultimate glass ceiling, why not draft Barbara Boxer? Not electable? Nonsense: The California senator thrashed her conservative GOP opponent in a reelection campaign that shunned the failed strategy of Democratic hacks and instead emphasized principle over opportunism. She proved her political integrity again this past week by voting alongside Kerry and Feingold to set a date for getting out of Iraq.

Not so Senator Clinton, who seems determined to revive the cold war liberalism that gave us the Vietnam War--which, according to Robert McNamara, the brilliant Democratic war architect who later conceded he himself didn't believe in that enterprise, took more than 3 million lives.

cont'd...

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060703/scheer0720

[november3rd]

31. Sign the Petition!!!!!!!

Tasini for Senate.

Yeah, what's up with this anti-Clinton label? Who's Clinton, anyway? She's not from around here!