(NY) Ads hit Reynolds(R) on ethics issue (his support of Tom Delay)

[Robbien]

WASHINGTON - Using congressional ethics and Social Security as wedge issues, labor and allied Democratic groups are turning up the heat on Rep. Thomas M. Reynolds in a run-up to next year's midterm congressional elections. A progressive organization, Campaign for America's Future, began targeting the Clarence Republican in TV ads Thursday for his support of embattled House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

. . .

The ads call on Reynolds, once considered invulnerable, to repudiate DeLay, who has reshaped the House Ethics Committee to protect himself against potential campaign fraud charges brought by a Texas prosecutor. "Tom DeLay is a national embarrassment. He should resign his leadership position, if not his office," says a narrator in the 30-second ads being run in DeLay's and Reynolds' districts.

In addition, on Wednesday night, an affiliate of Working Families demanded Reynolds "come clean" on his position on President Bush's proposal to privatize Social Security. Working Families endorsed Reynolds' 2004 congressional opponent, Akron industrialist Jack Davis. The group, New Yorkers United to Protect Social Security, at a meeting in Amherst, echoed a similar demand made recently on Reynolds by the New York State Democratic Committee.

. . .

Reynolds issued a statement last week that voices interest in private accounts but insisted he is only "keeping an open mind" on the question.

While making his first run for public office, Davis, a Republican turned Democrat, cut Reynolds' majority last year to 55 percent from 74 percent in 2002 in a heavily Republican district. Davis has said he is considering another challenge to Reynolds and has met here with House Democratic leaders.

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20050403/1070893.asp

[oneighty]

1. Good

I hope Davis can prevail. Even though he is a turncoat.

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