So this has probably been the most vicious, most negative, most heated campaign season I’ve ever had the displeasure to witness. Nonstop mudslinging and shit talking, 99.9 percent of it utter nonsense. From tools debating their commitment to Jesus to Linda McMahon piling on the vile to Rand Paul’s Kentucky opponent drudging up from college, it’s been one enormous, sizzling ugly stew.
Which is why I have such appreciation for Amy Paulin.
Amy is my representative in the New York State Assembly. Has been ever since I moved here. Although we’ve chatted a couple of times via Facebook, we’ve never met. But I agree with most of her stances, and she’s univerally regarded as responsive and genuine. Not much more one can ask for.
Earlier today I received two of those annoying election postcards—one from Amy, one from Amy’s opponent, Rene Atayan. Atop Amy’s, in large writing, are the words: AMY PAULIN GETS IT DONE! There are three examples of her helping people, and a reminder to vote on November 2. That’s it. Nary a single angry word.
Though there are no words atop Rene’s, the largest text is reserved for this: ALBANY POLITICISN AMY PAULIN VOTED 312 TIMES TO INCREASE TAXES AND FEES BY $1.8 BILLION! AMY PAULIN IS A RUBBER STAMP FOR OUT OF CONTROL SPENDING AND TAX HIKES! WE DESERVE BETTER …
To begin with, “out of control” should be “out-of-control.” But that’s kicking puppies. What drives me crazy—crazy—is the inane, is-used-every-four-years line of “[X] voted to increase taxes [X] times!” It’s just so lame and meaningless, because unless one knows what, exactly the votes were for, it holds no weight. What this Rene person is banking on is people being dumb enough to say, “What!? A whole 312 times!?!? No way!!” I suppose it works occasionally, when people have frozen their brains and believe everything they hear.
Luckily, Paulin’s gonna win in a romp.
PS: This from a recent Patch article: Atayan said that Paulin, while “certainly not lacking in work ethic,” has voted in step with Silver and failed to watch out for the interests of residents in the 88th Congressional District, which includes Bronxville, Eastchester, Pelham, Scarsdale and parts of New Rochelle and White Plains. She also said the Assemblywoman has voted to raise taxes 312 times. Paulin called the criticisms “political rhetoric,” and said Atayan’s claims were taken out of context. She voted with Silver so often, she said, because bills are generally only sent to the floor for a vote if they are guaranteed to pass by a wide margin. “If you looked at how many times the [Republican] minority leader and I voted together, that…would be in the high 90 percent as well,” she said. “Most people vote for most bills most of the time.”
