You’ve got to give Joel Tyner credit for gall. His campaign has managed to crank out a misleading, pre-primary robocall blast to Democrats throughout NY-19, in which Tyner says:
“Hi, this is Joel Tyner, a populist, progressive Democratic candidate for Congress in the 19th District, currently in my 5th term in the Dutchess County Legislature. I believe in core Democratic values. Unfortunately, my opponent says the jury is still out on fracking; I know it should be banned. I also stand with Maurice Hinchey, unlike my opponent, for Medicare for all and bringing back FDR’s Glass-Steagall Act to break up the big banks. Vote for me June 26th to be a strong voice for you and not an echo.”
This is blatant overreach (much like Tyner’s entire campaign). In the first place, he is misquoting Julian Schreibman on the fracking issue, by taking a radio interview comment out of context. He has been doing this for quite some time now. Julian Schreibman is against fracking. He knows it threatens our water supplies, and he doesn’t believe it offers economic benefits for New Yorkers. At an event in Catskill this past Sunday, Julian spelled it out: “fracking is bad for New York.”
Tyner is also overreaching by calling for universal Medicare when the health care reform we already have, along with Medicare itself, is under serious attack. And that points out a major distinction between these two candidates.
On the majority of issues, both Tyner and Schreibman are in close agreement. But Tyner is standing on his progressive soapbox as a longtime local legislator, while Schreibman has the organization, the resources, the experience and the political expertise to actually win against Chris Gibson this November.
Thanks for the post, Tom.
I haven’t gotten the call myself but it seems “on message” with the rest of Joel’s emailing. Meanwhile, Julian simply states that he is observing the 11th Commandment “Speak no evil of fellow Democrats” and declines to comment on Joel’s tactics.
Since the positions of both candidates are progressive, we voters will have to take the personal measure of each and consider who has the skills to forge alliances with other Progressives, both locally and in Congress, to actually move legislation forward.
It’s a skill to get the endorsement of all the local, grassroots Democratic, Union and Working Families Party Committees. Julian did it. Joel has chosen to deal with this situation by painting himself as the rebel and only true progressive fighting Blue Dog Party Bosses. While this may appeal to the contrarians among us, I’m not buying it.
I’m voting for Schreibman.
I’m voting for Tyner. Schreibman did a lousy job as Chairman of the Ulster County Democrats, as we lost contol of the County legislature under his leadership. He and his wife, who is also a Democratic Town Chairman, have alienated a lot of rank and file Dem Committeemen with their personal attacks and behind the scene manipulations. I’m not alone in Ulster County on this – anybody but Schreibman, a confirmed political loser.
Of course you’re entitled to your opinion, Wally. But it seems to me the personal attacks in this primary race are coming from the Tyner camp—Schreibman has made it a point not to “go negative”. Also, I’d say “confirmed political loser” has it entirely backwards. Schreibman has endorsements from the party in counties throughout NY-19, whereas Tyner does not.
When does party committee endorsement speak for the rest of the democrats who do not show up to the often secret meeting. Party committee endorsements, while valuable, do not make an election. People do and votes do. Tyner has 20 years of valuable grassroots experience that people are loyal too. He has street cred. Schreibman … while he looks good on paper has no street cred.
Leslie, thanks for your two comments. Regarding the first: “street cred” does not make an election either, particularly in NY-19. We don’t have that many streets, and in the one town that does—Kingston—Schreibman will almost certainly win. As to your second comment (on my “Meet the Clear Choice” post), I don’t regard myself as unduly testy, and I agree that everyone should be open to question. I also agree that good Democrats are not sheep. But, good Democrats should listen to common sense. And common sense says that Schreibman is a much better bet to defeat Gibson than Tyner is.