Letter from Mayor Ed Koch Supporting George Phillips for Congress

Dear Friends:

With less than two weeks to go before the mid-term election, we know this letter -- asking for support for George Phillips for Congress – is coming very late in the day. But we are making this unusual request because this is both a moment of urgency and opportunity.

The urgency is that this is a crucial moment in the U.S.-Israel alliance. Iran is edging ever closer to becoming a nuclear power. If that should come to pass, a grave threat will become an existential threat for the state of Israel. All against the backdrop of an aggressive  international campaign of deligitimization and isolation against Israel. So now more than ever, Israel needs strong allies in America – and strong allies in the United States Congress.

Unfortunately, when it comes to Maurice Hinchey, who represents New York’s 22nd District, we have one of the least sympathetic, most hostile lawmakers in Congress on all issues impacting the U.S.-Israel relationship. Hinchey is a member of a small group of Representatives that routinely votes against the bipartisan resolutions and legislation by which Congress supports the U.S.-Israel alliance.

Consider just a few items from his record:

-In 2002, at the height of the Intifada, as Israeli civilians were being murdered by the hundreds in suicide bombings, a simple House resolution expressing solidarity with Israel passed by a 352-21 margin. Hinchey voted “present.”

-In 2006, Hinchey voted against a bill to promote democratic institution-building in the Palestinian territories titled the “Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act.” It passed 361-37.

-In 2009, he voted against a resolution condemning the Goldstone Report, an infamous product of the UN that accused Israel of intentionally committing war crimes in Gaza. The anti-Goldstone resolution passed 344-36.

-This year, he signed a letter to President Obama that accused Israel of the “de facto collective punishment” of Palestinians in Gaza and demanded that President Obama pressure Israel to open its borders with Gaza, a move that would leave Israel dangerously vulnerable to terrorism.

-Most stunningly of all, Hinchey voted against one of the Obama administration’s most important foreign policy initiatives, the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions Act, passed by overwhelming margins in both houses of Congress and signed into law this summer. This key piece of legislation, vital to both American and Israeli security, sailed through the House 412-12.

Hinchey voted against it.

If there is a Member of Congress who has voted more consistently against consensus American foreign policy interests and against U.S.-Israel friendship, we would be hard-pressed to name him.

Fortunately, the opportunity comes in the person of George Phillips, a young and talented candidate who was born and raised in Endwell near Binghamton. Mr. Phillips -- a dedicated teacher who also brings foreign policy experience from his days as a Congressional aide -- has closed to within just a few points of Representative Hinchey. A race that was once thought of as untouchable is now winnable. New York’s 22nd District is now on the national political radar screen. A stunning upset is within reach. Which is where you come in.

The two  of us signing this letter differ on many issues and indeed belong to different political parties. But we are united in our criticisms of and opposition to Maurice Hinchey; and in our support and enthusiasm for George Phillips, who would prove to be a strong and faithful friend of the US-Israel relationship.

Your help during this sprint to the finish will make a meaningful, and quite possibility a decisive, difference in the outcome of this race. That is why we are asking that you join this effort by going to www.electgeorgephillips.com,  and make an online donation today.

George Phillips will prove to be what Maurice Hinchey has never been: A serious voice on American national security and a stalwart defender of Israel. In protecting the interests of Israel we are protecting the interests of America. The United States and Israel are animated by the same principles. We care about the same causes. We are hated by the same enemies. And our destinies are therefore inseparable. As one who cherishes the special relationship between both nations, we hope that you can find it within yourself to make a contribution.

It can make all the difference.

Sincerely,

Ed Koch  

Congressman Hinchey Violently Attacks Kingston Freeman Reporter

H/t Robin Yess and hotair.com



George Phillips has questioned Congressman Maurice Hinchey's involvement in a real estate project in Saugerties called the Partition Street project.  Hinchey has long claimed that he has brought "pork" to the Ulster County economy.  The problem with this claim is that the Ulster County economy's growth has been zero since Hinchey was elected.  While the rest of the nation has gained 20% in employment, Ulster County's employment number has not grown at all; it has been two percent over Hinchey's eighteen year tenure.  The stagnant economy is directly related to the regulation and high taxes, and specifically the environmental regulation that Hinchey has put into place.  In other words, Hinchey has directly cost Ulster County 17,000 jobs.  Stupidly, he has been advertising that he has brought 1,000 "green" jobs into the county.  Given that the county's job growth has been nearly zero, Hinchey appears to be unable to figure out that a gain of 1,000 jobs compared to a loss of 18,000 jobs yields the result of his 18 years in office: a loss of 17,000 jobs. Moreover, and even more disgustingly, Hinchey and his cronies appear to have benefited financially from many of the "pork" projects that he paradoxically claims have helped the Ulster County economy.  Paradoxically because the Ulster County economy has underperformed the national economy by 20% over Hinchey's 18 year tenure.

Hinchey started out life as a Saugerties "tough guy" with a pack of cigarettes tucked in his rolled up shirt sleeve.  In the video above, Hinchey's aggressive, authoritarian nature shines through.  Authoritarianism is linked to antisemitism, of which Ed Koch has recently accused Hinchey.  It is not surprising, then, that Hinchey actually became violent following the above video clip and physically attacked left-wing Kingston Freeman reporter Bill Kemble.  According to hotair.com:

After the shooters turned off their cameras and started to break down, Hinchey made a beeline for Kemble and got in his face, according to a YNN videographer who was on the scene. The congressman poked Kemble in the chest aggressively, according to the YNN staffer.
I spoke with Kemble briefly this afternoon, and he told me Hinchey “put his hand on my throat” and then “realized what he had done and walked away.” The YNN shooter told me he did not witness this part of the altercation.

It is amazing and disappointing to my opinion of the electoral process that an individual as ugly as Maurice Hinchey has been given access to the reins of power in Washington.  From the likes of Hinchey totalitarianism is born.

Maurice Hinchey's Anti-Semitism

Ed Morrissey blogged yesterday about Ed Koch's endorsement of George Phillips in the New York 22nd congressional race.  I hope Mr. Morrissey doesn't mind if I quote him at length:

"Why is Koch opposing the Democratic incumbent? Koch is apparently unhappy with Hinchey over the nine-term Congressman’s hostility towards Israel. In his speech, Koch will hit Hinchey over his 2002 meeting with Yasser Arafat at the PLO leader’s headquarters, one of only three members of the House that met with Arafat there. Hinchey also “voted against the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism act, designed to promote the development of democratic institutions in areas under the administrative control of the Palestinian Authority,” and refused to sign either the Poe-Peters or Hoyer-Cantor letters which supported Israel’s right to control access to Gaza to prevent armaments to flow into the Hamas-controlled territory.


"It’s not just Israel, either. Hinchey voted against tougher sanctions on Iran as well, which Koch will mention in his announcement. Koch will also hail Phillips for his work while on the staff of Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) on foreign policy, especially on legislative efforts to force UN reform by purging support for terrorism and antisemitism at Turtle Bay."

My friend, Lincoln Eagle publisher Mike Marnell, was at the Ed Koch announcement.  Ron Lauder, head of the American Jewish Congress, also announced that he will support Phillips, according to Marnell. Hinchey's distaste for Israel goes beyond the usual left-wing support for terrorism.  I have heard a rumor that there will be a demonstration to protest Hinchey's anti-Semitism in the coming weeks.

Ed Koch Denounces Obama's Anti-Israel Stance

In 2008, Israel National News reported that 77% of American Jews voted for Barack Obama for president.  Perhaps we might call this a suicidal commitment to political correctness.  It was fairly evident at the time of the 2008 election that Obama would be anti-Israel.  First, at a minimum Obama's upbringing was heavily influenced by the Islamic faith. He attended Islamic schools for several years while he lived in Indonesia.  Second, Obama grew up with numerous far left influences.  His mentor while he was growing up was Frank Marshall Davis. His mother was committed to a left-wing viewpoint.  Third, Obama's cousin in Kenya, Raila Odinga, has led a violent insurrection that may have included appeals to support the imposition of Sharia law, and Obama went to Kenya to support him.  Fourth, Obama has associated with far-left anti-Semites Reverend Michael Pfleger, Reverend Jeremiah Wright, and Louis Farrakhan as well as violent felon Professor William Ayers. 

In a Washington Post article in January 2008, Richard Cohen wrote about Obama's membership in the Trinity United Church of Christ and that church's newsletter's having given an award to Louis Farrakhan. The newsletter said that Farrakhan ""truly epitomized greatness."  

Cohen pointed out that "the Obama camp takes the view that its candidate, now that he has been told about the award, is under no obligation to speak out on the Farrakhan matter."  Despite his perceptiveness, Cohen lapses into denial:  "I don't for a moment think that Obama shares Wright's views on Farrakhan."

Based on what?

During the course of the election, a televised interview of former Manhattan Borough President Percy Sutton (see video embedded below) revealed that Khalid Abdullah Tariq al-Mansour, personal advisor to the king of Saudi Arabia (recall Obama's bow to King Abdullah), had called him when Obama was applying to Harvard Law School. Mansour asked Sutton to intervene with Harvard on Obama's behalf.

I know that Ed Koch knew about all of this because I recall writing him an e-mail two years ago when I was shocked to hear of his support for then-candidate Obama.  Mr. Koch was intelligent enough to know better. His failure was moral.  He allowed political correctness and the desire to conform to the benighted opinions of the Democratic Party media to overcome his sense of decency. 

The same is true of the Jewish community at large.  The 77% of Jews who voted for Mr. Obama in 2008 are worse enemies of their fellow Jews than the most virulent of anti-Semites in America. They are a moral disgrace.

Now, in the video directly below (h/t Phil Orenstein and my cousin Don, the video of Sutton follows) Mr. Koch complains about Mr. Obama's all-out attack on Israel.  The one perplexing question:  why is Mr. Koch surprised?

Socialism in Action

Socialism is such an inspiration. The AP's Eliane Engeler's description of North Korea on Yahoo! reminds me of the New York City subway system under Mayor Ed Koch.


>GENEVA – A U.N. human rights investigator accused North Korean authorities Monday of committing widespread torture in prisons that he called "death traps."

Life in the reclusive communist-ruled country is "dire and desperate," said Vitit Muntarbhorn, adding that people are denied enough food to survive.

Muntarbhorn told the 47-nation Human Rights Council that whole families are routinely sent away for the crimes of one member. Once imprisoned, they suffer greatly.