Criticizing fellow Democrats in a Democratic primary can be problematic. Criticizing Republicans in a Democratic primary can be cathartic.
Thus, over the transom this morning came a statement from Rory Lancman, a Queens Assemblyman locked in a tight Democratic primary in NY-6 blasting the GOP candidate in the race, Dan Halloran, for voting against a living wage bill yesterday in the City Council.
“Mr. Halloran’s ‘no’ vote on the living wage bill in the City Council was a slap in the face to working New Yorkers desperately struggling to get by in this economy,” Mr. Lancman said. “Apparently, the right to earn ten dollars an hour is an unfair demand for working people in our city to make of companies receiving over $1 million in government subsidies.”
Focusing on Mr. Halloran gives Mr. Lancman some distinct advantages. As mentioned above, it lessens the stress over a Democratic blood-letting. It allows Mr. Lancman to act as if he were already the nominee. And if ends up being the nominee, it puts against him an already bloodied opponent. And it is worth noting here that Mr. Lancman told me that he believes Mr. Halloran will give whoever the eventual Democratic nominee is a tough race in November.
As for Mr. Halloran, his vote points out the difficulties of serving in a legislative body known for consensus. His colleague Eric Ulrich has already been tripped up by it.
“Just like the Republicans in Washington who have blocked countless initiatives aimed at giving middle-class and working families a leg up, Mr. Halloran is focused on fulfilling the desires of the wealthy and the biggest corporations instead of fighting for the needs of working people in Queens,” Mr. Lancman continued. “Whether it’s voting against a living wage for New Yorkers, supporting the infection of corporate money in our democracy or opposing paid sick leave, it’s clear that Mr. Halloran just doesn’t understand the values of residents in the 6th Congressional District.”
UPDATE:
Mr. Halloran has sent along the following statement in response, blasting Mr. Lancman as a career–and ambitious–politician
“Ask the American people what President Obama and the Democrats know about creating jobs and they will tell you: next to nothing.
“High wage floors mean that the lowest-paid workers, the most vulnerable in our society who Democrats claim they care about, will lose their jobs. It’s simple: if the wage floor is too high, the number of jobs will go down. Millions of Americans remain underemployed or unemployed because of the President and the Democrats’ failed big government policies. Perhaps if the government stopped taking 40% of working people’s paychecks in taxes, they could survive on this so-called ‘living wage.’
“It’s funny to hear a politician like Assemblyman Lancman pretend he knows how to create a private sector job. All he’s done the last six years is campaign for every office he can think of, trying to create a public sector job for one person — himself. Career politicians like Assemblyman Lancman can’t create jobs. Small businesses create jobs.”
UPDATE x2
And on it goes.
From Mr. Lancman:
“Fox News’ favorite councilman is at it again: Protecting companies that are living high off taxpayer subsidies, while telling people who work for a living to take a hike. Quick economics lesson: when working and middle-class people have more income, they spend it on goods and services, which stimulates the economy and creates more jobs. The living wage bill also stops the race to the bottom, where companies compete with each other to pay their workers less and less in wages in benefits. I’ll put my record of fighting for working people up against Councilman Halloran’s record of shilling for massive corporations and millionaires any day of the week.”
Your move, Mr. Halloran.
