After three years of criticizing President Barack Obama’s anti-Israel policies, and a special election in New York last September during which he supported the Republican candidate, former Mayor Ed Koch has once again decided to be an advocate for Obama in the Jewish community–without any clear changes in Obama’s positions.

This is not Koch’s first such reversal. During the 2008 Democratic Party primary season, Koch had worried that a Barack Obama would not be a friend to Israel:

Hillary recently attempted to warn Iran that were it to launch nuclear weapons against Israel, the U.S. “would be able to totally obliterate them.” Hillary’s comments were totally in keeping with the doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction which kept the Soviet Union at bay during the Cold War when it threatened its European neighbors and members of NATO.

Instead of joining Hillary in a similar warning to Iran, Senator Obama on “Meet The Press” criticized Hillary stating, “It’s language reflective of George Bush…This kind of language is not helpful.”

Koch concluded:

We now know just how far Senator Obama is prepared to go to defend our friends and allies. It is not far enough.

Just four months later, without any change in Obama’s positions, Koch endorsed Barack Obama.

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Ed Koch was one of the first prominent New York Democrats to break ranks and endorse Republican Bob Turner in this week’s election to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of disgraced Congressman Anthony Weiner. Koch’s early endorsement of Turner set in motion of a chain of events, culminating in the election of a Republican to represent parts of Queens and Brooklyn. Turner is the first Republican to represent this area since the 1920s. Today, I spoke with the former mayor about the campaign.

BG: Given that Israel is a “national” issue, why did you get involved in the race in New York’s 9th district, in particular?

Koch: There were only two special congressional elections in the whole country–here and in Nevada. The election in the 9th congressional district was the only election in the City of New York. And I thought, and I expressed myself publicly, that it would be a good place, being the largest Jewish district in America–something like 300,000 Jews lived in that district, and the Jewish vote would be somewhere around 30% or more–it would be a good place to have a referendum on whether the President’s position on Israel, which I have described as hostile to Israel, was one representative of the voters of that district.

And I got a call from Bob Turner, who wanted to see me. I had never met him before. We talked, and I said, “I want to send a message to the President on Israel,” and he agreed, and I also said, “I want to send a message to the Republicans in Washington that you disagree with their effort to privatize Social Security and Medicare.” He said, “I do disagree.” I said, “Let’s put it in writing.” And we did, and I endorsed him, and I framed the issues carefully so people could understand them.

Bob Turner was a marvelous candidate. Without a good candidate, you can’t prevail, even if you’re on the right side. He’s honest, intelligence, courageous, and he’s got a good sense of humor.

So we went out there. I campaigned for him, and the Democratic Party took the district for granted up until the last, probably, ten days, and then they realized from the polls that Turner had turned it all around. He was now six points ahead, a week before the election. So they brought in Bill Clinton, Charles Schumer, and Governor Andrew Cuomo to do robo-calls. And we did robo-calls–myself, and Assemblyman Dov Hikind–and clearly, we prevailed, since Bob won with an eight percent message.

Was that a challenge, to frame that dual message? (more…)

From Reuters:

A New York Democrat candidate blamed President Barack Obama on Thursday for his loss in a special election for a House of Representatives district that had been held by the Democrats for more than 80 years.

The Republican upset on Tuesday in a district where Democrats outnumber Republicans three to one has rattled some Democrats ahead of the November 2012 presidential election.

David Weprin, a New York state assemblyman, said his loss in a race to replace disgraced Anthony Weiner, who resigned in a Twitter sex scandal, was an “unfortunate consequence” of a campaign that turned into a “referendum” on Obama’s policies.

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This was a victorious week for Republicans, as Republican candidate Bob Turner defeated the Democrat, David Weprin. The vacant seat of “tweet this” Anthony Weiner was up for grabs. The 9th district of New York which typically votes Democrat spoke loudly against the current administration. Many of the residents of that district are Jewish and expressed dismay for President Obama’s stance on Israel. A fact that was pointed out by talk show host, Audrey Russo on a recent episode of The Rick Amato Show.

A Democratic media consultant told The Atlantic that if they had let Weiner “go to rehab and then reapportioned the district out of existence, they’d have saved everybody a million dollars’. Is that the Democrats answer to silencing the opposition? Redistricting?

Not long ago, I spoke to Tom Del Beccaro, Chairman of the Republican Party of California. We here in California recently underwent redistricting. Mr. Del Beccaro told me that Republican Senate seats were lost in the new districts due to the map changes. He went on to say that much of the boundary changes made little or no sense. It only succeeded in reducing GOP seats.

Well, here is a bit of poetic justice. State Senator from Pennsylvania, Dominic Pileggi has proposed a plan on how Pennsylvania will divvy up its electoral votes. With the support of the governor of Pennsylvania Tom Corbett, Senator Pileggi unveiled his plan.

In 2012, his state will have 20 electoral votes. One for each of their 18 members of the US House of Representatives, and 2 for US Senators. Under Mr. Pilleggi’s proposal, there would be 2 for the statewide vote. 18 would be for the Congressional district in regard to the presidential vote.

Both Pilleggi and Corbett argue that this is a fairer way to divide electoral votes. Saying it would represent the views of the people more. Maine and Nebraska both have this system in place.

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I first met you less than a week ago. Back then you were still just “Bob.”

Yes, now it’s “Honorable Bob.” (laughs)

What are your first impressions, on your first day on the job?

I was impressed with the warm welcome, the collegial spirit. I met with a lot of people today. The New York delegation was particualrly helpful and friendly. I was introduced on the floor by Charlie Rangel. We had a nice chat. The New York group works together on a number of things, which was good to hear. Joe Crowley explained a few things to me that we can work together on. It was all very positive. I walked in feeling there was more contentiousness, but didnt see that at all today.

What is your number one priority as a new Member of Congress?

My priorities right now are all logisitics–to set up the offices, both here and in the district, to get the right staff and the right flow of information from the constituents to the office, and get the right legislative agenda and priorities set up. I also want to try to get on the right committees. That’s a function of availability and interest.

Speaking of that legislative agenda, what’s the first thing you want to accomplish?

I’m primarily interested in the impact of the Dodd-Frank bill on New York State and New York City. We’re the world’s financial capital–banking, insurance, trade, commodities, et cetera–and a lot of the impact, or the unintended consequences, of Dodd-Frank will fall on New York, and we are only beginning to sift that out now. That is going to take a little direction, fine-tuning, and even elimination of parts of that law to protect New York jobs and growth in these areas. I’ll be paying special attention to that. (more…)

The final results from the special election held in New York’s uber-liberal 9th Congressional District could be both an ominous sign and political tide that may roll over the Democrat Party in Florida in 2012. NY-9 was considered one of the “safest” congressional districts that Democrats neve rthought they would lose.  But with greater numbers of traditional Democrats becoming increasingly hostile towards President Obama’s toxic agenda and his mistreatment of Israel, this 40% Jewish district has shifted Republican.

Suffice to say, the Republican Party is positively giddy over the results and smells blood in the waters of other once “safe” congressional districts- especially those in Florida.

“The results of New York 9 send a message for all incumbents, but especially Democrats who live in the delusion that their reelection is certain. NY-9 implies that even some of Florida’s most traditionally Democrat districts understand a principled-Republican message of economic prosperity through less government and more freedom.”-Brian Hughes, RPOF Communications Director

All eyes will be on Florida in next year’s Presidential election, one could say that it will be the proverbial Mount Megiddo where political Armageddon will take place in November 2012.  Could the once supposedly “safe” Democrat Congressional seats in Florida now be in play?  The most high-profile “safe” seat is in Congressional District 20, held by DNC Chair and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

Wasserman-Schultz spun the NY-9 defeat rather incredulously, stating that it was a “tough district” for Democrats to win even though it was Warren Harding who was President when Republicans last held the seat in 1923.  But Debbie’s real problem is that NY-9 was a complete rebuke of Obama’s policies, and make no mistake about it- Debbie, as DNC Chairwoman, is married (figuratively) to the President and his policies. The deal breaker for many Jews which set off alarm bells may have been when Obama stated that Israel should return to its indefensible 1967 border lines as a precondition for future peace negotiations with the Palestinians.  As President Obama’s hand-picked DNC Chairwoman, Debbie is in a major bind- her inability and refusal to separate herself from the President’s failed and offensive policies could ultimately send her packing from Congress- a situation she might not have been in had she not accepted the appointment of DNC Chairwoman.

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Michael Barone in The Washington Examiner:

This result is a rebuke to Barack Obama, but it is a rebuke as well—a stinging one, perhaps more stinging—to Senator Charles Schumer. He represented much of this district for 18 years. The now-disgraced Anthony Weiner was his staffer and pretty obviously Schumer’s chosen successor as congressman when he ran successfully for the Senate in 1998. In addition, Schumer has made it his special project to win back white middle class voters in places like metro New York for the Democratic Party.

In January 2007, just in time for the new Democratic majority in Congress, he published a book, Positively American: Winning Back the Middle-Class Majority One Family at a Time. It is a thoughtful essay on how Democrats can win the votes of the kind of voter Schumer himself has won over in his career as a congressman and senator, with specific policy recommendations as well as public relations advice. As one of the three Democratic leaders of the Democratic majority in the Senate—and by common reckoning the one who outshines in intellect the other two put together—Schumer has played an important role in fashioning Democratic policies, including but not limited to the 2009 stimulus package and Obamacare.

This vote is a startling repudiation of those policies by just the voters Schumer was hoping to win over.

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Republican Bob Turner’s win in New York’s 9^th Congressional District is a story the Frank Sinatra hit song, New York, New York, was written for. The GOP can now sing this tune about itself, specifically these lines:

If (we) can make it there, (we’ll) make it anywhere

It’s up to you, New York, New York

It was up to New York, and New York delivered big time. Just like Senator Scott Brown’s “unlikely” win in liberal Massachusetts, Turner’s election in a historically Democratic stronghold signals a sea change in politics. If Republicans can win this seat – considered untouchable for 90+ years – then how tough will it be for them to win in places considered toss-ups or GOP-leaning?

Of course, the Democratic Party is in denial, at least publicly. Debbie “Downer” Wasserman-Shultz dismissed any concern about Turner’s win, saying that the 9^th District is a difficult district for her party. Really?

Turner’s win, like the rise of the Tea Party and the 2010 Republican election victories, are also rebukes of the mainstream media and nearly every political pundit. Let’s take a walk down memory lane and revisit some of the obituaries written about the GOP a mere three years ago.

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As usual the Drudge headline was striking and accurate, “Revenge of the Jews.” Indeed a big part of GOP candidate Bob Turner’s win against the Democratic candidate David Weprin was the Jewish vote going to the GOP. NY 9 may be the most heavily Jewish district in the country (estimates range from 33-40% of the electorate). The real question is what does this mean for the 2012 election and can these results be replicated in other districts. The answer is—probably not. What people nationally forget is that some of the Jewish vote for Turner was about Israel, but also some of the vote was about other issues. And it was the combination of issues that gave Turner the Jewish vote last night.

There were three major Issues in the campaign Israel, Gay Marriage and the economy. When Ed Koch got involved and turned the race into a referendum on Jews and Obama, he gave two reasons. The first was Obama’s poor treatment of the Jewish State, and the other was Obamanomics. Interestingly, he did not criticize Obama’s economic platform because of all the conservative reasons such as the debt, big government, etc. Koch criticized it because he wasn’t spending/doing enough.  In his endorsement of Bob Turner published in the Jerusalem Post, he said voters needed to send the Democrats a message that Obama was not liberal enough in the debt ceiling negotiations saying the President has

been the major advocate for seeking a far-reaching deal that would have combined a debt limit increase with substantial spending cuts; significant changes in social programs like Medicare, Medicaid and perhaps Social Security; and as much as $1 trillion in new revenue.

Koch was unhappy that Obama was even considering reforming entitlements.  In the end the message Ed Koch brought to the campaign was Obama hates Israel and is too much of an economic moderate.

That appealed to the Liberal Jews of Queens, especially in the areas of Forest Hills and Kew Gardens.

The message to the more conservative Jews of Brooklyn was a bit different.

They too were energized by Obama and Israel but just as important (If not more) was Weprin’s recent vote in the NY State assembly in favor of Gay marriage. Indeed according to my sources in the campaign much of the robo-calling to Brooklyn pointed out this Weprin vote.

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A moment ago, I spoke to Republican Bob Turner, who holds a small lead over Democrat David Weprin in the special election to replace Anthony Weiner in New York’s 9th district.

“The results are coming in very positively, and there’s a strong sense of optimism and confidence right now. It looks very good,” he told me, as he prepared to join supporters at a campaign party.

Photo: New York Daily News

“Our volunteers–they’re more enthusiastic than ever. We were ready for a party, or a wake. The numbers keep coming in stronger and stronger, and we’re feeling pretty good.” (more…)

From National Journal’s Hotline:

With less than seven hours to go until the polls close in the contentious NY-09 special election, allegations of dirty tricks between Democrat David Weprin and Republican Bob Turnerare flying.

Weprin’s campaign claimed Tuesday afternoon that Turner and his GOP allies sent a 3 a.m. text message asking voters to call Weprin’s campaign headquarters to jam up his phone lines.

“It is outrageous that Bob Turner’s allies would resort to jamming our phones in an effort to prevent our campaign from contacting voters and getting out the message about how radical Bob Turner really is,” said Weprin spokeswoman Elizabeth Kerr. “Republicans participating in phone jamming in the past have landed in jail, and there must be a full investigation into the Republican phone jamming campaign.”

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A newly released poll by Public Policy Polling confirms the 6-point lead held by Republican Bob Turner over Democrat David Weprin in the race to replace Anthony Weiner in New York’s 9th congressional district.

The poll, showing Turner winning 47 percent support to Weprin’s 41 percent in the Brooklyn district, is significant because PPP is regarded as left-leaning. On Friday, an independent Siena poll showed Turner leading 50-44.

According to PPP, President Barack Obama is dragging Weprin down–and his treatment of Israel is a deciding factor:

The issue of Israel does appear to be having a major impact on this race.  A plurality of voters- 37%- said that Israel was ‘very important’ in determining their votes. Turner is winning those folks by an amazing 71-22 margin. With everyone who doesn’t say Israel is a very important issue for them Weprin actually leads 52-36. Turner is in fact winning the Jewish vote by a 56-39 margin, very unusual for a Republican candidate.  This seems to be rooted in deep unhappiness with Obama on this issue- only 30% of voters overall approve of how he’s handling Israel to 54% who disapprove and with Jewish voters his approval on Israel is 22% with 68 of voters disapproving. That has a lot to do with why Turner’s in such a strong position.

On Friday, Democrat state assemblyman Dov Hikind endorsed Turner–and made it clear that Tuesday’s special election was a chance for Democrats to send a message to the Obama administration protesting his policies on the economy and Israel. Hikind also decried the negative tactics being used by fellow Democrats in their attempt to save the seat.

Both candidates resume campaigning tomorrow after a weekend dominated by observances of the tenth anniversary of 9/11.

**Updated, bumped.

Democrat Dov Hikind, State Assemblyman for District 48 (Brooklyn), endorsing Republican Bob Turner for U.S. Congress in New York’s 9th District, moments ago:

A Siena poll released earlier today showed Turner with a 6-point lead over Democrat rival David Weprin, and indicated that 32% of the district’s Democrats intend to vote for the Republican.

Just before the press conference, Turner spoke to me about the issues driving the election.

“I think people are looking at this as a referendum on the president’s policies, that cover jobs, the economy, and–very strongly–the State of Israel, how Obama’s treatment of that impacts the voters of this district,” he said. (more…)

Republican Bob Turner holds a 6-point lead over Democrat rival David Weprin, 50-44, in the race to replace Anthony Weiner in New York’s 9th congressional district, as the campaign heads into its final days ahead of the special election on Tuesday, September 13.

The lead is significant, outside the poll’s 3-point margin of error, and suggests that Turner heads into Tuesday’s contest as the slim favorite.

Turner has surged 12 points in the past several weeks to overtake his rival, amidst a flurry of endorsements from Democrats, including former New York City mayor Ed Koch. President Barack Obama’s poor treatment of Israel and his failing economic policies are key factors in the race.

The poll follows news of Democratic disarray, as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee scrapped an expensive television ad showing a corporate jet flying low over New York City, just a few days before the tenth anniversary of 9/11.

Follow BigGovernment.com for continuing coverage…

When Anthony Weiner resigned from Congress, it was assumed that whoever got the Democratic Party nomination would win the race to replace him. But you cannot assume when it comes to special elections, remember in 2009 when Ted Kennedy was replaced by a Republican?

The special election for NY-9 is also a strange one. With the vote just a few days away, on September 13th the race between David Weprin (D) and Bob Turner (R) is a toss-up and independents are breaking toward Turner, at least according to an internal Turner poll. That same study showed Turner down by eight in July.

NY-9 is a Democratic Party leaning district by non-partisan pundits as Democrat +5, which means that a generic Democrat would have a five point advantage over a generic Republican. The last time a Republican won the seat was in the 1920 election. On top of the district leanings, Weprin has raised more than twice the money ($450K) than Turner ($204K). The bottom-line is this election that should not even be close; Weiner’s lowest winning total was 61% of the vote. What exactly is going on?

There are three reasons this election is close.

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Accusations are flying in the race to fill Anthony Weiner’s vacated seat in the 9th district of New York.

Republican Bob Turner, whose internal polls show a dead heat with Democrat David Weprin, claims that his staff has caught several individuals attempting to spy on his campaign. Turner’s campaign released the following photograph of one alleged mole:

According to Turner press secretary Bill O’Reilly (not that Bill O’Reilly), the photo depicts “a Weprin staffer who tried to ‘volunteer’ for Turner.” The Turner campaign claims it has caught four attempted moles, including one posing as a “college reporter.”

Weprin, speaking to the local NBC affiliate yesterday, failed to deny the charge, stating only that he did not know about any alleged spying effort, and was not responsible in any case: “I can’t control who goes to everything.”

WNBC also captured Turner’s campaign manager attempting to hijack a Weprin press conference–albeit less surreptitiously:

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From The New York Times:

Few predict a Republican upset: registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by three to one in the Ninth Congressional District. But it is not uniformly liberal — many Orthodox Jews live there, for example — and even those closest to Mr. Weprin grudgingly describe the contest as uncomfortably competitive.

On paper, Mr. Weprin seems like a sturdy candidate; he is the former chairman of the City Council’s Finance Committee and the son of an Assembly speaker. His message seems tailor-made for the district: he promises to protect Medicare and raise taxes only on the super-rich.

But the election, waged with little news media attention, offers scant time to remind voters of his biography. And after a long summer of stock market gyrations and battles over the federal debt, voters seem determined to register their frustrations with Washington.

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