| Danger Democrat asked earlier today if John McHugh (NY-23) was "leaving" after reading about such speculation in the Washington Post.
Not so McHugh says to the godawful Politico:
John McHugh: I'm not going anywhere
"Had any reporter bothered at any time to ask, I would have told them quite simply that at this time, I fully expect to be a candidate for re-election in 2008," New York Rep. John M. McHugh said in the release. "I have never told anyone otherwise and I have never at any time told anyone I was thinking of retiring and, as the Washington Post put it, 'wanting to go home.'
The rumor-mill on Capitol Hill had the New York Republican calling it quits at the conclusion of his eighth-term in the House, joining a group of fellow moderates who have grown weary of the travel, the partisanship and the grind of tough reelection fight every two years. But not so, the veteran Republican said.
"My campaign is going forward on those matters necessary to wage another successful effort and when the time comes, we will be ready," McHugh said.
There's something about that language though and I'm not the only one who noticed.
Although, it's worth noting that "at this time," "fully expect" and "going forward" often amount to weasel words that give lawmakers some wiggle room to change their minds.
It sounds like a strong statement, except that, ya know, it isn't. |
