| First of all, Gillibrand is married to a Brit, and regularly visits Britain, especially so her in-laws can see their grandson Theo.
Family values, and all.
But Gillibrand is hard-working, as a member of Congress and as a freshman Democrat with a well-publicized target on her back in 2008.
She raised $600K-plus in the first quarter, second in the House to Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel.
And she worked on her vacation, meeting with Democrats Abroad types in London and Paris.
Gillibrand, as is her wont at her regular Congress at Your Corner events for constituents and at small fund-raisers, answered questions from the audience, and someone from Democrats Abroad France wrote up the Paris event at their site. (Just as I have written up several Gillibrand events in the district at Daily Kos.)
There is nothing remarkable here for her supporters, just more of this intelligent, thoughtful Congresswoman thinking on her feet and speaking without notes about important issues.
For example, from the Democrats Abroad France report:
"'Congress will never give President Bush a go-ahead to attack Iran,' Representative Kirsten Gillibrand, who wrested control of the conservative 20th District in upstate New York from the Republicans in last November's election, told a DAF meeting in Paris on April 5. Nor will Congress give the Bush administration unlimited funds for the Iraq war without a timeline for the departure of U.S. troops, she added."
And this:
"While the war issue is very important, the new Congress 'must, must' also address domestic issues such as immigration, education and health care. She called the No-Child-Left Behind program 'an absolute disaster.' She advocates expansion of the Medicare program as a start toward a national health service that will cover everyone. It is already in place and could be funded by a levy of about 5% on the income of everyone. This would also cover people who are unemployed."
More goodness:
"Although she is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, she said the administration is still stonewalling them on many issues while the old Republican-dominated Congress hardly held any hearings. She mentioned a 'secret' hearing on Iran and said she learned more about the subject from New York Times story than was provided by administration briefers. 'We are not telling the generals what to do,' she said, but there must be greater accountability. No-bid contracts such as the billions given to Halliburton and other companies must be severely restricted."
The bit the GOP operative honed in on:
"In reply to a question as to why more Democrats haven't addressed the Israel-Palestinian impasse, she said it was a very polarizing issue and promised to bring up the problem with Speaker Pelosi. She said Pelosi's visit to Syria was well within the Speaker's purview, but said, 'Congress has a long way to go on Israel and Sudan.'"
Here's what the wingnut GOP operative said at his site:
"More disturbing than Gillibrand's transatlantic fund-raising ... are comments she reportedly made about U.S. foreign policy while in Paris. American politicians have long observed a rule that 'politics stops at the water's edge;' however, in Paris, Gillibrand reportedly openly criticized American foreign policy. ...
Rather than affirm U.S. policy on Israel's right to exist, and the Palestinians' need to renounce terrorism, Gillibrand is reported only to have said the issue was 'polarizing,' and promised to raise it with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. 'Congress has a long way to go on Israel,' she said.
Gillibrand also defended Pelosi's recent visit to Syria, a trip criticized by her fellow New York Democrat, U.S. Rep. Elliott Engel."
And, because of the length of this already, and to spare you, here's just a short, stupid CapCon comment, about the London event:
"Hillarybrand should start the UK bundlers brigade.
The Million Dollar Hillarybrand Sweepstakes has a nice ring to it.
As is, her foreign campaign cash grab in the wake of more broken campaign promises will make for good campaigning material. I'm sure our next representative is taking copious notes of all the dishonesty going on here."
Gillibrand is likely to face Sandy Treadwell, a Pataki hack who is a wealthy General Electric heir.
She will need netroots support, politically and financially.
Please provide it in any way you can. |
