Posted on 05/15/2004 12:01:19 PM PDT by neverdem
O'Grady Announces Conservative Party Bid for U.S. Senate Against Schumer Date: Wednesday, April 21 @ 15:13:18 EDT Topic: Views & Opinions
State Senatorial Candidate Dr. Marilyn O'Grady
~~~ "A Senate Seat is A Terrible Thing to Waste" - O'Grady ~~~ The Choice for Conservative Ideas and Traditional Values
GARDEN CITY, NY -- April 21, 2004 -- Declaring "a Senate seat is a terrible thing to waste," Dr. Marilyn O'Grady of Garden City, Long Island today formally announced her Conservative Party campaign for U. S. Senate against Democrat Chuck Schumer.
"Schumer's rated one of Washington's most taxing liberals," Dr. O'Grady said, "now it's his turn to pay the price. This race is about giving a voice to the New Yorkers Schumer forgot, those who pay the bills, obey the law and are fed up with seeing their values attacked. It's time we fight back," declared the prominent ophthalmologist at her Hempstead news conference.
"Some say the way to confront Schumer is to play 'me-too' with him, offer liberalism at a discount. That's wrong. The way to win is to offer a real choice for conservative ideas and traditional principles," Dr. O'Grady explained to a crowd of supporters and Conservative Party leaders gathered at the County Courthouse.
Acknowledging Schumer's multimillion dollar campaign fund, Dr. O'Grady said: "Schumer has big bucks, but it's will cost him a bundle to explain his appalling record. He needs to explain why he says anybody with 'deeply held' religious beliefs is unfit to be a Federal judge. He needs to explain why he preens on TV about homeland security but pushes loose immigration laws that leave us vulnerable. And he needs to explain why he thinks New Yorkers still don't pay high enough taxes."
"Why a Conservative Party challenge? Because somebody needs to speak the truth," Dr. O'Grady, a Republican, said, adding: "For example, even in the wake of 9/11, a New York City policeman today is prohibited from questioning a criminal suspect about citizenship. Schumer has tolerated this dangerous silliness and no Republican has challenged him. I will," promised Dr. O'Grady.
Noting the State Republican organization has anointed Upstate Assemblyman Howard Mills for Senate, Dr. O'Grady said: "My focus will always be Mr. Schumer. Yet, the truth is Mr. Schumer and Mr. Mills are equally liberal on far too many issues to provide a true choice. Both are pro-abortion, both are pro-gay rights and both have a tax-and-spend record in office. I'll be the only real Republican choice on these vital issues."
"Before I entered this race, a voter who believes in protecting the unborn had absolutely no choice for Senate. Both Schumer and Mills even embrace taxpayer funding for abortion. In the Long Island Coalition for Life, I've worked to protect the unborn. And from opposing taxpayer funding for abortion to protecting unborn victims of violence, I'll keep defending life in this race," Dr. O'Grady said.
Dr. O'Grady's drive for the Conservative Party Senate nomination drew strong support today from Roger Bogstead, the party's county chairman, who joined O'Grady at her news conference. "Nassau will deliver one of biggest blocks votes at the Conservative Convention," Bogstead said, adding, "And you can count on every single Nassau vote going for Dr. O'Grady."
"Dr. O'Grady will do very well against Schumer here this November," Bogstead predicted, adding: "There's a real market in Nassau and Suffolk for her message. Dr. O'Grady offers hard-working New Yorkers a true choice, a candidate who shares their values and respects their traditions."
Dr. O'Grady and her husband, John, live in Garden City. A lifelong Long Island resident and a lifelong Republican, Dr. O'Grady was born and raised in Bellmore. Her father, John Fitzgerald, was a New York City Police Detective and her mother, Anita Hernandez, was a homemaker.
Youngest of five children, Marilyn graduated from Holy Trinity High School in Hicksville. She received her bachelor's degree and master's degree from St. John's University followed by her medical degree from SUNY Downstate Medical Center.
She has been in private practice for 16 years and currently serves as an Attending Surgeon at the Nassau University Medical Center.
It's nice to see the Conservatives come back to their principles. Long was too cozy with Pataki, and Long knows that Pataki is toast.
PING
I can't believe how much the "Conservative" Party has sold out it's principles in order to have access to the corridors of power. They've essentially become just another patronage mill. If they keep on following the same formula, then it's going to be a short trip to the ash-heap of history; where Long can join his fellow power broker Ray Harding.
At least they've nominated someone to run against Schumer. My only concern is that so many of these candidates are so weak politically.
Long made a big to-do about the Conservative Party's last nominee for the 2001 NYC mayoral election and for all his big talk, never came through. What ever happened to candidates like James and William F. Buckley?
Personally, I think the guy should go back to running his ice cream shop.
Sen. Charles Schumer is a longtime communist. I hope Dr. O'Grady defeats him in the election. It would be good for America.
If Sharpton would run on some progressive party ticket, he might strip the schwartze vote from Schmuckie but the dems will bribe Sharpton, big time, to prevent that from happening. So, O'Grady splits the opposition vote and wins her point while good guys lose the election.
James was a US Senator for one term, being defeated by the late Dan Moynihan in 1978, I believe. Bill gave up on elective office after being defeated by John Lindsay for Mayor of NYC in 1965, IIRC. After that he stayed with National Review, wrote novels and did his show "Firing Line" for about 35 years, ending it a few years ago, IIRC.
My point was that the Conservative Party hasn't really lived up to it's reputation since Al D'amato was first elected using their line. I wish that there was an independent, conservative alternative in New York State.
I must disagree. Schumer probably has a lock on it till he croaks. The Conservative Party, by reverting to at least some principles, are the only thing that keeps the RINOs in NY from their natural inclination, i.e. Rockefeller and Javits LIBERALISM. Howard Mills would be another Arlen Specter, like Willie said.
You nailed it too!
YES!
Given how unpopular Bloomy is and how Pataki is sliding, the GOP is not doing very well in state wide offices in NYS. It serves them right for putting up all of these Rinos. Honestly, if you can tell a Democrat from a Republican in New York then you are just getting the info from their web sites. The NY GOP is in worse condition than the Illinois or even the California GOP.
ping
There is. It's called the New York Conservative Party.
I don't understand you people who insist that we must vote for liberal Republicans just to hold a majority or just because...they're Republicans. This O'Grady sounds like a smart cookie, and if I lived in NY State (thank God I don't) I'd vote for her in a Brett Favre minute.
Oh Molly MacGregor; not another Bret Favre fan! Don't tell me, you wear a Styrofoam cheese hat too.
I would rather she run against the professional widow...Caroline McCarthy. They must be in the same district.
May 11, 2004
Dear Fellow New York Conservative,
By now I expect you’ve heard from each of the contenders who are seeking our Party’s nomination for U.S. Senate. In my view, the competition for our nomination has been healthy and a clear sign of the Party’s strength.
Now, as the nomination conventions are drawing near, the time has come for the Conservative Party to close ranks behind the best candidate to defend our values and advance our principles in the Senate contest against liberal Chuck Schumer.
Dr. Marilyn O’Grady offers New York taxpayers the clearest and best alternative to Schumer’s tax-and-spend liberalism. And I’m writing today to declare my full personal support for Dr. O’Grady to be the 2004 Conservative Party nominee for U.S. Senate.
Dr. O’Grady is the right prescription for Senate. And she’ll cure the liberalism Chuck Schumer has afflicted us with in Washington.
Elections are a time of choosing. And the choosing isn’t just about votes. The candidates we back define us as much as they define themselves.
By choosing Dr. O’Grady, the Conservative Party will define ourselves as serious about our ideals and our principles. She is a tested candidate who shares our commitments across the board. As you have seen, Dr. O’Grady can certainly speak for herself. But let me mention a few issues that helped me decide to support her candidacy.
· Dr. O’Grady has already forcefully confronted Schumer on his biased practice of opposing judicial nominations for Catholics who hold fast to the traditional tenets of the faith.
· When the usual liberal lynch mob targeted Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Dr. O’Grady spoke out on his behalf. In comments to the press, she pointing out it was the military that uncovered and pursued the abuse cases - - not the news media or armchair warriors like Schumer.
· As the counter-culture slammed the institution of marriage, Dr. O’Grady forthrightly opposed not only so-called gay marriage but she also opposed gay civil unions. She had the courage to declare that gay civil unions are the functional twin of gay marriage dressed up in less flamboyant clothes.
As Dr. O’Grady has campaigned for our Party’s support, some political operatives have grown pretty nervous about the Conservative Party running our own candidate. In fact, the other day they struck with their most powerful weapon: A surly quote in a newspaper story!
Page Two
Yes, now that they have noticed the Conservative Party really and truly means it when we say principles matter to us, we’re suddenly not “relevant.” And one of Albany’s den of political fixers slithered out to tell a reporter our Party is “the political Titanic.”
Well, when you live and die by what other people say about you in the newspaper, then a front page insult must be a terrible blow. But the Conservative Party exists in politics because of vital ideas like protecting the unborn, fighting for taxpayers and defending this country. And compared to that agenda, no newspaper pot shot has any sting.
Besides, this Party never claimed to be unsinkable like the Titanic. We know we’re called to fight difficult battles. So, we’re more like “Old Ironsides,” the solitary American frigate that defied the British Empire and won surprising victories despite the odds.
The race for U.S. Senate against Chuck Schumer is a battle against the odds, too. But the odds are meant to be beaten. And we’ve done it before. Jim Buckley was against the odds. Ronald Reagan was against the odds - - twice. And, yes, Marilyn O’Grady is against the odds.
But here is a sure thing: In Dr. O’Grady the Conservative Party has a candidate who will fight for our principles in full. And that is our sole chance of success.
Others may think victory requires us the shed our ideals. That’s wrong. The voters already have a bona fide, undiluted, 100% liberal named Chuck Schumer. If that’s what the voters want, why would they choose an imitation?
Dr. O’Grady tells me that as she has campaigned across the state, she has heard the voices of New Yorkers seeking a common sense, conservative alternative. And isn’t it our job the answer that calling?
Were we to choose another path, admittedly maybe an easier path, who would offer a conservative choice? And how would each of us answer the challenge articulated so well by President Ronald Reagan: If not us, who? If not now, when?
I urge you to join me in supporting Dr. O’Grady in a challenge to Chuck Schumer that will make you remember why you joined the Conservative Party in first place!
Yours truly,
Michael R. Long
State Chairman
Here's how elections break:
Women vote for the RATS.
Men vote for the GOP.
O'Grady has a shot at this if she can convince even some of the women she is compassionate while reinforcing her Conservative principles to men.
Victory is plausible, and anyone who disagrees had better check their premises.
I see our courageous friends in the New York State conservative party have stepped up to the plate at last. Since 1970, the one and only time a conservative has EVER won a big race (Sen. Jim Buckley)this party of phony parasites has feasted on the GOP. They sit to the cheap seats cat calling about the weak Republicans but never have to nerve to run in a real elcection. Make no mistake, this is NO a real election I have a better chance of winning than Mills does. This is show biz for the rank and file conservatives who either never think about it or don't realize that the conservative party can't ever ever run a candidate all by itself and beat a rat. The conservative who won the county executive race in my county had to bully his way into a Republican primary to wrestle away the nomination. That is the only way they can win. So o'grady has announced whoopie! If the Republican had the slightest chance of winning, the consevatives won't have the nerve to try this stunt. The "I wanted mccain to beat Bush" nit wits
think all of this is on the level - yeah right!
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