Note: Connections to WORKING FAMILIES PARTY (WFP)
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September 29, 2009
Categories: White House
ACORN attack misses mark
(JENNIFER CUNNINGHAM, SEIU - Gaspard’s boss)
I hate to put a damper on the day’s firestorm on the right over a White House staffer, but an American Spectator report making the rounds this morning that White House political director Patrick Gaspard used to work for ACORN in New York just isn’t true.
The Spectator (accurately) quotes ACORN founder Wade Rathke claiming that Gaspard was political director at the group’s New York chapter at some point before 2003.
I covered New York politics at the time, and that was news to me; the also White House denies it.
But just to be sure, I checked checked just now with Gaspard’s former boss, whom he ultimately replaced as the political director of the giant New York SEIU local, 1199, Jennifer Cunningham. Cunningham confirmed to me that he’d worked for her starting in 1999; that he’d worked for a City Council member before that; and before that, for the Dinkins Administration.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0909/Acorn_attack_misses_mark.html?showall
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UPDATE: Working Families Party is ACORN front group
Wade Rathke lied, Patrick Gaspard worked for ACORN founded Working Families Party
The left is very excited that Wade Rathke “corrected” his statement that Patrick Gaspard didn’t work for ACORN. Liberals are demanding apologies from Glenn Beck and numerous other outlets who were foolish enough to take a founder of ACORN at his word. Rathke’s “mistake” is all too convenient for man so detail oriented and well connected. Nobody of his caliber would make that kind of mistake in this political climate. Many took his bait however and the predictable calls of “You lie!” (I’ve heard that somewhere..) are sanctimoniously being screeched by liberals everywhere.
Too bad they won’t get their way. Some may retreat, but others will simply point out that A) Wade Rathke was the source and B) Patrick Gaspard was a member of The Working Families Party, an ACORN front. You can call it a subsidiary if you like, but I am going with front. From ACORN’s own website:
“ACORN members spearhead formation of the Working Families Party, the first community-labor party with official ballot status in New York state in more than 50 years.”
The account of Bertha Lewis and Patrick Gaspard working together, is true. Wade Rathke can play all of the semantics he wants, but he knows what he did and so do plenty of others in D.C. This is the kind of game liberals will play in trying to falsely discredit their critics who are figuring out who President Obama is a year too late.
When ACORN creates the front group Working Families Party and ACORN’s founder claims the group they created doesn’t work for them, there is a phrase for that. Rep. Joe Wilson can help you out with it.
Note: State Senator Eric T. SCHNEIDERMAN (NY), quoted below, is Jennifer CUNNINGHAM’S former husband
The WFP Supremacy — WORKER FAMILIES PARTY
By Azi Paybarah; October 6, 2009 | 3:24 p.m
On Oct. 1, the labor-backed, ascendant Working Families Party helped organize a rally in Foley Square, ostensibly to urge city lawmakers to pass a law requiring employees to get paid when they call out sick to work. It was also a show of brute force: the party’s first high-profile rally since the Sept. 15 primaries, when six of their candidates won Council races, sweeping four incumbent Democratic lawmakers out of office, and their two endorsees for citywide office finished first in competitive, multi-candidate fields.
Despite having nearly every seat in the City Council, two of the three citywide offices, both houses of the State Legislature and every statewide office, New York City Democrats are finding out it’s not actually their party anymore.
“To a certain extent, there’s been a long process of transformation where local organizations have been losing power,” said State Senator Eric Schneiderman, a Democrat from Manhattan. “We entered a much more candidate-centered age a long time ago.” He said the job of “putting together grass-roots operations have shifted away from party organizations and towards individual candidates.”
And toward the Working Families Party, which has filled a vacuum left by the receding Democratic organizations.
http://www.observer.com/5565/wfp-supremacy
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SCHNEIDERMAN appears to have run on both tickets; although he is referred to as a DEM when quoted in articles, he has strong progressive ties and lists WORKING FAMILIES PARTY on his website under “Friends & Allies” -— see next post for SOROS connection
Senator Eric T. Schneiderman (NY)
Current Office: State Senate
Current District: 31
Party: Democratic, Working Families
https://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=22875
SOROS Connection
“Schneiderman has good PROGRESSIVE credentials and is also a strong fundraiser with ties to deep-pocketed left donors like GEORGE SOROS. He has a lot of work ahead of him to fund a statewide race, however. As of mid-July, Schneiderman had just $92,120 on hand in his campaign committee.”
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Oct 6, 2009
Ravitch Raising For Schneiderman (eyeing run for Attorney General)»
By Elizabeth Benjamin
New LG Richard Ravitch will take a break from budget wrangling to be the special guest at a fundraiser for Sen. Eric Schneiderman - one of a growing number of Democrats eyeing a run for the office AG Andrew Cuomo will vacate if he runs for governor in 2010.
This is, to my knowledge, the first campaign event Ravitch has done for anyone since the Court of Appeals ruled that his appointment to the No 2. post by Gov. David Paterson was indeed legal.
“The Senator has admired Mr. Ravitch for a long time and they’ve had the opportunity to work closely since his appointment as lieutenant governor,” said Schneiderman spokesman James Freedland.
“We’re absolutely honored that Lt. Gov. Ravitch is showing his support for Senator Schneiderman at this event. As of now, this is the only one scheduled with him.”
(snip)
This is fascinating on so many levels, not the least of which has to do with the speculation that Paterson might not only eventually succumb to pressure from the White House and give up his 2010 quest, but step down early - provided there’s a soft landing for him somewhere - leaving Ravitch in charge until Jan. 1, 2011. (Remember, Ravitch has said he has no interest in running).
(snip)
Schneiderman is widely acknowledged to be the brains behind much of what goes on in the Senate Democratic conference and is often the go-to guy for Conference Leader John Sampson - especially when it comes to debating bills on the chamber floor.
(SNIP)
Schneiderman has good progressive credentials and is also a strong fundraiser with ties to deep-pocketed left donors like George SOROS. He has a lot of work ahead of him to fund a statewide race, however. As of mid-July, Schneiderman had just $92,120 on hand in his campaign committee.