Posted on 09/09/2005 11:32:58 AM PDT by nycfree
Pirro, rivals contrast records By NOREEN O'DONNELL THE JOURNAL NEWS
NANUET — Listening to Westchester District Attorney Jeanine Pirro yesterday, it was as if she had already gotten the Republican nomination to challenge U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton. The problem? The three men who will not get out of her way.
"I'm running against Hillary Clinton, no one else," Pirro said at a meeting with Republican officials at a Comfort Inn to interview candidates for state offices. "I'm interested in addressing the issues that this state is confronted with."
But also present were Manhattan lawyer Ed Cox and former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer, and though she ignored them in her comments, both of them confronted her head-on. The third man, upstate tax attorney, William Brenner, said he was focused on improving the state's economy.
Cox argued that he was the only one who could gain the support of both the Republican and Conservative parties, critical to defeating Clinton. Pirro is too liberal for the Conservatives, he said; Spencer has no appeal for Republicans.
"I can unite the two parties," he said. "I'm the only candidate who can make that statement. I can unite the Republican Party and the Conservative Party, excite the base of both parties, get them to the polls and win the election."
Pirro responded that she had run with Conservative support four times during her career.
As a prosecutor, Pirro lacks the experience to take on Clinton, of having to address issues raised by the Iraq war or the federal budget, Cox said. He said he had served three presidents in informal roles, both in this country and abroad.
Spencer meanwhile said Pirro was a mirror of Clinton, so liberal as to leave voters little choice between the two women.
During his years as mayor of the state's fourth-largest city, he created jobs, rebuilt the city's waterfront and cut taxes, he said.
"I'll match my record to Jeanine Pirro's record anytime," he said.
Pirro said she was ready to tackle the issues facing the state — suspending the federal gasoline tax, for example, to give some relief from the high prices.
After the meeting, one upstate party chairman, Robert Davis of Erie County, said Pirro had done well and Cox had given a solid presentation. But the officials were disappointed with Spencer because he said he would challenge the others in a primary, Davis said.
State Republican Chairman Stephen Minarik said all of the candidates had previously given their word to forgo a primary.
Spencer retorted that Pirro got immediate public support from some of the officials once she entered the race, even though the selection process was not finished.
Cox agreed that one way to select a candidate might be a primary, though, after his interview, he stressed the need to avoid one.
Pirro seemed to be the only one embracing a promise.
"All the candidates made their promise, absolutely, and that was something that was extracted from every one of the candidates," she said.
This country is still a democracy, right?
Go get 'em John!
Spencer can't win. You can't expect a Jesse Helms or a Pat Buchanan to win in New York. But Pirro might actually oust the Hilderbeast and shatter her chances at getting the Democratic nomination and fooling even more people into believing that she is a moderate.
With respect, Ms. Pirro has a crackerjack figure.
But she's really a RINO, isn't she? I know. Better than Hil.
Pirro can't win.
Cox can't win.
The only question is whether NY Republicans will continue to sell their souls and embrace Hillary's liberal agenda by nominating her ideological bedmates.
Not necessarily better than Hil. But if Clinton is "dethroned," then she is disgraced. It's just a shame that we can't have any real Republican candidates on the West Coast or in New England.
Quite right. Remember now, New york is not in New England.
Thanks for your note!
Technically, New York east of the Hudson River has been considered part of New England. But anyway, who do you favor, Cox or Spencer?
I don't know much about either of them. Ms. Jennine has been geting all of the glow.
I'm sure she is spending most of her time gathering dirt or "inventing" dirt on Piro and Cox. To tell you the truth, I think Cox may be the better one to challenge Hillary because they were both involved in Watergate...and he can match her game.
But let's be honest, she HAS NOT formally announced that she will run for the Senate...and I do not believe she will. She did manage to flush out the candidates for the party though so they can solicit some other socialist to run in Hillary's place.
Go Spencer!
Neither Pirro nor Spencer will defeat Hillary. You can take that to the bank.
I remember hearing Bill say that they had to focus on getting Hillary reelected to the Senate before talking about a presidential bid. I think that is as good as a formal announcement.
I'm a native east-of-the-Hudson NYer, and I've NEVER heard that.
Pirro is NARAL's GAL and a pro gay "marriage" vote in the senate. The beast is too sneaky to do that. She wouldn't even be pro gay "marriage". Pirro is also proud to carry bobbie kennedy's picture on her website. Maybe she agrees that the President caused Katrina.
Why do we NYS GOPers always have to shower after voting in statewide primaries. Pirro won't win. She will not get the pro life vote and won't break forty. She will give the beast a nice boost going into 08.
Pirro and her apologists on this forum can't and won't debate her primary opponents because Pirro's supposed "rising star" status can't hold a candle to Mayor Spencer. Their whole stragedy is PRETEND Pirro is the ONLY Republican in the race and we therefore HAVE to support Pirro to "beat Hillary". Their whole schtick for how Pirro will "beat Hillary" is that she's a female who sounds nice on TV and will run as Hillary-lite, except promise to serve out her entire term.
Pirro is a joke and needs to be taken out in the primary.
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