Lazio leans on mosque as his key issue

Times Herald-Record Middletown, NY ^ | 8/26/10 | Steve Israel

[Impala64ssa]

GOSHEN — Rick Lazio seems like he's always blasting the Islamic center proposed near Ground Zero.

Lazio, the Republican candidate for governor, rails against the project on a TV commercial — over images of a skeletal World Trade Center. His website challenges Democratic opponent Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to investigate the finances behind the project and debate it.

Lazio — down some 30 points in the polls and $23 million in campaign money — has made the issue such a big deal, a French TV reporter came to Goshen Wednesday to ask him about it at a campaign stop.

So why, if it's a New York City issue, has the former congressman from Long Island made the Islamic center the centerpiece of his campaign?

"I don't think it's a local issue at all. Two thirds of Americans support my position ... people from both sides of the aisle," he said in front of a bevy of local Republican backers outside Big Dave's Family Barbecue — right after supporters of the other Republican gubernatorial hopeful, Carl Paladino, started chanting, "Debate Paladino."

And then, over more chants, Lazio launched into the rhetoric that's become as much a part of his campaign as promises of more jobs and a balanced budget.

"Let's disclose where the money is coming from," he said. "Are they radical organizations? Are they a foreign government?"

[Impala64ssa]

Lazio is now in a p*ssing contest with Palladino over whose more anti-Ground Zero mosque. But so far he has refused to debate Palladino.

[PGR88]

Lazio is unfortunately another George Pataki.

NY’ers don’t like the mosque, but they also hate their own dysfunctional State Gov’t, and Lazio says nothing about that.

[Mr. K]

Lazio is a PRO-ABORTION RINO!!!

His weak response to these issues has caused Andrew Cuomo to essentially ignore him

He has “called for an investigation” (yeah that’ll scare ‘em Little Ricky) THREE TIMES so far and no one even bothered to reply to him

He is a WEAK WEAK LOSER who is still wearing HilLIARy’s heel marks from his last debate with her. (YES This is THAT SAME little ricky lazio who made a clown of himself walking across the stage to ask her to sign a ‘pledge’ )

[presently no screen name]

Go Paladino!

[Mobties]

Palladino was running anti Ground Zero Mosque ads long before Lazio — or so it seems from the media I see in northern Westchester county. It certainly seems to be an issue where Cuomo is vulnerable. One wonders why Lazio didn't move more quickly.

[Mr. K]

OH!!!!!!!!!

And I personally know FREEPERS who are part of his team!!!!!!!!!!!

In fact it was a freeper who first approached Carl to convince him to run

[Mr. K]

Lazio is a “me too- I’m against it too” weakling on the mosque issue

[apocalypto]

Lazio is far, far better than the alternative. To me the mosque issues is a big issue and should be raised. I am surprised at the anger against him. In Hillary's case, he not only had to campaign against that woman but also against the media that was out to do him in.

[Mobties]

“[Lazio] not only had to campaign against that [Clinton] woman but also against the media that was out to do him in.”

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So? It's not going to be any different this time. Cuomo is going to get lots of adoring press. As a sitting Attorney General, he'll have lots of other advantages. I'd rather see Palladino in that fight. Lazio almost seems to be making excuses for himself. He's not “Mr. excitement”.

[Impala64ssa]

Frankly, after Lazio’s debacle against Her Thighness, I don’t think Lazio could campaign his way out of a wet paper bag.

[Mr. K]

Lazio is a RINO DWEEB

[Mr. K]

Lazio is Pro Abortion- did yo know?

and in what ways would you possibly think he is ‘far far better’?

Paladino wants to cut taxes 10% across the board- does Lazio? He probably wants to ‘do a study’

Paladion wants to cut state spending 20% - does lazio? Lazio probably wants to ‘have a blue ribbon panel’ (to think of ways to spread the pork to republicans

Lazio is PART OF THE PROBLEM - not ANY solution

[Dahoser]

Rick, give it up. If this is your main issue, what would you be doing otherwise if it wasn’t an issue? More to the point, you mean with everything wrong here in the People’s Republic of New York including that your RAT opponent was ACORN’s HUD Secretary, this is the only thing you can think of to run on?