The editors of the New York Post today urged Queens and Brooklyn voters of all political parties to send President Obama a message tomorrow by voting for Bob Turner (R) in the special election to replace congressman Anthony Weiner (D).
Mr. Turner, a businessman, has strong bi-partisan backing for his candidacy, including from former Mayor Edward I. Koch (D) and Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D). He is also endorsed by Republicans such as former Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Congressmen Pete King and Mike Grimm.
In its second editorial endorsement of Mr. Turner today, the New York Post editors write:
Elect Bob Turner
Congressional races aren’t exactly known for arousing keen public interest. But tomorrow’s special election for ex-Rep. Anthony Weiner’s seat surely merits extra effort to get to the polls.
A great deal is riding on the outcome.
And not just for Weiner’s former constituents in New York’s 9th Congressional District — but for the entire nation.
Which is why we hope voters in that section of Queens and Brooklyn not only get out to the polling booths but cast their votes for Republican businessman Bob Turner.
(Even if they usually vote Democratic.)
What makes this election different?
It’s a referendum on President Obama.
Let’s face it: The nation’s in a rut. Some 14 million Americans are out of work. The economy’s been comatose for three straight years. Markets are jittery.
And Washington’s red ink is flowing furiously, further threatening the economy — and the fiscal stability of the nation.
As Obama himself said Thursday, Americans can’t wait 14 months for the next presidential election. They’re “living week to week, paycheck to paycheck,” he said. “They need help, and they need it now.”
Yet, as Turner well understands, Americans can count on no relief from Obama and his fellow Dems, who insist on recycling the same failed ideas.
Should Turner win — a key poll Friday had him leading Democrat David Weprin by six points in the heavily blue district — the voters’ message would be impossible for the Obama folks to ignore: Change course, guys. Now!
Turner, who jumped into politics at this stage in his life (he’s 70) to help get the nation back on track, believes the best thing for the economy is to cut spending and taxes to “allow our businesses to grow.”
He says the Dems’ trillion-dollar stimulus “was a colossal failure” that hiked IOUs and “put a heavier burden on taxpayers.”
He also thinks it’s vital to “preserve” Social Security and Medicare (despite Weprin’s intentional mischaracterizations suggesting the opposite). But, unlike Weprin & Co., he cites an urgent need to “strengthen” them and find “a solution that will meet our obligations.”
One other key issue in this race: Israel.
Turner’s a staunch backer of “America’s only dependable democratic ally” in the Mideast. More important, his win would resonate in the White House — since ex-Mayor Ed Koch specifically asked voters (many of them Jews) to back Turner in protest of Obama’s harsh treatment of Israel. The president might then think twice about taking the Jewish vote for granted.
No wonder Turner’s backed by even Dems like Koch and Assemblyman Dov Hikind.
But voters will have the last word.
Polls are open tomorrow from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Turner deserves their vote.
(Turner Press Release / NY Post)
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