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Our New Senator
Jan. 25th, 2009 06:40 amSo far, I have learned a few things about Kirstin Gillibrand. I like that she came out in favor of gay marriage when so few have. I like that she defeated a Republican incumbent in a very Republican part of New York State.
I don't like her very strong rating from the NRA. I don't like that the leading Spanish-language newspaper in NYC called her anti-immigrant. I really don't like that Al D'Amato, NY's former senator and one of my least favorite politicians, is her mentor.
She apparently voted against the first bailout last September. I don't know how I feel about that.
Overall, I am quite sure that if she ran in a primary against many of the other names that were floated to replace Hillary, I would not vote for her. While it's good that someone from upstate should represent the state, I think she is just too conservative for me. I also think that Patterson should have picked someone with more experience, but that he chose to pick someone politically expedient. That said, she could be a surprise in Congress and get me to vote for her in twenty months. I might be on the same side as Carolyn McCarthy on gun control, but that doesn't mean she is better suited to the Senate.
For now, I am cautiously optimistic that moving to the Senate and working with Chuck Schumer will allow her better qualities to emerge. But she has a lot to do to win me over.
I don't like her very strong rating from the NRA. I don't like that the leading Spanish-language newspaper in NYC called her anti-immigrant. I really don't like that Al D'Amato, NY's former senator and one of my least favorite politicians, is her mentor.
She apparently voted against the first bailout last September. I don't know how I feel about that.
Overall, I am quite sure that if she ran in a primary against many of the other names that were floated to replace Hillary, I would not vote for her. While it's good that someone from upstate should represent the state, I think she is just too conservative for me. I also think that Patterson should have picked someone with more experience, but that he chose to pick someone politically expedient. That said, she could be a surprise in Congress and get me to vote for her in twenty months. I might be on the same side as Carolyn McCarthy on gun control, but that doesn't mean she is better suited to the Senate.
For now, I am cautiously optimistic that moving to the Senate and working with Chuck Schumer will allow her better qualities to emerge. But she has a lot to do to win me over.
