By Hunter Walker 11/05/12 11:43am

Conspiracy Theories

Christopher Wight (Photo: Facebook)

Congressional Campaign Accuses Local Paper of Selling Its Endorsement

The campaign of Republican congressional candidate Christopher Wight believes there was a conspiracy behind the endorsement of his Democratic rival, Carolyn Maloney, in the local Our Town newspaper (also known as the N.Y. Press). Nick Mackey, a spokesman for Mr. Wight, sent out a statement entitled ”’Our Town’ Newspaper Sells Endorsement to Maloney” this weekend detailing the campaign’s belief the paper traded its endorsement for ad sales.

“Kate Walsh of the New York Press (Our Town newspaper) sales department recently informed Christopher Wight’s campaign that Carolyn Maloney had spent over $10,000 on ad buys in their newspapers during this election cycle and encouraged Mr. Wight to do the same,” Mr. Mackey wrote. “In addition, Ms. Walsh coordinated the October 26, 2012 endorsement interview between Mr. Wight and newspaper’s editors. During several conversations with campaign staff to arrange the endorsement interview, Ms. Walsh strongly encouraged the campaign to purchase ad space in the online and print editions of the newspaper.”

Our Town is published by Manhattan Media LLC and the company’s CEO, Tom Allon is running as a Republican in next year’s mayoral election. Mr. Allon referred questions about this story to the company’s chairman, Richard Burns, who vehemently denied his paper engages in “pay for play” and said it would be “irresponsible” to “run a story based on a press release of a disgruntled political operative casting libelous aspersions.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 10/05/12 3:47pm

Leap of Faith

Steve Martin making his wad of paper and endorsing Bob Kerrey. (Photo: YouTube)

Steve Martin Makes Unconventional Endorsement in Nebraska Senate Race

Bob Kerrey’s chances of retaking his old Nebraska Senate seat may be “bleak,” but perhaps he can cheer himself with this hilarious endorsement video his friend, comedian Steve Martin, made for his campaign. Mr. Martin’s clip is a spoof instructional video entitled “Steve Martin Masters Home Crafts, Endorses Bob Kerrey” in which he gives viewers directions for “how to make a wad of paper.”

“You may know me as the actor and comedian, but did you know I’m also a home crafts expert?” Mr. Martin asks as the video begins. “Today, I’m going to show you how to make a wad of paper. A wad of paper can be a lot of fun just to play with around the house or maybe toss expertly into a trash can but who wants to go down to a fancy office building and root around in their dumpster tO find a really good one?” Read More

By Hunter Walker 9/26/12 11:27am

reinforcements

Rick Santorum (Photo: Getty)

Rick Santorum and Jim DeMint Endorse Todd Akin

Many in the Republican Party encouraged Missouri Congressman Todd Akin to drop his bid for the state’s Senate seat following a firestorm over comments he made about “legitimate rape,” pregnancy and abortion in August, but at least two major GOP figures are still standing by Mr. Akin. This morning, former Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum and South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint issued a joint statement announcing their support for Mr. Akin’s bid to unseat Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill.

“We support Todd Akin and hope freedom-loving Americans in Missouri and around the country will join us so we can save our country from fiscal collapse,” the statement said. Read More

By Hunter Walker 7/19/12 1:46pm

Bain Brouhaha

Mayor Bloomberg (Photo: Getty)

Bloomberg On Bain And The Negativity Dominating The Presidential Campaign

At Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s press conference this morning for the groundbreaking of the Sugar Hill Affordable Housing Development The Politicker asked him for his take on the controversy over Mitt Romney’s tenure at Bain Capital and his refusal to release more than two years of his tax returns. Initially, Mayor Bloomberg, who, like Mr. Romney, came to politics from the business world, said he wanted to stay out of the controversy.

“You have a right to raise any questions and I’ll leave national politics to national politics,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “You know, everybody’s got to deal with their own things. Government is different than the private sector. It’s hard to explain some things. What is in his tax returns? I don’t know. But ask him, not me. If you want to put it out you do, if you don’t, you don’t and you deal with what the public has to make a decision.”

Mayor Bloomberg went on to add that he isn’t pleased with the negative personal attacks that are increasingly defining this presidential campaign. Read More

By Hunter Walker 6/26/12 5:29pm

Image Maintenance

One of Charlie Rangel's flyers featuring a photo of President Barack Obama.

Lack Of Endorsement Doesn’t Stop Rangel From Using President Obama For Last Minute Appeal To Voters

President Barack Obama didn’t give Rep. Charlie Rangel an endorsement in today’s election, but that didn’t stop supporters of the longtime congressman’s re-election bid from peppering Harlem with flyers featuring a huge picture of the president embracing Mr. Rangel as voters headed to the polls. The flyer describes Mr. Rangel as “a key leader in passing Obama’s healthcare law.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 6/22/12 6:12pm

Media Criticism

Dr. David Duke in his video endorsing Charles Barron for Congress. (Photo: YouTube)

Former KKK Leader David Duke Did Not Like The Coverage Of His Charles Barron Endorsement

Former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke went on his radio show today to say he did not appreciate the media referring to him as a former Ku Klux Klan leader in the coverage of his endorsement of Charles Barron. As The Politicker first reported, Mr. Duke (a former KKK leader) released a video on Wednesday endorsing Mr. Barron in his race for Brooklyn’s 8th Congressional district against Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries.

“We’ve had an incredible two days of media invective against me because I dared to say positive words in the congressional race between Charles Barron in New York and his Zio-African American–really all I can say is Zionist stooge opponent Mr. Hakeem Jeffries,” the former Ku Klux Klan leader Mr. Duke said. “It’s been an amazing bit of hate that has been launched against me and against Mr. Barron.” Read More

By Hunter Walker 10:57am

Odd Couple

Dr. David Duke in his video endorsing Charles Barron for Congress. (Photo: YouTube)

Former KKK Leader David Duke Endorses Charles Barron [Video]

Former KKK Grand Wizard and member of the Louisiana Legislature David Duke released a video yesterday endorsing Charles Barron in his race for Brooklyn’s 8th Congressional district against Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries. Mr. Barron, a member of the City Council and former member of the Black Panther Party who, over the years, has made a series of controversial statements against Israel and in support of African dictators including Muammar Qaddafi. He would seem to be an odd choice for a self-described “white nationalist” like Mr. Duke, but in the video, Mr. Duke explains that he thinks Mr. Jeffries has “sold his soul to the international Zio-bankers” while Mr. Barron’s strong past criticisms of Israel outweigh their other differences.

“In a race for Congress between an anti-Zionist black activist and a black activist who is a bought and paid for Zionist Uncle Tom, I’ll take the anti-Zionist any day,” Mr. Duke says in the video. “In this election of limited choices, I believe that Charles Barron is the best choice. Why? Because I think there’s no greater danger facing the United States of America and facing the world than the unbridled power of Zionist globalism. … Charles Barron stands against that power. If I lived in New York City, I would certainly vote for Charles Barron.” Read More