Blanchfield should have known better. Being a lawyer and all.
And who else better? The lawyers know the way to do it AND get away with it!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Democratic Assembly candidate Mark Blanchfield assures us we’ve seen and heard the last of his controversial ads quoting Republican opponent George Amedore out of context on how he views his Assembly job. That’s a relief because the ads and automated phone calls using the quotes were clearly misleading — as the Fair Campaign Practices of the Capital Region opined Sept. 30 — and the squabble that erupted over them has been an unwelcome distraction for voters in the 105th District. Let’s hear where both candidates stand on some real issues, please. Blanchfield’s ad excerpted a video of Amedore taken by the Business Review newspaper to make it seem that Amedore doesn’t take his Assembly seat seriously: “I have building in my blood, that’s my job. I don’t look at the Assembly position as my job.” Perhaps Blanchfield’s ads would have been justified had Amedore’s remarks ended there, as the ad implied. Instead, the first-term assemblyman continued, “I look at it as serving, giving back” — which put an altogether different spin on them. Of course politicians frequently use their opponents’ words against them in this fashion — twisting the words or excerpting parts of quotations to make it seem that they’re saying something entirely different from what they’re really saying. And frequently, they get away with it. It’s the reason the League of Women Voters has established a Fair Campaign Practices program — a nonpartisan panel designed to serve as an official arbiter when there are such complaints. Not all candidates or parties agree to participate in the program, but both Blanchfield and Amedore did at the beginning of this campaign. But when the panel found against him — it also decried an Amedore ad calling Blanchfield a liar — Blanchfield disagreed and refused to pull his ad. That may have been his legal right, but it’s not how the game is supposed to be played. His decision not only undermined the ability of an independent arbitration system to keep this campaign on the high road, but others in the future. Amedore supporters have been using sneaky tactics as well, misrepresenting Blanchfield’s record on an anonymous Web site. Both candidates need to denounce the dirty politics, put these episodes behind them, and start talking about where they stand on some real issues in the month that remains before Election Day.
In the spirit of a former campaign slogan ("It's the economy, stupid"), I offer this to Mr. Blanchfield:
It's about public service (...).
Mr. Blanchfield clearly views public service as an opportunity to advance his self-interests rather than to serve those of constituents.
Let me state that I have been disappointed by Mr. Amedore's support of Schenectady County's Home Rule legislation that increased the bond cap and lengthened the charter of the Metroplex, particularly while the results of the State Comptroller's audit of the public authority had not been released. However, Mr. Blanchfield's advertising was clearly deceptive. If that is the extent of his platform, he doesn't deserve consideration.
105TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT Fair Campaign group finds Amedore ads OK BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Justin Mason at 395-3113 or jmason@dailygazette.net
Republican Assemblyman George Amedore Jr. didn’t distort the record when he accused Democratic opponent Mark Blanchfi eld of voting to raise taxes and wasn’t misleading when he distributed a flier reprinting a newspaper headline, a non-partisan watchdog group determined. Blanchfield had protested the campaign tactics. The Fair Campaign Practices of the Capital Region ruled against both complaints filed by Blanchfield against Amedore, the 105th Assembly District incumbent Tuesday. The non-binding determination was made after a panel of six who heard representatives from both campaigns Monday evening. Neither candidate attended the hearing. In Blanchfield’s first complaint, he argued Amedore’s campaign and Amedore himself had falsely characterized his record on the Schenectady City Council. He alleged the campaign had unfairly characterized him as sitting on the council while taxes for the average homeowner increased by 75 percent. The panel determined there was enough evidence that taxes had increased by this amount during Blanchfield’s tenure on the council. They also chastised Blanchfi eld for not including his argument with one he filed earlier. Blanchfield’s second complaint took issue with an Amedore fl ier that he accused of manufacturing a newspaper headline. He also claimed the mailer misleadingly included a paragraph that appeared to be part of the newspaper article, but was instead part of a Fair Campaign Practices ruling. The panel rejected these assertions and noted that the headline was in fact published online. They also noted that the Fair Campaign Practices ruling was in no way distorted by Amedore’s flier. Blanchfield was disappointed by the ruling, but didn’t seem surprised. He said the panel had put him at disadvantage by accepting information from Amedore’s campaign that wasn’t properly vetted before his hearing. “In no way did I raise taxes for homeowners by 75 percent,” he said. “ It’s too bad they’re giving these folks full rein to do whatever they want.” Amedore was pleased with the ruling and is awaiting a decision on three complaints he filed against Blanchfield recently. He insisted he is abiding by the fair campaign pledge and criticized Blanchfield for filing frivolous claims instead of sticking to the issues. “I am pleased with the ruling and I’m hopeful Blanchfield’s campaign will get back and focus on the issues,” he said. The rulings were the latest in a volley of complaints made to Fair Campaign Practices by Amedore and Blanchfield. Earlier this month, they found that both candidates circulated distorted and misleading advertisements.
In Blanchfield’s first complaint, he argued Amedore’s campaign and Amedore himself had falsely characterized his record on the Schenectady City Council. He alleged the campaign had unfairly characterized him as sitting on the council while taxes for the average homeowner increased by 75 percent. The panel determined there was enough evidence that taxes had increased by this amount during Blanchfield’s tenure on the council.
It just doesn't get any better than that!!!! However, if the gazette wasn't so biased, and if this were against Amedore, it would have made front page headlines.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Bumble, absolutely correct! Where was this? Only online below the Yokohama tire ad after you scroll all the way down?
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
The People's Gazette in this Socialist City of Schdy can only print what Czar Suzie will allow so we'll never see the truth printed the way it should be.
Actually Shadow, if this country does end up becoming socialist, we here in Schenectady county will feel right at home. It won't matter none to us! It will just be 'life as usual'.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Mark Blanchfield has demonstrated exceptional leadership for the city of Schenectady during very difficult times. Coming from a diverse city like ours, he has the sensitivity to understand the concerns of all kinds of people, regardless of economic background, ethnicity, religion, age or place in life. Mark’s diligence and team approach has resulted in the restoration of Schenectady’s fiscal credibility. I have no doubt that Mark will work with others in the Assembly to assure that, in these trying times, the concerns of everyday people are at the forefront while difficult decisions are being made. I think it’s time to move on from what was said in a radio ad. We have to consider who has the skill and experience to represent us in Albany. That person is Mark Blanchfield.
Back to issues in the 105th Amedore and Blanchfield seem to be putting tiff over ads behind them
By LAUREN STANFORTH, Staff writer First published in print: Monday, October 27, 2008
This year, Republican Assemblyman George Amedore isn't involved in the same kind of high-priced whirlwind campaign that got him elected in July 2007.
In that case, the first-time politician and home builder only had a month to compete in a special election against Democratic Schenectady County Legislator Edward Kosiur to replace Paul Tonko. But that doesn't mean the Nov. 4 race to fill the 105th District seat is any less contentious.
Rotterdam's Amedore, who succeeded in winning a seat occupied by Tonko for 24 years, has been scuffling with his challenger, Democrat and Schenectady City Councilman Mark Blanchfield, over almost every television, radio and print ad the two have released over the last month.
The Democratic and Republican Assembly campaign committees haven't thrown big money into the 105th race like last year's more than $700,000; about $128,000 has been given out between Amedore and Blanchfield this time around. But the seat is one Democrats likely view as winnable, considering that Amedore, 39, is a one-year incumbent and active, registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by about 4,500 voters.
In late September, Blanchfield, 42, ran radio and TV ads featuring a previous Business Review interview with Amedore after Amedore was honored as one of the newspaper's top 40 business people younger than 40. Blanchfield took this Amedore quote from the interview: "I don't look at the Assembly position as a job."
Amedore fought back, filing a complaint with Fair Campaign Practices for the Capital Region, saying Blanchfield didn't include the most meaningful part of the quote, in which Amedore said he looks at the position as a service. The committee, which issues nonbinding rulings, decided in Amedore's favor, but the ads stayed on the air for some days afterward.
Blanchfield, an attorney with an Albany law firm, filed a complaint of his own last week. Blanchfield said Amedore's claim, featured in the Republican's ads, that Blanchfield raised city residents' property taxes 75 percent since 2003 was a fabricated figure. Blanchfield also accused Amedore of taking the 75 percent number off a Web site that shows a doctored photo of Blanchfield wearing a crown with a dollar sign on it. Amedore has said he has nothing to do with that Web site. The Fair Campaign committee didn't agree with Blanchfield, and said Amedore's ads can continue.
The bickering over ad fairness has now seemed to cease, with both candidates saying they want to focus on issues.
Both Amedore and Blanchfield have largely focused on tax relief. Amedore supports a property tax cap, saying he'll help school districts and municipalities keep levies low by eliminating unfunded mandates and encouraging consolidation between school districts, such as through health care and other benefits. He said other fees should be lowered, such as tolls on the New York Thruway. Amedore also said more insurance companies should be allowed to do business in New York to encourage competition and lower premiums. Blanchfield said property taxes should be capped based on income and said he also supports elimination of unfunded mandates for schools. The Democrat also said he thinks charter schools should go through more rigorous standards before being allowed to open. He said if elected, he'll release his public schedule every day — a nod to his continued critique that Amedore doesn't spend enough time on his Assembly position.
Reach Stanforth at 454-5697 or lstanforth@timesunion.com.
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