In “a shot across President Obama’s bow,” Democratic former Mayor Ed Koch yesterday urged voters in Queens and Brooklyn to make “history” by voting for the Republican candidate to replace randy ex-Rep. Anthony Weiner in the Sept. 13 special election — as a protest against the White House’s policy on Israel.
Koch — a staunch ally of Israel — said he would “vote for Bob Turner” if the Republican-Conservative candidate backs Israel and opposes cutbacks to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.
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“If Jewish New Yorkers and others who support Israel were to turn away from the Democratic Party in that congressional election and elect the Republican candidate to Congress in 2011, it might very well cause President Obama to change his hostile position on the state of Israel and to re-establish the special relationship presidents before him had supported,”
Koch said in his weekly commentary.
Ed Koch (above) in endorsing Republican Bob Turner for Anthony Weiner’s old seat, in protest of President Obama’s position on Israel
Ed Koch in endorsing Republican Bob Turner (above) for Anthony Weiner’s old seat, in protest of President Obama’s position on Israel
Koch likened the situation to Republican Scott Brown winning the Massachusetts Senate seat long occupied by Ted Kennedy.
“I want to put a shot across Obama’s bow,” Koch said in an interview.
He is furious with Obama over the president’s public push to get Israel to use its 1967 borders as a starting point for negotiations over a Palestinian state.
Koch also said he’s upset with Obama for considering trimming Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid to get a deficit/debt reduction agreement with the GOP.
Koch’s comments are an early headache for Assemblyman David Weprin, the Democratic candidate handpicked to replace Weiner, who resigned in disgrace amid a sexting scandal.
As expected, Weprin yesterday received the endorsement of the union-backed Working Families Party. He got the backing of the Independence Party over the weekend.
Meanwhile Turner, a retired media executive, launched his candidacy at the Forest Hills railroad station. He was joined by a bevy of party bosses, including state GOP chairman Ed Cox and state Conservative Party honcho Mike Long.
GOP sources in Washington said Turner faces long odds because Democrats hold a 100,000-voter registration advantage in the district. Because of the disparity, the national party is reluctant to pour a lot of money into the race, but officials say they are monitoring the race to see if Turner catches fire.
@Perry – Certainly, since we can only endorse candidates in the U.S. (and that does influence American policy), Koch’s idea could still be legitimate. Since Congressional seats, or the appearance of losing general support in areas of assumed support (like this one), might catch Obama’s eyem, Koch may not be completely wrong and his endorsement a good thing. On that, he at least has the right INTENT. That’s all you can ask. In other words, even if we can’t change Obama’s hostile position on Israel, or his feelings for that matter, maybe a little political scare would actually help PREVENT him from doing more damage. That would be the idea. It could help slow him down. I said HELP not CURE. Comparing this to Ahmadinejad’s hostility is not really an accurate analogy.
@David Chase – A Republican candidate who won’t want to reform entitlements. Find me one. Koch’s stated motive is to make Obama change his position on Israel:
“If Jewish New Yorkers and others who support Israel were to turn away from the Democratic Party in that congressional election and elect the Republican candidate to Congress in 2011, it might very well cause President Obama to change his hostile position on the state of Israel and to re-establish the special relationship presidents before him had supported”
Hey, maybe we can change Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s hostile position on Israel too!
@Perry -Perry, I get your point. It would have been better if Koch had apologized for his past mistake. Even so, since he is using his voice, a well known and possibly influencial voice at that, to come out in favor of the Republican candidate at this time to take a stand against Obama it’s still a good endorsement. If he gets a moment in the spotlight in the meanwhile, does that really matter. I’m looking at the endorsement and not the alleged motive.
@David Chase – If Koch made a “stupid and uninformed” choice then, it’s a pretty sad statement on his own credibility to be listened to now. If he would apologize for his mistake, I would feel less cynical. But in fact, Koch said he will support a Repub who is strong on Israel (all Republicans) and who will not want to touch entitlement programs (no Republicans). So it’s a bit of a scam too.
Bottom line: I think Koch wanted to have another moment in the spotlight.
As for Koch changing his mind – better late than never.
@Perry – @Perry – At least he came around after seeing what Obama has actually been doing vis-a-vis Israel and is now willing to cross party lines to support a Republican in a known Democratic district. It’s one thing if somebody made a stupid, uninformed or naive vote in 2008 ( I speak of the Jewish Democratic vote that he got in New York like in Anthony Weiner’s district)but, at least, if someone is willing to say they were wrong and change their support you have to give him some credit. Whether he is cleansing his soul or not doesn’t really matter as long as he (or any other Jewish democrats)come along NOW I wouldn’t hold their past voting record against them I think we should be more supportive of Koch’s stand. By the way, symbolically, Koch is saying to previous Jewish democratic voters that maybe it’s alright to admit that it was a mistake and not vote for him again this time round. If that can influence others to change their vote, by example, if nothing else, isn’t that what speaking out and taking a stand is all about. We should be applauding him and others who do the same.
Koch is trying to cleanse his soul for having supported Obama last go-round.
HE was part of the problem.
@Bethany –
Just out of curiousity, what does this have to do with Koch’s support of a Republican candidate in Weiner’s old district?
When I was in New York a lot of people didn’t like Ed Koch as Mayor but I can only thank him for his stand in New York now and his political name that could HOPEFULLY effect this important congressional race. Here is a man, a Democrat, willing to cross party lines to make a statement if not a stand for Israel. If enough Jewish Democrats came out like Koch, maybe something significant could come of it. For example, I would like to know where Senator Chuck Schumer is in all of this.
Koch ought to go back to People’s Court. And, Weiner should start doing porn movies.