Chris Collins in NRO: Jim O’Donnell Reacts
I reached out to Collins’ people on Thursday morning to get their side of the story, and to find out more about the NRO writer’s unusually short tenure on his Congressional staff, but no one got back to me.
Here is O’Donnell’s statement:
Unfortunately, there are people across the country that do not know that Chris Collins only represents Chris Collins. Because he holds the position of representative, people assume that he represents the people of our district. Since folks across the country don’t know what the boundaries of our district are, they just assume he represents a good portion of New York. So when he questions whether the “Blacks” in Congress are allowed to be on committees, as the National Review alleges he has done, people think those sentiments are held not just by him, but the all the people of Western New York all the way over to the Finger Lakes.
I’m not one to call anyone a racist. I don’t think it adds anything of value to the debate, if anything it detracts from the important issues that should be discussed. In this case it detracts from the fact that Chris Collins has been pointed out by one of the country’s most conservative publications as a crony capitalist who is using his power in Congress to promote his own self-interest. His lobbying for a wasteful government program that he benefits from is just one example from a long list of times Chris Collins refused to represent the best interests of his district, but instead used his time in government to help out another of his many businesses.
I don’t know if these most recent allegations of racism are true, but I do know it is imperative that Chris Collins answers them immediately. I do know that the ability of congress men and women to serve their country has nothing to do with their color. I do know that Chris Collins does not represent me, my district, any part of New York, or any significant part of this country. He may question why “Blacks” are allowed to serve on committees, but we are all questioning why we ever allowed him to serve at all.
Chris Collins was elected by the people of his district so the majority there must share his “values” and world view, that is by far the real problem.
He won by the skin of his teeth in a district that is SO gerrymandered to the right that he should be ashamed and frightful at the poll results. This looks to be an issue that is going to come to the forefront. I look forward to his demise…..
Rep. Collins better hope Rep. Cantor will fly in to rally the troops with a ‘meet and greet’ to…oh, wait a minute…
Agree on the gerrymandering and I also look forward to his demise, my point was that there are an awful lot of people in his district that share his view, that’s IMO is the greater problem.
There are, of course, no Democrat gerrymandered districts, right?
According to a Washington Post article, ‘America’s most gerrymandered congressional districts’, Democrats won in 9 of the 10 most gerrymandered districts.
Never said the dems. never gerrymandered. What I said was he won by the skin of his teeth when he should have won by landslide…….Way to stay on topic though
He defeated an incumbent who is now the choice for lieutenant governor.
SHORT-TERM incumbent, if we’re going to get technical.
“I don’t know if these most recent allegations of racism are true…” But he does a great job at perpetuating racism through innuendo.
Could be worse. He could be perpetuating racism like…well, Collins.
ODonnell…another liberal tool. Let’s bring in the race card. “I’m not one to call anyone a racist”…. be careful there just might be someone from your law enforcement career who may disagree with what you are saying or thinking. Bad door to open buddy, be prepared for the blowback.
How come nobody around here writes how well Obama is doing?
Hm. Maybe it’s not on-topic.
You should make it a topic seeing you push for the democratic party. You could also start up a post how Andrew Cuomo failed to get permits. That would make for interesting topics.
gotta stay off topic when you cant win the argument…..
Collin’s represents one sad District and may be a lifetime incumbent. I worked on the telephones for the two Democrats running there and was shocked at some responses.
One guy from Greece, NY, assured me he didn’t care if Adolph Hitler was running he would vote for him since he always voted Republican.
When the party created that District it was in hope of building the long term incumbency that leads to seniority and committee chairs like the South enjoys.
But so far every incumbent graduates to K Street and Lobby Heaven after two terms. So the constituents will always have a clueless Freshman and impatient Sophomore ready to move on to Lobbydom. With Collins who cares?