Minnesota Democrats Thank Tedisco For Doing The Right Thing And Conceding NY-20
It's not every day that Democrats in the Midwest will comment on a political event in the Northeast. But the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party is now chiming in on the NY-20 special election, after Republican candidate Jim Tedisco conceded defeat in the narrow race, and contrasting this with Norm Coleman's decision to bottle up Al Franken's Senate victory in litigation.
"I congratulate Jim Tedisco for doing the right thing and conceding this race. Now the people of New York's 20th congressional district will once again be fully represented in Congress," DFL Party chairman Brian Melendez says in a press release.
"Unfortunately, Minnesotans are not as fortunate. Nearly six months after Election Day -- and the meticulous and fair process that followed -- we remain without full representation in the U.S. Senate."
Full press release after the jump -- plus a similar release from the Democratic National Committee.
From the DFL:
Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
Tedisco Did the Right Thing, Now It's Coleman's Turn
Following an extremely close special-election contest, New York Congressional candidate concedes
St. Paul (April 24, 2009) -- This afternoon Jim Tedisco, Republican candidate for New York's 20th Congressional District, conceded the race to Democrat Scott Murphy. Tedisco's decision to do the right thing and move on came after an incredibly close special-election contest, ending yesterday with a 400-vote advantage for Murphy.
The Minnesota DFL Party released this statement from Chair Brian Melendez:
"I congratulate Jim Tedisco for doing the right thing and conceding this race. Now the people of New York's 20th congressional district will once again be fully represented in Congress.
"Unfortunately, Minnesotans are not as fortunate. Nearly six months after Election Day -- and the meticulous and fair process that followed -- we remain without full representation in the U.S. Senate. Instead of putting Minnesotans' best interests first, former Senator Norm Coleman remains is still playing the dog in the manger, catering to national Republicans and their special-interest friends.
"Hopefully Mr. Coleman will take a cue from Mr. Tedisco's classy decision. If he has any respect for his former constituents and for Minnesota's future, he will realize that now is the time for him to put personal pride aside, do the right thing, and give Minnesota back its full voice in the Senate."
And from the DNC:
Jim Tedisco Does the Right Thing, Will Norm Coleman?
Losing Candidate in Special Congressional in New York Concedes Rather than Press On, While Norm Coleman Continues to Tilt at Windmills
Washington -- Today, Jim Tedisco, a Republican running in an excruciatingly close special election in New York's 20th Congressional District in which the vote was held on March 31st, did the right thing and conceded when it had become clear that he had lost. Tedisco decided to spare the voters a protracted legal fight and conceded rather than press on with challenges and other delaying tactics which would have left voters without representation in Congress. While the process in New York 20 took just three weeks, and the entire recount in Florida in 2000, which involved multiple legal appeals took less than five, Norm Coleman continues to tilt at windmills - insisting on dragging out a Senate race there after six months of legal wrangling and recounts which resulted in Al Franken being declared the winner last week
"Whether you are a voter in Minnesota or in New York's 20th Congressional District, you deserve to have full representation in Congress," said Hari Sevugan, national spokesman for the DNC. "Jim Tedisco had the decency to concede when it became clear that continuing was a lost cause, but Norm Coleman continues to tilt at windmills and hold the voters of Minnesota hostage to his political ambitions and the interests of Republican leaders in Washington, DC. Jim Tedisco did the right thing today in putting the interests of the people he sought to represent ahead of partisan politics. The question is will Norm Coleman do the right thing too?"
Josh
Matt
Eric
Oooooh! Ooooohhhh! I KNOW this one!!!!!
The answer: Nope.
April 24, 2009 6:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's not a matter of the right thing, its a matter of displaying class and dignity something that the GOP no longer has.
I think it was Mark Twain that said honesty is a precious commodity and should be used sparingly.
The GOP continues to tarnish the image of conservatives who used to be noted for honor, honesty and integrity. Now they have become noted as the party of tricks, dirty tactics and bad manners.
How many more races does the GOP have to lose before they understand they need an extreme makeover? I suspect that in the next Senate election they will lose 4 to 6 more seats. Keep up the good work Cheney, Rove, Rush and don't forget to keep that cheerleader Palin in the press.
April 24, 2009 6:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
When exactly were they noted for honesty and integrity? In 1972?
April 24, 2009 9:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Palin/Jindal 2012!
April 24, 2009 7:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dee?
April 25, 2009 2:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Whiny old fart that I am, I think the MN Dem response would have had more bite if it didn't mention NoCol at all, just heaped praise on Tedisco and underlined how lucky NY-20 is to once again have its full complement of legislative representation in Washington.
April 24, 2009 7:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think both Dem releases are just about perfect. You can't stab him and twist too many times!
April 24, 2009 11:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
You can't put too much water in a nuclear reactor. --Ed Asner
April 24, 2009 11:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tedisco distanced himself from the Republican National Party when it became obvious they were doing his chances of winning more harm than good. Unfortunately for his campaign, by the time he realized what was happening to him, it was too late. But at least by keeping his dignity intact, Tedisco now has a future politically (at least on some level).
Coleman on the other hand, is toast. Stick a fork in him. Done!
He crossed the line into political oblivion, the day he decided to put the National Republican Party and its needs, above the needs of the people of MN. And its obvious now to all, that's exactly what he did.
Disgusting.
April 25, 2009 8:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Really good point.
The national GOOPers insisted on running off-putting party-of-no ads in this race, even over Tedisco's objections. They refused his requests to take the ads down, and that may have cost them the election.
Now maybe this was all political theater and Tedisco actually welcomed those ads while being able to distance himself from them. Or maybe not.
There are a couple of interesting angles here. One is Steele vs. Tedisco. The other, broader and more important, is whether the NRC and NRCC have learned to not dismiss local candidates' advice about what kind of ads are helpful or hurtful in their districts.
Hey, Eric! It might be worthwhile trying to get a reaction from the various national RepubliFringe committees about whether they plan any shift in that direction.
April 25, 2009 1:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tedisco is not the 59th vote. Reading the Administration's legislative strategy regarding Health Care where they are holding the trump card of reconciliation instead of forging a traditional compromise with the minority rule, 59 is much better than 58.
Franken is one step closer to forcing the Republicans to actually compromise.
April 25, 2009 11:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think if the majority in the House had been as difficult as the one in the Senate, Tedisco would not have conceded, and it would have been the court route like MN. Elaborating a bit, the House Democrats have a comfortable enough majority, that the loss of NY 20, while unpleasant, would not have a significant effect on their ability to pass bills. The Senate, on the other hand, with the ability to filibuster and block bills, needs 60 votes for cloture to shut off debate. The majority the Democrats have, while able to pass bills if they come to a vote, is tight enough that the absence of Franken (D-MN) does have an impact, therefore Coleman's refusal to give up. The Republicans are using this effort to keep Franken from being sworn in as their best opportunity to fight the Democrats and stall the Obama agenda, since they realize that there's no way for Coleman to actually win. As long as they string this out, it's a plus for them.
April 25, 2009 11:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
and?
April 26, 2009 2:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
If you have a point, please make it.
April 26, 2009 11:57 PM | Reply | Permalink