Senate hopeful Bob Turner rapped President Obama’s administration for a “Massive Obama ‘Racist’ Overreach in New York” according to his latest campaign email.
Our Alison Gendar reports:
The Republican congressman called on Obama to “call off his dogs” in Westchester County, claiming the administration’s effort to build low-income housing in affluent New York City suburb was an attempt to “socially engineer communities.”
“Westchester County is not racist; it’s expensive,” said Rep. Turner.
“This severe government intrusion that the Obama Administration is calling its ‘grand experiment’ is divisive and probably unconstitutional. The housing challenges in Westchester are economic, not racial, and the Obama Administration would be better served trying to fix the economy and create jobs for all New Yorkers, rather than attempting to socially engineer communities block by block.”
Turner is waging a GOP primary challenge against Manhattan lawyer Wendy Long and Nassau Controller George Maragos in the hopes of challenging Democratic incumbent Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.
Update
: In a statement, Maragos went after Turner for political showboating. He also said the congressman’s outrage doesn’t match up with what he has (or hasn’t) done to address the issue in the House.
“Bob Turner’s stunt today calling for Obama to “call off the dogs” has done a grave disservice to Westchester residents by injecting potentially racially divisive language into a sensitive local issue. I support Westchester in its fight with HUD, however, I fear that Mr. Turner’s ill-advised statement will set back any resolution to the issue, incite racial strife and may negatively impact Westchester residents…
“Bob Turner must also answer why as a member of Congress he has not previously spoken up in support of Westchester on this issue? Obama-style political stunts during a campaign for publicity are a disservice to Westchester residents and all New Yorkers. It also exemplifies all that is wrong with Washington and politicians. They prefer to make accusatory and inflammatory statements in public rather than to find solutions through compromise.”
Update
: More political ping-pong via Turner spox Jessica Proud:
“George Maragos is either so ignorant that he doesn’t understand the massive federal government overreach that is occurring in Westchester or he is defending the Obama Administration’s attempts to trample over individual and property rights. If he read the newspapers, he’d realize the significance of the issue Congressman Turner raised today. Obama’s HUD called this housing suit a “grand experiment” and if he can steamroll Westchester, he’ll be coming for Nassau and Suffolk Counties next. Which is it, George?”