Chuck Schumer | The New York Observer

Poll: Paterson Job Approval Increases to 21

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:30:00 -0500

ALBANY—After a concerted political blitz including a television ad campaign, a new poll finds David Paterson's approval and favorability ratings inched up this month, but he now trails Andrew Cuomo in a gubernatorial primary by nearly 60 points.

The Siena Poll found that 75 percent of registered Democrats surveyed would prefer Cuomo to Paterson, who garnered the support of just 16 percent. Among African-Americans, Paterson now trails Cuomo by a 2:1 margin. Paterson is...

Schumer Asks Whether 'We Do it With a Smaller Number of Troops'

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:39:05 -0500

Senator Chuck Schumer said the Obama administration shouldn’t rush to a decision on whether to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan, which the president's advisers are reportedly urging him to do.

Standing in front of the Manhattan Veterans Affairs office, Schumer—joined by New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez—said the number-one job is to protect the country from terrorism.

Both senators agreed it would be better if the military can achieve that goal from the air with fewer...

Credico for Senate, Comically

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:09:58 -0500

ALBANY—Randy Credico, the recovered addict, current activist, comedian, impersonator, sometime Bloomberg heckler and general character called this morning to announce what has been rumored on Fred Dicker's radio show for months: he will run against Senator Chuck Schumer.

"Chuck Schumer has abandoned, if he was ever there, the progressive position of the Democratic Party," Credico told me in a Capitol hallway (video below) insisting that "official" paper work is being filed so he will...

Silver Would Welcome Scozzafava

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:09:32 -0500

ALBANY—Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said he would give a "warm welcome" to Dede Scozzafava if she were to switch into his conference.

Scozzafava ended her congressional bid Saturday and, after talking with Representative Steve Israel, Silver, Chuck Schumer and Andrew Cuomo, decided to endorse the Democratic Party's candidate Bill Owens on Sunday. Republican leaders branded in "betrayal," and Assembly Republican Leader Brian Kolb told me there would be "frank discussions" about Scozzafava's role in...

The Schumer Option: A Short-Term Winner

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:34:00 -0400

We still don’t know for sure what the final Senate health care plan will look like, but the most likely resolution to one of the stickiest issues has been obvious since early May. That’s when Chuck Schumer outlined his own compromise vision for an optional government-run insurance package. His proposal, a “level playing field” public option that would be subject to the same rules that govern private insurance plans, was vintage Schumer, reflecting his...

The Anti-Gun Schumer Returns

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:38:00 -0400

In the minutes before the Senate barely voted down an amendment that would have allowed gun owners to carry concealed weapons across state lines, Chuck Schumer delivered an impassioned speech on the Senate floor urging his colleagues not to back the measure. "This amendment will incite a dangerous race to the bottom in our nation's gun laws," he said. It was like watching the Ghost of Schumer Past. As a member of the House of...

Thompson Gets a Shout-Out from Obama

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:58:00 -0400

Hours after Chuck Schumer heaped praise on Michael Bloomberg, Barack Obama gave a shout-out to the mayor’s Democratic rival, Bill Thompson. During his speech at the NAACP centennial event in midtown tonight, Obama said, “We know that even as our economic crisis batters Americans of all races, African-Americans are out of work more than just about anyone else—a gap that’s widening here in New York City, as detailed in a report this week by Comptroller...

Politics at the Pride Parade

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:51:08 -0400

Every year the political class pays homage to the gay community at the Pride Parade, and yesterday's was no...

The Swift, Brutal Primary Strategy of Kirsten Gillibrand

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 10:00:00 -0400

Earlier this month, Kirsten Gillibrand stood in front of the steps of City Hall to accept the endorsements of two more members of Congress and repeated her standard response to all inquiries related to her facing a potential primary challenge. "For my part, I am very focused on being the best senator I can be," Gillibrand told The Observer. "And I really do leave the politics to themselves. I think they will take care of...

Can Mark Green Really Be a Front-Runner?

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:16:00 -0400

Whatever you may think of him, you’ve got to hand it to Mark Green: The man just will not give up. He has spent the better part of three decades trying to be someone—someone big—in politics, and usually coming up short. Some actually believed we’d seen the last of him (as a candidate, at least) on that September night three years ago when, digesting his 20-point loss to Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary for...

Isay Supports Maloney, But Not in a Paid Way

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:36:00 -0400

Did Carolyn Maloney jump the gun in rolling Josh Isay out as a campaign consultant? Last week, when I called Maloney's office with a question about her possibly-maybe Senate campaign, I was referred to Isay, the influential consultant to Michael Bloomberg who, according to a report in City Hall News, Maloney had signed up to work on her prospective bid. At that point, a source with knowledge of the arrangement between Maloney and Isay said that...

Obama Redefines the Debate for New York's Israel Boosters

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:59:00 -0400

Barack Obama is changing what it means to be a pro-Israel politician in America. That much is obvious from the unusually thoughtful, nuanced and varied reactions by officials in New York—the world capital of Israel-boosterism—to his criticisms of the Netanyahu government’s settlement policies. “I think Obama feels that this type of shock therapy will have an effect on Netanyahu and also cause some American Jews to rally to his side,” said Representative Pete King, a staunchly...

Trippi Confirms He's In Talks With Maloney

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:28:00 -0400

In a brief telephone interview this morning, Joe Trippi confirmed a report in yesterday's City Hall News that he is in talks with Representative Carolyn Maloney about potentially working for her possible challenge to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. "Yes we've talked," said Trippi. "And she hasn't decide to run yet. But if she does, I think she'll win and I'd want to be part of it." The talks with Trippi come as a poll taken by Doug...

Schumer and Gillibrand Take Their Bows for Sotomayor

Tue, 26 May 2009 11:05:00 -0400

President Barack Obama's nomination of Sonia Sotomayor as his first Supreme Court appointment amounts to another victory for Chuck Schumer, who has pushed for Sotomayor for weeks. And he is taking his credit. A statement just issued by Schumer's office points out that he, along with Kirsten Gillibrand, recommended Sotomayer back in April. In the statement, Schumer said that it was an especially wise choice because it met "three very important standards... excellence, moderation and diversity." Schumer...

Massa Still Not For (Or Against) Gillibrand

Tue, 26 May 2009 10:14:00 -0400

ALBANY—Representative Eric Massa, in his first term representing the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier, refused again this morning to endorse Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, or to utter any approving comment about how she's conducted herself on the job thus far. "I'm not even going to go there," Massa told reporters on his weekly conference call. "I have not looked at anything she's done. I have been so focused on what I'm trying to do for the...

A Delegation Divided: Serrano and the Gillibrand Holdouts Await Their Due

Fri, 22 May 2009 10:19:00 -0400

According to Jose Serrano, Kirsten Gillibrand is going after the low-hanging fruit first. In the days since Representative Steve Israel decided not to consider a primary against Gillibrand, following calls from President Barack Obama and Senator Chuck Schumer, other members of the New York Congressional delegation have quickly lined up in support of Gillibrand: Nita Lowey, Maurice Hinchey, Brian Higgins, Michael McMahon, Yvette Clarke, John Hall, Michael Arcuri. Soon Nydia Velasquez and Ed Towns...

The Dwindling Challenge to Gillibrand

Wed, 20 May 2009 21:52:00 -0400

One by one, Kirsten Gillibrand’s potential Democratic challengers are removing themselves from the race. Steve Israel, who seemed moments away from jumping in just a week ago, pulled the plug last Friday, while Scott Stringer backed out on Tuesday. Their decisions, of course, came under considerable duress, with Barack Obama and Chuck Schumer pushing hard to clear the field for Gillibrand. The number of credible prospective challengers is now down to two: Carolyn Maloney and...

Donating to the Public Advocate Candidates: A Kennedy, Two Ferrers, Three Liberal Writers and a Mogul

Wed, 20 May 2009 14:02:00 -0400

For Eric Gioia, there are signs of major institutional support coming from one Kennedy family member, a Schumer aide, and the new city clerk (who landed the job in no small part because of the Queens County Democratic Organization.) Bill de Blasio got money from Fernando Ferrer and City Councilman Domenic Recchia, who supported extending term limits as de Blasio fought against it. Mark Green picked up money from contributors to the Huffington Post, the Daily...

Now, Smith Backs Gillibrand

Mon, 18 May 2009 12:15:00 -0400

ALBANY—A few days after Representative Steve Israel announced he will not engage in a primary against Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, State Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith is endorsing her. Gillibrand already has the support of David Paterson, who appointed her to the seat, and of her senior colleague Chuck Schumer. Smith, in other words, isn't going too far out on a limb by endorsing her now. But the timing is good, coming, as it does, two...

Israel Thanks Chuck Schumer for Helping Him Decide Not to Run

Fri, 15 May 2009 17:19:00 -0400

Chuck Schumer wins again. In Steve Israel's statement announcing his decision not to challenge Kirsten Gillibrand for U.S. Senate next year, the Long Island representative specifically thanks "Senator Schumer for his friendship and guidance during this process." Last week, an article in The New York Times quoted Schumer telling Democratic donors "There is not going to be a primary!" Schumer's cooperation with the Times story, which was about how he had taken Gillibrand under his wing, was...

This Time, Schumer Doesn't Side With Wall Street

Fri, 15 May 2009 11:01:00 -0400

Pending more details, Chuck Schumer is supporting the Obama administration's proposals to provide greater oversight of the derivatives, credit-default swaps, and other complicated financial instruments that helped cause the present economic crisis. "We need to regulate derivatives and Obama's outline is strong and sensible and I look forward to seeing the details," Schumer said in a statement sent to The Observer. It might seem to be a no-brainer for a Democratic Senator to support his party...

The Same-Sex Marriage Debate; Titone Invokes His Mother, Hikind Invokes God

Tue, 12 May 2009 19:05:00 -0400

ALBANY—The debate on the same-sex marriage bill in the State Assembly began at 4:52 p.m., with bill sponsor Assemblyman Danny O'Donnell calmly answering questions from Assemblyman Jack Quinn. Their exchange was respectful, and at times funny. The first strong position was taken by Assemblyman Mike Fitzpatrick, a Long Island Republican, who opposed the bill because he said it would force organizations or public accommodations with a religious belief—say, a Knights of Columbus Hall—to accept same-sex...

A Last-Minute Same-Sex Marriage Push From Chuck and Kirsten

Tue, 12 May 2009 14:39:00 -0400

ALBANY—In a letter sent today, Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer are urging members of the State Assembly to pass a bill legalizing same-sex marriage. "We have expressed our support for full marriage equality in New York and for a reworking of federal law that denies full federal legal equality to anyone who is lawfully married in any state," the two wrote. "Passage of this bill will be a vital step to achieving that goal." The letter...

Why Steve Israel Is Doing It

Mon, 11 May 2009 21:15:00 -0400

You don’t have to like Steve Israel to respect the bold and risky move he’s apparently on the verge of making. The fifth-term Long Island congressman, to believe reports that are now leaking out all over, will soon declare his candidacy for the 2010 Democratic Senate nomination, a slot that most national and some state Democrats would prefer be reserved for Kirsten Gillibrand. Mr. Israel’s odds aren’t exactly good. Hardly anyone knows who he is, he’ll...

Steve Israel Isn't Blinking (or Announcing) Yet

Mon, 11 May 2009 08:39:00 -0400

ALBANY—According to two congressional sources, Representative Steve Israel began telling some colleagues late last week about his intention to mount a primary challenge to Kirsten Gillibrand, who was picked over Israel and others to be senator. Fred Dicker reported that the announcement could come as early as today, but I was told by two people familiar with his plans that a formal declaration isn't going to come until later. (Dan Janison's sources say the same..) For...

The Meaning of Chuck's Public Defense of Kirsten

Fri, 08 May 2009 16:28:00 -0400

The way people who know Chuck Schumer see it, that story on the front page of today’s Times about how the senator has grown defensive of Kirsten Gillibrand was part of a clear, don’t-even-think-about-it message to the handful of Democratic elected officials contemplating a run for Senate. According to two former Schumer aides I talked to, the message that the senior senator is throwing his weight behind Gillibrand should have an impact on her challengers' calculations because...

Now, Cuomo Picks Up a Schumer Fund-Raiser

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:23:00 -0400

Andrew Cuomo has added another high-powered fund-raiser to his campaign as he gears up for 2010, prompting even more skepticism that the attorney general, whose reelection would be a laugher, is gearing up to run for anything but governor. According to sources with knowledge of the hire, Cuomo has now brought on Jennifer Bayer Michaels, Chuck Schumer's longtime chief fund-raiser and then a senior fund-raiser at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. She joins an already-crowded...

Protesters, Non-Rural Democrats Coming to Democratic Rural Conference

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:48:00 -0400

ALBANY—All of New York's Democratic elected officials will be gathering, or at least stopping in, at the Democratic Rural Conference being held this weekend at theGideon Putnam hotel. The crowd includes many definite and potential candidates for statewide office. The schedule is below. Of particular note are David Paterson and Andrew Cuomo, whose campaign committees will both host receptions tonight, and Representative Steve Israel, who represents a district that is far from rural but who...

The Sad Saga of Chris Dodd

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 22:12:00 -0400

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Bloomberg and (Lots of) Company Announce $261 Million in Stimulus for the City

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:25:00 -0400

Michael Bloomberg just announced the city is getting $261 million in federal stimulus money that will preserve and create approximately 32,000 jobs throughout the five boroughs. Bloomberg was joined at the announcement in Greenpoint by Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, potential mayoral rival Anthony Weiner, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and City Councilman David Weprin. "I want to thank President Obama and our congressional delegation for delivering this critical funding to New York City,"...

Tedisco Doesn't Want Any Fancy Endorsements Anyway

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 22:11:00 -0400

MALTA—The Congressional race between Scott Murphy and Jim Tedisco will be cast as a larger referendum on Democratic control in Washington no matter who wins. Each side knows this. Each side also knows that the greater the national effort put forth on behalf of the candidate, the greater the PR downside if that candidate loses: you can't say you didn't care about the election when your heavy hitters crowded the lineup. On the final Sunday of...

Hillary: See Chuck and Kirsten About Obama's Helicopters

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 06:53:00 -0400

Hillary Clinton may not be allowed to push for a plan to build a controversial and pricey fleet of presidential helicopters for Barack Obama anymore, but Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand are picking up the slack. At a private party last week, Clinton said she did everything in her power as senator to make sure that the manufacture of the helicopters in upstate New York went forward, and that any concerns about the future of...

One Way to Pay for a Memorial

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:03:00 -0400

The National September 11 Memorial and Museum is taking a numismatic turn. After a four-year effort to raise money from big donors locally and nationally, the memorial’s foundation is now trying to win support for the minting of a commemorative coin that could bring a few million dollars in new funding. The coin requires Congressional authorization, traditionally a competitive process as various nonprofit organizations—along with their sponsoring lawmakers—jostle for a limited number of slots. To this...

Schumer to Obama: Keep Going

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 19:52:00 -0400

Barack Obama’s address to Congress on Feb. 24 included only one clearly partisan shot at the rowdy Republicans in the chamber, but it was that line, a reference to “the deficits we inherited,” that prompted Senator Chuck Schumer to leap out of his seat like a contestant on The Price Is Right and laugh and point at his colleagues across the aisle. In contrast to a White House that likes to try and depict itself...

There Will Be High-Speed Rail Upstate, Almost Definitely

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 13:21:00 -0400

RENSSELAER—At a decidedly low-speed press conference featuring over a dozen speakers, David Paterson and Chuck Schumer, with great fanfare, unveiled an updated state rail plan that calls for greater rail-freight use as well as high-speed passenger rail from Niagara Falls to New York City. Paterson called the plan "honest and achievable," promising that with $3 billion of funding, the high-speed service (110 m.p.h.!) that upstaters have long lusted for could become reality within three to...

This Time, Schumer Hires a Bloomberg Guy

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 14:30:00 -0500

Chuck Schumer just hired Phil Goldfeder, a former aide to Michael Bloomberg and City Councilman Simcha Felder. Goldfeder worked on Bloomberg's campaign and then in the administration before joining Simcha Felder's unsuccessful State Senate campaign, where he was seen as a Bloomberg seal of approval for Felder's bid. The hire can be seen, by those of us prepared to read deeply into this sort of thing, as yet another sign that Schumer is unlikely to campaign...

Schumer Praises Morgy

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:29:00 -0500

Chuck Schumer just sent out a statement confirming that District Attorney Robert Morgenthau will not seek reelection. "Every so often a giant in their field comes along and in the world of criminal justice," says Schumer. "Robert Morgenthau was just that man. "As both a federal prosecutor and district attorney, his integrity and excellence is shown not just in his longevity and dedication, but in the results he delivered generations of New Yorkers. From safer streets to more efficient and...