Published: Saturday, September 4, 2010
Bill Clinton hits the campaign trail for Democrats
Republicans are blaming Democrats for the problems they created, he says.
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Associated Press
Former President Bill Clinton campaigns for Rep. Michael McMahon, D-N.Y., at Wagner College in New York on Friday.
NEW YORK -- Former President Bill Clinton slammed Republicans Friday for their stewardship of the economy during their years in power in Washington, and said the party's campaign message heading into the 2010 midterm elections is: "Put us in because the Democrats didn't fix what we did to you in 21 months."
Clinton appeared at a campaign rally on behalf of first term Democratic Rep. Michael McMahon, one of a handful of House Democrats from New York thought to be vulnerable in November. McMahon's district covers Staten Island, the most Republican-leaning of New York City's five boroughs.
Michael Grimm and Michael Alegretti are vying in the state's Sept. 14 primary for the GOP nomination to challenge McMahon.
With Democrats in Congress facing potentially steep losses this fall, Clinton has emerged as a top campaign surrogate, especially in swing districts like McMahon's. He praised McMahon for his independence, noting he had voted against President Barack Obama's sweeping health care reform plan.
Clinton said McMahon would face unfair criticism for supporting for the $800 billion stimulus bill, which Republicans have pilloried for creating record deficits while not easing unemployment. The stimulus, Clinton said, "gave money to state and local governments so they wouldn't have to lay off a million teachers and health care workers."
Tory Mazzola, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, dismissed Clinton's visit.
"Mike McMahon knows that voters reject his record of tax hikes, wasteful spending and massive debt, so he's calling on his Washington friends to try and save his career as a politician," Mazzola said. "The trouble is that no amount of political cover can make up for his broken promises."
Clinton appeared at a campaign rally on behalf of first term Democratic Rep. Michael McMahon, one of a handful of House Democrats from New York thought to be vulnerable in November. McMahon's district covers Staten Island, the most Republican-leaning of New York City's five boroughs.
Michael Grimm and Michael Alegretti are vying in the state's Sept. 14 primary for the GOP nomination to challenge McMahon.
With Democrats in Congress facing potentially steep losses this fall, Clinton has emerged as a top campaign surrogate, especially in swing districts like McMahon's. He praised McMahon for his independence, noting he had voted against President Barack Obama's sweeping health care reform plan.
Clinton said McMahon would face unfair criticism for supporting for the $800 billion stimulus bill, which Republicans have pilloried for creating record deficits while not easing unemployment. The stimulus, Clinton said, "gave money to state and local governments so they wouldn't have to lay off a million teachers and health care workers."
Tory Mazzola, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, dismissed Clinton's visit.
"Mike McMahon knows that voters reject his record of tax hikes, wasteful spending and massive debt, so he's calling on his Washington friends to try and save his career as a politician," Mazzola said. "The trouble is that no amount of political cover can make up for his broken promises."
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• Unemployment • Employment • Unemployment • Democratic Party • Elections • Republican PartyComments
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