WVFC is still buzzing about the choice of 42-year-old Kirsten Gillibrand to be the next Senator from New York. To accompany our interview of her, above, here are some links of commentary by others, as well as the transcript of her remarks and those by New York Governor David Paterson.
- Time Magazine’s profile notes that “Rep. Kristen [sic] Gillibrand is not someone who stays in the background. The
ambitious mother of two fills two criteria Paterson reportedly had in
mind: she’s a woman and she’s an Upstater with deep family ties to the
Albany Area.”
- Gillibrand’s 2008 profile from NOW-NYC calls her “a leader in reforming education, improving healthcare access, and
developing the local economy” and noted that “She has written legislation that would
double the tax credit for child care expenses and make up to $10,000 in
college tuition tax deductible… and was a lead
sponsor of legislation that would start a bipartisan 9/11 Commission.”
The New Republic, Slate’s XX Factor and others have noted that Gillibrand’s a member of the House’s “Blue Dog” caucus, and her voting record reflects that, including a 100% rating from the National Rifle Association. However, today she racked up endorsements from the Empire State Pride Agenda and Casey Morris of the liberal Daily Kos.
As the Village Voice notes narrating the press conference above, “Gillibrand gave a special shout to the ladies in the
House, including Nita Lowey (‘took me under her wing’), Slaughter,
Carolyn McCarthy (‘outstanding leadership on gun violence’),
Nydia Velazquez, and Yvette Clark.”
Nonetheless, Rep. McCarthy was not among the representatives clustered around Gillibrand today, and told Newsday that she was so outraged by that 100% NRA rating that she will run against Gillibrand in the 2010 special election. ““This morning I basically started getting calls saying he was going to
choose her and I had to speak out, even at the risk of alienating the
governor,” she said. “I do not believe New York should have a senator who has these
positions… I just came through the 15th anniversary of when my
husband was killed and I my son was maimed from the shooting.”
Today’s statement from EMILY’s List remained neutral on the subject, applauding Gillibrand’s choice. “She has been a leader for women and families,
fighting for progressive
policies such as equal pay and expanded health care for children, [and]
has dedicated herself to being a powerful voice for her constituents —
using her position on the Armed Services Committee to fight for
veterans and her slot on the Agriculture Committee to protect upstate
farms.”
These are immutable facts. Kirsten Gillibrand was born in 1966. She graduated from Dartmouth. She is a woman. And one thing more: We are in a laboratory now.
This is going to be a test of walking the walk, not talking the talk. And a test of women of a certain stripe to see if we can wait and see who the new senator from New York really is without instantly celebrating simply because of her gender.
I, for one, am dismayed that the scuttlebutt is she has gotten this appointment because she is a woman. That is not a good enough reason. We have a new administration that needs strong support for its programs and policies and we have a national need for transparency and honesty. The question is what does this senator stand for and can she live up to what many citizens want to believe she is?
I am reminded of the Turkish proverb: When the axe walked into the forest, the trees said, “Look. It is one of us.”
This is what you will find on rightwingnews.com:
The irony is that Paterson may be swinging from the nation’s most prominent Democratic family to one with strong Republican ties. Gillibrand’s father, Doug Rutnick, is an Albany insider and lobbyist whose ties to former GOP powerhouses Joe Bruno, George Pataki and Al D’Amato are legendary.
What is also ironic is that Gillibrand has a 100 percent rating from the National Rifle Association. Didn’t we just get over disparaging a woman candidate who had a penchant for firearms?
I will hold my feet to the same fire I intend to build at the toes of my state’s newest senator. I will make judgment on action, not on hemline or hair style. I will not celebrate or give automatic support to someone because her voice operates in the same octave as mine or because she might show up at a woman’s luncheon I too attend.
We are at a time in history where diversity is being offered as a way of erasing barriers. We, as women, need to drop the barriers between our desires for progress and our demands for gender equality. If this woman can do the job with honor while upholding honest principles of public service, brava. If not, she’s the wrong man for the job.
— Laura Sillermsn
These are immutable facts. Kirsten Gillibrand was born in 1966. She graduated from Dartmouth. She is a woman. And one thing more: We are in a laboratory now.
This is going to be a test of walking the walk, not talking the talk. And a test of women of a certain stripe to see if we can wait and see who the new senator from New York really is without instantly celebrating simply because of her gender.
I, for one, am dismayed that the scuttlebutt is she has gotten this appointment because she is a woman. That is not a good enough reason. We have a new administration that needs strong support for its programs and policies and we have a national need for transparency and honesty. The question is what does this senator stand for and can she live up to what many citizens want to believe she is?
I am reminded of the Turkish proverb: When the axe walked into the forest, the trees said, “Look. It is one of us.”
This is what you will find on rightwingnews.com:
The irony is that Paterson may be swinging from the nation’s most prominent Democratic family to one with strong Republican ties. Gillibrand’s father, Doug Rutnick, is an Albany insider and lobbyist whose ties to former GOP powerhouses Joe Bruno, George Pataki and Al D’Amato are legendary.
What is also ironic is that Gillibrand has a 100 percent rating from the National Rifle Association. Didn’t we just get over disparaging a woman candidate who had a penchant for firearms?
I will hold my feet to the same fire I intend to build at the toes of my state’s newest senator. I will make judgment on action, not on hemline or hair style. I will not celebrate or give automatic support to someone because her voice operates in the same octave as mine or because she might show up at a woman’s luncheon I too attend.
We are at a time in history where diversity is being offered as a way of erasing barriers. We, as women, need to drop the barriers between our desires for progress and our demands for gender equality. If this woman can do the job with honor while upholding honest principles of public service, brava. If not, she’s the wrong man for the job.
— Laura Sillermsn
These are immutable facts. Kirsten Gillibrand was born in 1966. She graduated from Dartmouth. She is a woman. And one thing more: We are in a laboratory now.
This is going to be a test of walking the walk, not talking the talk. And a test of women of a certain stripe to see if we can wait and see who the new senator from New York really is without instantly celebrating simply because of her gender.
I, for one, am dismayed that the scuttlebutt is she has gotten this appointment because she is a woman. That is not a good enough reason. We have a new administration that needs strong support for its programs and policies and we have a national need for transparency and honesty. The question is what does this senator stand for and can she live up to what many citizens want to believe she is?
I am reminded of the Turkish proverb: When the axe walked into the forest, the trees said, “Look. It is one of us.”
This is what you will find on rightwingnews.com:
The irony is that Paterson may be swinging from the nation’s most prominent Democratic family to one with strong Republican ties. Gillibrand’s father, Doug Rutnick, is an Albany insider and lobbyist whose ties to former GOP powerhouses Joe Bruno, George Pataki and Al D’Amato are legendary.
What is also ironic is that Gillibrand has a 100 percent rating from the National Rifle Association. Didn’t we just get over disparaging a woman candidate who had a penchant for firearms?
I will hold my feet to the same fire I intend to build at the toes of my state’s newest senator. I will make judgment on action, not on hemline or hair style. I will not celebrate or give automatic support to someone because her voice operates in the same octave as mine or because she might show up at a woman’s luncheon I too attend.
We are at a time in history where diversity is being offered as a way of erasing barriers. We, as women, need to drop the barriers between our desires for progress and our demands for gender equality. If this woman can do the job with honor while upholding honest principles of public service, brava. If not, she’s the wrong man for the job.
— Laura Sillermsn