imkittymyers at hotmail dot com
Sunday, March 06, 2005
EVEN REPUBS ARE LIBERAL IN NY
Rep. King (R-NY) | Sen. Clinton (D-NY) | Rep. Houghton (R-NY) |
I live in Corning so I’m very familiar with Amo. Amo Houghton is a classic RINO (Republican In Name Only). The Houghton family, along with Corning Inc., has had ties with the Clintons since 1992. Amo “Can’t We All Just Get Along” Houghton was one of only four Repubs who voted against Slick’s impeachment. He was already eyeing his legacy back then; he wanted to be known as the gentleman representative from Upstate NY, the one who tried to instill civility on The Hill. Leftist journalists were singing his praises.
USA Today: Amo Houghton is known as a voice of civility and moderation in the rough and-tumble House. … When the Republican Party took over control of Congress in 1994, Houghton found himself something of an odd man out. Houghton shared little in common with House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., and his followers who ran the GOP and the House of Representatives. The Buffalo News dubbed Houghton "Our Man Against the Newtoids" and The Washington Post profiled his "low-key, uphill civility crusade."Hillary has been a frequent visitor to Corning, before and after her election to the Senate. I really don’t know if the area is warming to her or not, but I do know that this once relatively conservative part of NY State has become far more liberal. And I do know that even though people here respect Amo and like him, most of us were very relieved when he decided to retire.
As Clinton Wins G.O.P. Friends, Her Rivals' Task Toughens
The intimate gathering at a private home in Corning, N.Y., was pretty typical for an upstate fund-raiser featuring Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton: dozens of donors clustered in the terrace, listening to her speak, as they sipped wine and nibbled on hors d'oeuvres.
But one thing made the event unusual: The host was a prominent Republican businessman whose brother Amo Houghton was the popular nine-term Republican congressman from the area who, it turns out, gives Mrs. Clinton, a Democrat, an "A-plus" for the job she is doing.
His brother James, chairman of Corning Inc., agreed. "When I introduced Hillary, I told the crowd that the last time a Houghton had a fund-raiser for a Democrat was about 1812," he said.
...
Rep. Peter King (R-NY): “I think that too many Republicans who criticize Hillary Clinton sound like Michael Moore criticizing George Bush."
Out the the four Republicans who voted against impeaching Bill Clinton, two were from NY: one was Amo Houghton and the other was Pete King. Even so, he does have a point. Read King's profile here.