ACLU scorecard: Kirsten Gillibrand, Lifetime score: 90%. Hillary Clinton, 76%

[usregimechange]

Seems fairly on our side to me...

[FLAprogressive]

1. In two years in the House....yeah BIG sample size there

Compared to 7 years in the Senate

[wyldwolf]

2. yes, her ENTIRE voting record.

[usregimechange]

3. decent snap shot

[Every Man A King]

27. You are on a bit of a crusade here it looks like

spinning yourself in circles, maybe you should go back to your old username, it seems to fit better.

[kirby]

4. That is a positive...

The 100% NRA scorecard bothers me. She claims to balance gun violence with the rights of hunters, but that doesn't compute with 100%. Wouldn't someone balancing both of those things come out towards the middle?

[usregimechange]

7. Yet that is a social libertarian stance

[kenfrequed]

28. honestly

I am more fiscally and socially liberal than most people I know. I dislike blue dogs and DLC democrats both for their conservative sell out nonsense on issues that actually have effects on ability to work with dignity. I am for gay marriage, against Nafta, for universal single payer healthcare, agaisnt corporate bailouts and hand outs, for Welfare and taking care of those that need help the most, against militarization of the police and the prison industrial system, and for peace and justice and all of that.

But Guns are one thing that I think we can lose as an issue. It needs to go the hell away. I don't like handguns and would not want one and nor would I allow it on my private property. Guns though are not the issue. Poverty is the issue. Violence and drug abuse (which creates still more violence) are mostly a function of poverty and desperation. Some high minded democrat needs to stand up and say:

"We are done trying to chase the symptoms of violence and mayhem in our culture, it is time to treat the disease that causes all of this and that cause is poverty and loss of hope so from now on no new laws limiting the second amendment will be pursued instead we will pour every drop of energy into dealing with poverty and improving the lifechances of the majority of struggling Americans"

Or something much better worded than that with actual grammar.

[kenfrequed]

29. That said...

She seems a bit conservative for my tastes.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

5. I remain puzzled as to why people, especially on DU, believe that Hillary is

some kind of liberal. She is not. She is DLC. This Gillibrand seems more liberal than Hillary in many ways, despite her 100% NRA score.

I'm still waiting on someone to explain to me why he/she thinks Hillary is a progressive. I need REAL examples from her voting record, not rhetoric.

[Vincardog]

13. They can't show you because HRC believes Liberal policies only there to be opposed.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

16. Just like her dear leader, Harold Ford, Jr. who slams and demonize liberals

every chance he gets.

[NoPasaran]

20. In DU terms, Hillary has only been a liberal for the last few days

Before then, she was practically Hitler in a pantsuit.

My personal view, she's a moderate just like I am. And so is President Obama.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

22. She is a DLC moderate. He is a pragmatic moderate.

[TheWraith]

32. Yes indeed. Anybody knows I'm no huge fan of Hillary, but I do like Gillibrand.

Guns are a non-issue as far as I'm concerned, and on the things where it matters Gillibrand is quite to the left of Clinton and even Schumer (who, while not a raging liberal, didn't publicly hedge as much as Clinton did).

[TTUBatfan2008]

6. What's Obama's? Just curious...

He seems to have come out pretty strong on the side of civil liberties during his Presidency, but I'd be interested to see if his voting record actually matches that or whether he's actually moved to the left since getting in office.

[usregimechange]

9. Lifetime score: 82%

[TTUBatfan2008]

12. Very interesting...

He seems to have moved to the left of that as President. :)

[nichomachus]

8. From Politico

David Paterson's choice of Kristin Gillibrand is, by the estimate of the New York pols I talk to, a pretty good pick: A young woman who won a hard-fought, bruising upset in a Republican district in 2006 and held her seat with unexpected ease last year. She has a "moderate" reputation for her pro-gun stance -- but is more or less a down-the-line liberal Democrat*; the gun position draws her some flack on her left flank to the same degree that it protects her right and strengthens her upstate. But she assured the state's leading gay rights group yesterday that she backs same-sex marriage, and shows no other conservative leanings.

[FLAprogressive]

10. "But she assured the state's leading gay rights group yesterday that she backs same-sex marriage"

She didn't 24 hours ago...why the flip flop Willard Mitt Gillibrand?

[wyldwolf]

11. Empire State Pride Agenda Executve Director Alan Van Cappelle is firmly behind the selection

"After talking to Kirsten Gillibrand, I am very happy to say that New York is poised to have its first U.S. Senator who supports marriage equality for same-sex couples," said Van Capelle in a statement. "She also supports the full repeal of the federal DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) law, repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT) and passage of legislation outlawing discrimination against transgender people. While we had a productive discussion about a whole range of LGBT concerns, I was particularly happy to hear where she stands on these issues."

http://www.observer.com/mobile/article/81552

[dtotire]

14. Graduated Magna Cum Laude from Dartmouth

(From Wikipedia)

Born into a politically connected family, Kirsten Rutnik was born and raised in Albany, New York; her parents are Douglas P. Rutnik, an attorney with the public defender's office, and Polly Noonan Rutnik, also an attorney.<1>

After attending Albany's Academy of the Holy Names, she graduated in 1984 from Emma Willard School in Troy, New York, the first all women's high school in the United States.

She graduated from Dartmouth College magna cum laude and received her law degree from the UCLA School of Law in 1991. She served as a law clerk on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.


That impresses me. I believe that every holder of high office should have superior Acacemic credentials.

[PBS Poll-435]

21. Great. Another Elitist.

:P

[ClarkUSA]

15. She is not on our side when it comes to the Bush tax cuts, which she wants extended.

Of course, she'll pull a Mitt Romney in no time, as she already has with gay rights and gun control. It's amazing what 24 hours
can wrought with a political whore.

[Occam Bandage]

26. In 2007, National Taxpayers Union gave Representative Gillibrand a grade of F.

2007-2008 Representative Gillibrand supported the interests of the National Tax Limitation Committee 8 percent in 2007-2008.

In 2007 Americans for Tax Reform gave Representative Gillibrand a grade of 5 out of 100.

2007 Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to FreedomWorks's position, Representative Gillibrand received a rating of 10 out of 100.

(all from VoteSmart)

Yeah, big tax cutter there. :eyes:

[CreekDog]

31. You and the other poster mock her by calling her Mitt Romney

Nobody else does this.

But you and the other poster use some form of calling her Mitt Romney.

How odd. :shrug:

[benEzra]

34. WTF? Mitt Romney was/is anti-gun...

and spoke over and over during the primary about the "need" to outlaw the most popular rifles in America. I don't think he ever went beyond "I support your 2nd Amendment rights, as long as you don't own any guns I want to ban."

[TreasonousBastard]

17. I agree, but the crickets seem to have...

a problem with her.

(It seems she's not perfect)

[Two Americas]

19. cricket here

chirp chirp

Why can't we be critical of our elected officials without being maligned and smeared?

It has nothing to do with anyone being "perfect."

[TreasonousBastard]

23. Most of the complaints I've seen so far...

have been flat out wrong on the facts, speculation, or wishful thinking.

Now, I note you've done some research into her views and background on agriculture, which is important to you and you seem to know something about. An opinion on that by you is worth something.

[Two Americas]

25. maybe

I am not trying to defend everything every critic has said. I am saying that lumping all critics into the same group and then speaking in general and pejorative terms about them is not helpful or fair.

Agriculture is not so much important to me, as a pet issue or a cause or a personal stance. All of the people being able to eat is important to me. Progressive agriculture is the cause of the eaters, not the farmers. All of our issues should be seen that way, or we have hopelessly compromised ourselves and surrendered any claim to moral authority when we speak about politics. I say this as an advocate for farmers, and there is no inconsistency. The goal of agriculture is to feed people, not to help people make money off of food production. People do not choose farming as a career to get wealthy, any more than people choose nursing or teaching for that purpose.

[Two Americas]

18. strong supporter of progressive farm bill reform

Gillibrand serves on the House Agriculture Committee and was a strong supporter of the progressive reforms in the new farm bill, including COOL (country of origin labeling)- very important in my view - caps, and support moved from grain and meat subsidies to "specialty crops" (fruits, nuts, vegetables) and investment in infrastructure. She gets a 90 rating on the TAPAI (Two Americas Progressive Agriculture Index).

I am not a big fan of funding either the energy industry to exploit crops for fuel, nor to diverting funds to hobby and weekend growers under the banner of "organic," but virtually all Democrats are pushing those now.

* Buy Local Amendment- Directed the USDA to provide loans to businesses that promote buying and distributing within 400 miles of the farms where the product was produced. This provision will specifically help agricultural businesses in the Northeast because of the large markets in Boston, New York and Philadelphia. Promoting local distribution also helps to keep local economies strong and prices low because consumers do not have to pay the high cost of transporting products long distances. Moreover, it helps save energy and reduces pollution by decreasing the truck and train traffic needed to haul products long distances.

* Organics Transition for Small Farms Amendment- Provided $50 million in grants and free technical assistance to farmers that want to transition from traditional farming to organic farming. Many of New York's farmers are operating on the financial edge and can not afford the high investment that is required to transition to organic. This amendment addresses that need and will help keep many of our small farms in business. Further, the organic market has been growing exponentially recently - especially in New York City - and the Upstate economy can benefit immensely from this increased demand.

In addition to working on the Farm Bill, I have worked to provide more funding for rural hospitals, broadband connectivity, and low income housing by voting to increase grant programs and provide more low interest loans for small communities.

I am committed to the long term viability of our agricultural sector in order to protect our national food security and ensure that Americans have a low-priced, clean and healthy food supply. That is why, moving forward, I am determined to find a more sustainable method for pricing dairy products, to strengthening our rural economies, and ensuring that our Upstate farms and open spaces are protected from New York City sprawl.

Important highlights of the Farm Bill (H.R. 2419) include:

· Imposes real payment limitations that crack down on subsidies, saves more than a half billion dollars, and redirects funds to the people who need it most: working family farmers and ranchers.

· Strengthens payment limits to ensure that people making more than $1 million a year (adjusted gross income) can't collect conservation and farm program payments and closes loopholes that allow people to avoid payment limits by receiving money through multiple business units.

· Expands the USDA Snack Program, which helps schools provide healthy snacks to students during after-school activities to all 50 states and continuing the DOD Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, which provides a variety of fresh produce to schools.

· The legislation also includes critical provisions that support Democratic efforts to make our nation energy independent and fight global warming. The bill makes historic investment in renewable energy programs providing $2 billion in loan guarantees for the development of refineries that process renewable fuels, a key step toward bringing more renewable fuels to market in America and includes $1.5 billion for production incentives for ethanol and biodiesel made from agricultural, forest, and waste plant materials.

· Strengthens and enhances the food stamp program by reforming benefit rules to improve coverage of food costs and expand access to the program with additional funding support.

· Includes key provisions that invest in rural communities nationwide, including economic development programs and access to broadband telecommunication services.

· Establishes a new National Agriculture Research Program Office to coordinate the programs and activities of USDA's research agencies to minimize duplication and maximize coordination at all levels and creates a competitive grants program.

· Protects and sustains our nation's forest resources.

· Makes important new investments in renewable energy research, development and production in rural America.

· Approves language that will finally allow full implementation of Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling for meat in the Farm Bill. This language is a victory for consumers who overwhelmingly support the program.

[mvd]

24. She's also for medicare for all

I believe that's an even better position than President Obama has. I am for gun control, but think there should be some leeway locally - and it's not my #1 issue. Maybe in the Senate, she'll come around on immigration. Her position there is too RW for my tastes.

[TheWraith]

33. On immigration, she may be protecting her district.

It's rural and, as such, heavily farm oriented. It would be incredibly easy for farmers to replace local workers with illegal immigrant labor, which would hurt her constituents and the local economy. I'm not guaranteeing that her position will change in the Senate, though--a lot of upstate is farm-based.

[Doctor_J]

30. We know she's against any sort of gun control. So what?

:shrug:

[benEzra]

35. Not necessarily "any sort," just new bans, etc. (if I read her correctly).

She helped pass the Federal background check improvement bill after the VT shootings, and is presumably OK with the extensive laws already in place.