Spring Break
2/4 Column: A Republican in Disguise?
Ashley Mitchel '11, Publisher
Issue date: 2/3/09 Section: Opinion
About two weeks ago, New York Governor David Paterson selected an NRA-supporting centrist from a heavily Republican congressional district to fill the Senate seat vacated by Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Not surprisingly, the appointment of Representative Kirsten Gillibrand to the Senate has garnered mixed reactions from Democratic groups.
Although she is known as a hard-working and assertive legislator, critics have commented that she was a part of the Blue Dog Democratic Coalition, a group of moderate and conservative Democratic House members. Blue Dogs promote fi scal conservatism and accountability, among other things.
Gillibrand has lived up to the Blue Dog's reputation and has proven to be a rather conservative Democrat. She has been fully endorsed by the NRA, receiving a 100% positive rating from them. Her position on guns alone has resulted in anger and controversy: Representative Carolyn McCarthy, a Democrat from Long Island and a strong gun control activist, has already stated she is prepared to run against Senator Gillibrand in a primary in 2010.
In addition to her NRA credentials, Gillibrand received an 80 out of 100 rating from the LGBT advocacy group Human Rights Campaign- which is the lowest score out of New York's Democratic representatives. Although she supports civil unions, as a congresswoman she declined to co-sponsor a bill that would repeal the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
Perhaps the most controversial of Gillibrand's stances is the position she has adopted on illegal immigration. Unlike many of her Democratic counterparts, Gillibrand declined to support progressive immigration reform legislation. She has opposed granting amnesty to illegal immigrants and has stated she believes English should be the national language of the United States.
It would seem that these rather conservative positions should be cause for some concern among Democrats. However, I think many of the negative sentiments that have been expressed about her are premature. Although she has a fairly conservative voting record for a Democrat, I do think she will have to cultivate a new identity in the Senate, as she will be representing a greater constituency than as a congresswoman. Politicians- regardless of how principled they may claim they are- nevertheless have to be a somewhat opportunistic if they want to be elected. Further, Gillibrand's conservative views and positions as a congresswoman may be due in part to the fact that she hails from a fairly right- leaning district.
Not surprisingly, the appointment of Representative Kirsten Gillibrand to the Senate has garnered mixed reactions from Democratic groups.
Although she is known as a hard-working and assertive legislator, critics have commented that she was a part of the Blue Dog Democratic Coalition, a group of moderate and conservative Democratic House members. Blue Dogs promote fi scal conservatism and accountability, among other things.
Gillibrand has lived up to the Blue Dog's reputation and has proven to be a rather conservative Democrat. She has been fully endorsed by the NRA, receiving a 100% positive rating from them. Her position on guns alone has resulted in anger and controversy: Representative Carolyn McCarthy, a Democrat from Long Island and a strong gun control activist, has already stated she is prepared to run against Senator Gillibrand in a primary in 2010.
In addition to her NRA credentials, Gillibrand received an 80 out of 100 rating from the LGBT advocacy group Human Rights Campaign- which is the lowest score out of New York's Democratic representatives. Although she supports civil unions, as a congresswoman she declined to co-sponsor a bill that would repeal the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
Perhaps the most controversial of Gillibrand's stances is the position she has adopted on illegal immigration. Unlike many of her Democratic counterparts, Gillibrand declined to support progressive immigration reform legislation. She has opposed granting amnesty to illegal immigrants and has stated she believes English should be the national language of the United States.
It would seem that these rather conservative positions should be cause for some concern among Democrats. However, I think many of the negative sentiments that have been expressed about her are premature. Although she has a fairly conservative voting record for a Democrat, I do think she will have to cultivate a new identity in the Senate, as she will be representing a greater constituency than as a congresswoman. Politicians- regardless of how principled they may claim they are- nevertheless have to be a somewhat opportunistic if they want to be elected. Further, Gillibrand's conservative views and positions as a congresswoman may be due in part to the fact that she hails from a fairly right- leaning district.
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