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Doheny says his Congressional primary win unites Republicans, Conseratives; Democrats claim he is now 'Tea Party Darling'

Posted 6/27/12

Republican Congressional candidate Matt Doheny says his Tuesday primary win has united Republican, Independence and Conservative voters, but Democrats claim he “cemented” his position as a “Tea …

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Doheny says his Congressional primary win unites Republicans, Conseratives; Democrats claim he is now 'Tea Party Darling'

Posted

Republican Congressional candidate Matt Doheny says his Tuesday primary win has united Republican, Independence and Conservative voters, but Democrats claim he “cemented” his position as a “Tea Party Darling.”

And Doheny has challenged incumbent North Country Congressman Bill Owens of Plattsburgh, a Democrat, to three debates before the November elections.

"I want to go to Washington to remove the roadblocks that keep us all from being successful, such as the excessive regulation and taxation that convince our job creators to avoid risk, sit on the sidelines and not grow,” said the Watertown GOP candidate in a prepared statement. He beat opponent Kellie Greene by more than a two-to-one margin Tuesday.

Doheny said Owens "advocates for a fairness of outcomes, which uses the heavy hand of government to dictate winners and losers among us all. It degrades those who work hard and take risk - and it rewards those who do nothing but exploit our government's benevolence.”

The Democrats see it differently.

"Matt Doheny sent a clear sign to North Country voters last week that his priorities will be with the leadership of the far right of his party and not with middle class voters in his district when he admitted that he would choose protecting tax breaks for Big Oil over giving local businesses some tax relief," said Josh Schwerin, Northeast Press Secretary at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

"Matt Doheny has made it abundantly clear the Republican budget that drastically cuts Medicare and forces seniors to pay more for health care isn't extreme enough for his liking, he has chosen positions on legislation only after ensuring they don't conflict with his partisan pledges, and predicted that there would be mass outrage from voters once they see his Tea Party voting recor,” Schwerin added.

Said Doheny, "My Democratic opponent, in word and deed, has shown little inclination to reverse the tax-and-spend mentality that threatens to bankrupt our children's future. In helping to rack up trillions in debt and by advocating for new forms of taxation, he bears responsibility for our current economic calamity. Unemployment has increased in each county that he represents over the past two years - and he has no plan to stem the tide and reverse course.”

Doheny continued, "These competing visions - and the effect they will have on each resident's ability to get and keep a job - are the crux of this election. Outside interests will try to distract voters with accusations that hold no bearing on this central issue, so it's imperative that we remain focused on the priorities that matter most.

"I look forward to engaging my opponent in a serious discourse on these issues. To that end, I'm calling on him to join me in requesting three debates - one in each media market - between now and Election Day. Let's open it up the public and have a major network or cable station tape the event or carry it live. Let's talk about our competing visions for America. This election - and the future of our country - is simply too important to go without that free exchange of ideas.

"Finally, I have no intention of resting on my laurels and simply reveling in tonight's victory. I'm going to be back out there at 8 a.m. tomorrow meeting more voters. Together, we can get Washington working for us again."