To: Interested Parties
From: Bryan Lesswing
Date: Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Re: The Case against John Faso
The Case Against John Faso
Tonight marks the end of a brutal Republican primary – and the beginning of the general election – in New York’s 19th Congressional District now between Zephyr Teachout and John Faso.
Fresh off a debilitating primary that was described as “nastiest Republican primary of all” among nationwide congressional races, Faso enters the general election badly bruised and vulnerable.
His extreme conservative voting record in the state assembly and subsequent career as an Albany insider only makes matters worse for him in a district that gave President Obama a victory twice – 53% in 2012.
In contrast, Zephyr Teachout will continue to focus on creating jobs, making college more affordable and fighting to expand the middle-class in the Hudson Valley.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Sabato’s Crystal Ball: Toss-up
The Cook Political Report: Toss-up
FASO’S AGENDA COMES FIRST
John Faso is just another out-of-step former Albany politician who will put his arch-conservative agenda ahead of Hudson Valley women and middle-class families – no matter who gets hurt.
Anti-Women Record
Faso has aligned himself with the far-right wing of his Republican Party, which has consistently failed women and their families.
Faso called Roe v. Wade a “black mark” on the country, and once likened anti-choice proponents to modern day “abolitionists.” Faso even opposed a bipartisan measure ensuring both safe access to abortion clinics and protections against stalking.
His outspoken opposition on women’s health even derailed his previous run for state comptroller.
While in the state assembly, Faso voted four times against equal pay – and even stood as the lone vote against requiring ‘equal pay for equal work’ be included in the state constitution.
This November, Hudson Valley women and families will be ready to reject Faso in favor of an advocate who will fight for them.
Failure to Keep Americans Safe
Faso still refuses to back a commonsense and bipartisan effort to address a real threat to our homeland security: keeping guns out of the hands of suspected terrorists. Instead, he puts the interests of the corporate gun lobby ahead of the safety of the New Yorkers.
The threat is real. Per the Washington Post, a recent Government Accountability Office report found that, “Between 2004 and 2014, suspected terrorists attempted to purchase guns from American dealers at least 2,233 times. And in 2,043 of those cases — 91 percent of the time — they succeeded.”
At the same time, closing this dangerous loophole is widely popular among Americans, including gun owners. According to the Washington Post, a 2012 poll found that “even 76 percent of American gun owners, including 71 percent of NRA members, supported prohibiting people on the terror watch list from buying guns.”
ALBANY INSIDER
Speaking of fraud … Faso faced allegations of illegal lobbying activity in a blockbuster pay-to-play pension fund scandal. Faso’s firm ended up settling, paying the state an enormous fine of $500,000.
The scandal did not escape criticism from Faso’s primary opponent, who relentlessly attacked Faso for saying he was “proud” of his lobbying record.
PARTY OF TRUMP
Donald Trump will have a disastrous impact on Faso’s re-election chances.
Faso himself said that he’d back Trump as his party’s nominee.
New York’s 19th Congressional District is comprised of moderates, women, young people, and seniors who voted for President Obama twice – and they want a sensible leader who will focus on their priorities and deliver results. Voters know that Faso – when faced with Donald Trump and his dangerous views – will always falls in line.
BOTTOM LINE
John Faso is headed for another loss in this swing district because of his out-of-touch conservative record, scandal-ridden history, and the reality that he is sharing the ticket with Donald Trump.
And while the GOP’s messy primary was raging, Democrats were registering voters in this swing district which President Obama won in 2008 and 2012
Hudson Valley voters are going to reject the John Faso/Donald Trump ticket at the polls and hand this seat to Zephyr Teachout who will give New York families an opportunity to succeed.