Golisano Uses Dirty Tricks Mail House Against Democratic Assemblyman
The Buffalo News had a story on billionaire Tom Golisano’s political efforts (headed by notorious reformer Steve Pigeon) using a Democratic mailhouse (Atlas Direct) that sent out mailings that violated the league of woman voters fair campaign pledge earlier this year on behalf of RIChard Dollinger and David Nachbar.
Don’t get us wrong, we are not defending Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, a married guy who “dates” interns, but it is ironic that Golisano is using underhanded tactics in the name of reform. That sort of sounds like something former reformer Elliott Spitzer would do.
According to the Buffalo News:
Responsible New York — the B. Thomas Golisano-funded, G. Steven Pigeon-managed political organization — has been linked to a spate of political attacks against incumbent Assemblyman Sam Hoyt despite efforts to hide their involvement.
A group calling itself Mothers and Fathers Demanding Answers has mailed a provocative piece of campaign literature and launched a Web site that assails Hoyt in harsh terms for past sexual relations with an Assembly staff member.
The Web site is registered through a service in Australia. The return address on the flyer is a direct mail service in Long Island City. The owner refuses to say who paid the bill.
The flyer, however, uses the same bulk mail permit issued to Responsible New York.
Is Golisano’s organization behind the effort?
“I’m not going to comment,” Pigeon said.
(snip)
Responsible New York operates as an “independent unauthorized committee,” which allows it to operate without many of the limitations placed on other political committees. But state election law prohibits it from coordinating its activities with the campaigns of candidates.
Both Pigeon and Barbra Kavanaugh, Hoyt’s opponent in next Tuesday’s Democratic primary, maintain that Responsible New York and the campaign are not coordinating efforts. Responsible New York, however, has mailed a series of flyers attacking Hoyt, and Golisano is one of Kavanaugh’s largest financial contributors.
Golisano’s involvement in this still doesn’t make any sense. Maybe it’s tough being a billionaire. Nothing to do all summer but wait until the hockey season starts. My guess is that Hoyt is toast. But Golisano’s enabling Steve Pigeon to be a major power broker is very disturbing.
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“But state election law prohibits it from coordinating its activities with the campaigns of candidates.”
It’s obvious that Golisano, Dollinger and Nachbar are breaking the law here. The two mail pieces include photos of Dollinger and Nachbar that only their respective campaigns could have taken.
Golisano had to go to them to gain access to the photos, hence collusion with Dick and Dave.
We were sent an email informing us that Golisano has every intention of conducting his PAC/527 illegally and will just pay the fines when he’s found guilty. To this group of millionairres, what’s a couple hundred in fines?
Forget the League of Women Voter charges (of which they are guilty of), Golisano and the other rich boys are breaking state election law.
Is this the reform you are fighting for Tom, Dick and Davey!
Watch the progressive socialists defend this using the “it’s ok when we do it” argument.
It looks like the state Democrats are using Golisano’s money to take out one of their own.
I wonder if Tom is smart enough to know what’s really going on here.
That Steve Pigeon is a real smart guy. Not commenting means you’re guilty dude.
Unless IP is right and Golisano just doesn’t care.
This whole scheme is not going to help him become Governor. Tom has to learn that the people like him as a philanthropist, not a politician.
Poor rich guy is just being used.