Now that the 32 members of the Democratic Conference have welcomed Pedro Espada back with open arms, let us reflect on what members of the Democratic party had to say about now-pal Pedro over the past 32 days.
Democratic Conference:
Congressman Charlie Rangel: “It’s been a real embarrassment to the New York delegation—both Republican and Democrat—to believe that people who have been indicted can be welcomed into the Republican Party. This is a coup that is not based on principles of politics but merely the self-aggrandizement of individuals that have not made contributions to either one of the parties. It is a total embarrassment to the state. If it weren’t a question of losing the majority, I think we’d welcome them going over to the other side,”
Congressman Jerry Nadler: “As I get this story it’s [Hiram] Monserrate and [Pedro] Espada who did this, and both are quite possibly going to be out as felons pretty soon, and when you have those special elections it could flip back again. So I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Sen. Liz Krueger: “No. I cannot support Pedro Espada as president pro tem or one heartbeat away (from being governor); I cannot, speaking for Liz Krueger, because a governor, or a sitting governor – even for 10 minutes – has enormous power to make decisions that I do not believe I could trust to Pedro Espada.”
Sen. Craig Johnson: “I ask him and his fellow Long Island Republican senators the following question: Do you really believe that having Pedro Espada as your leader, and one step away from the governor’s office, is in the best interests of the residents of New York State?”
Spokesmen Austin Shafran, spokesman for State Senator Malcolm Smith: (He) just told me that this coup (which he called “illegal”) in the chamber was orchestrated by “a thief and a thug.” He was referring to State Senator Pedro Esapda Jr., who has run afoul of the state board of elections and is under investigation by the Bronx County district attorney and Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s office, as well as State Senator Hiram Monserrate, who has been indicted for assaulting his girlfriend.
Shafran: “It comes down to money, and we obviously found out what Pedro Espada’s price was. He was trying to give $2 million to sham groups with addresses that were clearly linked to Espada employees.”
City Councilman Charles Barron: “Now, every senator has veto power. Any one senator can say ‘I’m going to flip this side or that side.’ So, you’re rewarding flip-flopping. You’re rewarding sellouts. These are hustlers hustling hustlers.”
Democratic Senate Campaign Committee:
RoboCall: “Our State Senator, Marty Golden, voted to elect Pedro Espada, an indicted Democrat from the Bronx to lead the Senate and to be next in line for governor!? What was Golden thinking? Pedro Espada’s campaign was convicted of stealing from the elderly to pay for his campaigns, and was just accused of trying to steal millions of taxpayer dollars through bogus nonprofits! Call Marty Golden at 718- xxx-xxxx and tell him we’ve had enough corruption in Albany. We need him to stop the nonsense, get rid of Pedro Espada and get back to work.”
Robo-Call: Hello, my name is Steve Kramer. I’m calling to tell you about yet another scheme by Pedro Espada to defraud the government. He recently tried to swindle $2 million dollars in state public earmarks for two phony non-profits that his associates operate. The two, Bronx Human Resources and Green ECO Energy, are linked directly to that crook, Pedro Espada.
Liberal Blogs:The Albany Project: I’m taking advantage of how we can post more than a diary a day to take exception with this characterization of Pedro Espada, that he’s a “Republican.” He isn’t. He obviously isn’t a democrat either. He’s a criminal, plain and simple.
The Albany Project:
