Malta’s Sleazy Mailer
Dave Malta (R, of course) sent out an incredibly sleazy mailer attacking Carmen Gumina - the Webster Democratic candidate for the County Legislature.
As reported by Channel 10:
A campaign mailing for Monroe County republican legislature candidate Dave Malta is causing a stir in Webster. Some parents say they’re offended. They say the flier implies that “special ed” students are dragging down the test scores at a Webster’s State Road elementary school. And it just so happens that the democratic candidate, Carmen Gumina, is the principal of that school.
Gumina is a popular elementary school principal, and his school is one of two elementary schools in Webster that accept students with learning disabilities. Those students’ scores are reported along with the “normal” kids’ scores, lowering the school’s average.
Let me be clear about this. Malta’s flier says “nice guys finish last”. Nice guys who educate children with special needs finish last. Who but a Republican could say that without feeling simply awful? I mean, that’s a terrible thing to say.
Gumina:
“It (the mailer) was a bit disappointing, especially the message about nice guys finishing last,” said Gumina, the democratic county legislature candidate opposing Malta, the incumbent. “That’s certainly not a belief that’s congruent I think with the core values of the community here in Webster. It’s certainly not something we teach our students. It’s not something we teach our children.”
You’d think Malta would have something to say in his defense, but no. Responding to Channel 10 is the puppetmaster himself - Steve Minarik - with his usual lies and distortions. He said “It doesn’t single anyone out and we wouldn’t do that anyway. There’s no political benefit to that. That’s not even the issue.”
Minarik: “It doesn’t single anyone out…”
They went too far with this one, and it’s going to backfire on them. It’s one thing to sling mud, but to rub it in the eyes of special-needs kids, their families, and their teachers… this is beyond the pale. Shame on you Dave Malta. Shame on you Steve Minarik. Shame on you, Republicans.
Related posts:
There was criticism on this site recently when the question was asked, “Why do Republicans hate children?” Now I get it - we were asking the wrong question. The more accurate question is “Why do Republicans hate sick children (SCHIP) and children with special needs? (see above)”
Republicans hate the weak and powerless. (I resisted the urge to play to this stereotype for years. But given the preponderance of evidence recently…)
Bye Bye Malta.
If I were a resident of Webster, and had a child at this school, I would sue Minarik personally.
What the hell did these schools do to suffer the wrath of the Republicans? Between the intercept stealing their money, and Minarik and gang now putting themselves in the position to declare which schools are good, and which are not?
The special ed comment is WAY over the line. I would DEMAND that Minarik step down.
These people have gone TOO far.
Consider this post the first public declaration DEMANDING the resignation of MR. MINARIK from his post with the Monroe County Republican Committee.
Brooks and Minarik are both residents of Webster as well. Perhaps they should be driven out of the town as well.
STEP DOWN MINARIK - YOU’RE THROUGH!
Personally, I love it. Keep it coming Minarik. Seriously, I don’t think we could do a better job of demonstrating how despicable you and all of your cronies are as a human beings. Who’s children are you going to pick on next?
Geez, I hope we’re not going to need restraining orders (from participating in gov’t) placed on Minarik et al. to protect our children before this election is over.
Not for nothing - but he looks more and more like Rush Limbaugh every day.
Who knew the Repos 2007 campaign theme was a war on democracy and children/education. Hope the voters wake up and vote appropriately.
This is pretty awful.
I was forwarded a document that lays out the exact impact on each of the school districts. This is HUGE. I took just the chart out to share. It shows how much 29 MILLION DOLLARS (which is what the Minarik/Brooks Intercept takes from the schools) will cost each district directly.
http://img107.mytextgraphics.com/photolava/2007/10/19/interceptimpact-487m54vhh.jpg
one last comment…the more I see and hear from Malta this election cycle, the more clear that it becomes that he is nothing more than a mindless puppet reading from Minarik’s GOP script.
Between the DMV issue, the FOWL plan and now this mailer, clearly Malta does very little thinking of his own.
Two-Step Plan:
Step 1. Call Malta and ask him to explain himself and apologize.
Phone: (h) 585 265-2368; (w) 585 671-5530; (o) 585 482-5622 (as per the monroecounty.gov website) or shoot him an email: monroe8@monroecounty.gov
Step2. Go to http://www.carmengumina.com and click “Volunteer”
Gumina still needs help in defeating this scum.
As disgusting a person as he may be, Malta still has a distinct edge in this race. Between his being an incumbent, and a community that is chock full of like-minded xenophobic geriatric conservative morons, Carmen still has an uphill battle I am afraid. As a Webster resident I don’t think I (or my two school-age children) can stomach this monster anymore.
When these guys aren’t playing on people’s irrational “national security” fears and trumping up their deceptive and bogus “fiscal responsibility” they are just slinging mud. Despicable.
Enough is enough! PLEASE people help out Carmen Gumina anyway you can! I know I am signing up right now…a lawn sign just isn’t enough anymore
Thanks RT for pointing this one out. Hopefully Ch. 10’s coverage will spread over to some other local media outlets.
(sorry if this is a double post…afraid it didn’t stick the 1st time)
If men were judged by the toupees they wear….
From: Carmen Gumina [mailto:carmen.gumina@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2007 7:26 PM
Subject: News Clip - channel 10
Hi Everyone,
Here’s a piece that aired tonight on Channel 10 regarding a mailing that was sent out two days ago. Our response has been to take the high road (with our interview and with the mailing that we sent out to clear up any misinformation).
http://www.whec.com/article/stories/S230581.shtml?cat=566
Carmen
Hi Carmen,
What do you suggest that those of us from outside of Webster do to assist you in your campaign? I liked Gladys’s response, above, because she had some concrete steps we can take to respond to a problem raised on the site. And thank you for your participation - what a contrast to the Monroe County Republicans - you’re listening to voters, responding and taking the high road.
[...] Carmin Gumina in Webster, but I mean, it’s not like you could have endorsed Dave “Teachin’ ‘tards is For Suckers” Malta.ÂÂ And they also had to add in there that Gumina “doesn’t consider himself [...]
[...] and we thought Dave Malta’s anti-special needs campaign lit was [...]
[...] We told you earlier about Dave Malta’s sleazy mailer which suggested that helping special needs kids was for losers. Now, Malta is saying it’s not his fault (from the D&C): Malta said that had he known the nature of State Road’s student body he probably would not have sent out the mailing. He blames the state for not pointing out in its statistical report that Gumina’s school has a high number of special education students. “Shame on them,” Malta said. [...]