What Golisano and Pigeon are "responsible" for

It turns out the publication of e-mails between Sam Hoyt and his girlfriend were just the opening salvo fired against him by his political opponents.

Responsible New York -- the Tom Golisano-funded, Steve Pigeon-managed political cabal -- has sent a series of direct mail flyers to voters in Hoyt's district taking the incumbent to task. With titles like "After 16 Years, It's Very Clear ... 'Albany Sam Hoyt' Is All Frosting and No Cake."

The flyers fall within the realm of normal attack ads loosely based on issues.

This week, his opponents got a lot nastier.

A flier went out and a Web site went up, under the banner of Mothers and Fathers Demanding Answers. A push poll was conducted. Television advertising was booked.

The subject: Hoyt's affairs. Excerpts of purported e-mails between Hoyt and his lover were published in the flyer, whose format is similar to the anti-Hoyt pieces produced by Responsible New York. The Web site includes e-mail links to Hoyt's campaign seeking responses to inflammatory questions.

These latest tactics make this the most in-the-gutter campaign I've seen in my 30 years of reporting.

Those behind it have taken care to not leave footprints.The Web site is registered through a service in Australia. The return address on the flyer from Mothers and Fathers is a direct mail service in Long Island City. The owner refuses to say who paid the bill.

But the perpetrators slipped up. The attack flyer from Mothers and Fathers uses the same bulk mail permit as ... Responsible New York.

Sloppy, sloppy.

Pigeon did a lot of ducking and weaving when I called to inquire.

I asked him what he knows about Mothers and Fathers Demanding Answers.

"I'm not going to comment," Pigeon said. "I'm sure they will file their independent committee status, if it's not filed already."

Gee, Steve, how do you know they're required to do so?

"I would assume, I don't know that they do."

Pigeon then resorted to the mantra he repeated throughout the balance of the interview.

"Everything we're doing is within the law."

Followed by:

"We're not coordinating with the [Barbra] Kavanaugh campaign."

How does he explain Mothers and Fathers using the same bulk mail permit as Responsible New York?

"Independent committees can work together under the law."

So, you're working with them, right?

"I think it will all come out in the reports."

Is this the dirtiest campaign he's been involved in?

"I don't think this one is dirty."

OK, Steve.

Pigeon went to lengths to vent his outrage over reports that Hoyt had sex with a member of the Assembly staff. This is the same Steve Pigeon who has been an unwavering loyalist to Bill and Hillary Clinton through thick and thin, including the Big Dog's sexual escapades with intern Monica Lewinsky.

I guess you could say Pigeon is practicing situational ethics. Among other things.

Comments

[jen]

Politics aside, (and all this dirty campaigning is nothing new) what has Hoyt done in his 16 years? I left New York years ago and moved back for family reasons. The area still faces the same problems when I left in 1999. I live in Hoyt's distric and it seems the only time you see the guy is around election time. I have not heard much of Hoyt's accomplishments. Actually the same can be said about many politicians.

16 years is enough. If a tin can was running against Hoyt, I would vote for the can. I want to see someone new.

Anyway, good work with tracing the bulk mailing rate back to Responsible, NY.

[Dave]

I agree with Jen. Hoyt has been an empty suit since he was given that office after his father passed away. 16 years is more than enough time to accomplish something. Voters in his district are responsible for continually voting a name into office and not a person.

[WNYMind]

Hoyt is a scapegoat. The truth is that WNY is dead and nothing will bring it back. The only part of Hoyts district that isn't completely stagnant is Grand Island, and it is just that way because of Fantasy Island and a car dealership.

Kicking Hoyt out of office may make us all feel good, but what will replace him is just more of the same.

[Dave]

You've got a point WNY Mind. But with 16 years of nothing can the next talking head be any worse? Maybe we'll be surprised. I'd like to see someone else get a chance. It's not Hoyt birthright. He needs to find a new line of work.

[1776]

Well, I see Steve Pigeon had his usual trolls on the blogs bright and early this morning.

Hoyt has done a lot for Buffalo and for Grand Island. I can think of at least three parks that he has worked to improve, he got the money to take down the toll barriers, he played a huge role in keeping WCHOB on Bryant, Hertel is thriving, Elmwood is thriving. I went to the Green Economy Summit Sam held in April and it was a great event that generated some positive action from community groups to move us closer to being able to attract and grow "green" businesses in Buffalo. Not only that, he is one of the most responsive elected officials in Wester New York. I cannot think of one time I have contacted his office where I was not impressed by the quick and professional response.

Yes, there is a lot about Buffalo that a lot of politicians could do more to improve, but for just one elected official in a body of over 200, Sam gets an awful lot done.

[1776]

Mr. Heaney,

I don't think you can get much stronger evidence of collusion between the Kavanaugh and Responsible New York campaigns than the fact that Barbra's ad in this week's Artvoice is paid for by RNY but uses BK's logo, all of the photos she has used on her campaign literature, and looks exactly like the few paid ads Barbra has mailed out in this campaign. I don't know much about campaign finance law, but I do know that "independent expenditures" should not look EXACTLY like a candidate's campaign pieces.

Oh, and the ad also clearly says "Barbra Kavanaugh for STATE SENATE" at the top.

[Mark]

We could give a new face a try for every Assembly and State Senate seat for a two year term. What is the worst that could happen we make our problems worse for two more years? When you are listing as accomplishments taking down toll barriers and improving parks, that may all be well and good but every politician in WNY needs to focus on two things TAXES and JOBS. Sam took over for his father, we need to remember that.

[anonymous]

apparently Barbra K doesn't even know what office she is running for. Artvoice has a full page ad telling you to support her...for STATE SENATE.

sorry, she is just too out of her own loop, too easily bought, clearly not the best candidate.

[Jessica]

I find it amazing that a few weeks ago, The Buffalo News had an article saying that these women were NOT interns.
Now, after the tv news people have been reporting this for awhile, the Buffalo News suddenly reports that they were interns.
Where is there retraction about their story which was dead wrong?
Sloppy reporting at best. Protecting a dirty old man at worst.
As a woman with a college aged daughter, I feel betrayed by Hoyt and betrayed by the Buffalo News for protecting him.
I really don't care who is behind exposing this issue. I'm just glad someone did before I go to vote.

[Daryl]

Where is the logic of sending this guy back to Albany?
Wow. If that happens the voters have no right to complain how messed up this city is.

[Stan]

I'm not sure I'd call this "mudslinging" since you've confirmed it was an intern. I actually call it reponsible reporting.
Frankly, I find Hoyt to be "creepy" to be chasing young interns.
It's funny how this kind of behavior is always a big issue until it involves someone that the newspaper has backed for years. Now the newspaper thinks that the dirty tricks aspect is more important than the story itself.

[1776]

A 46 year old man confessing to an affair with an adult woman hardly qualifies as a "dirty old man".

As to Sam taking over from his father, that was 16 years ago. Sam has done enough that he is clearly a leader in his own right, regardless of who his father was.

Politics is the only field where EXPERIENCE is seen as a detriment and Buffalo is lured to ridiculous degree by the siren song of "any fresh face MUST be better". It's sad, really. Of course there are systemic problems that could be addressed, but the mantra of "kick ALL the bums out" is really more throwing the baby out with the bathwater. No one would ever say, "My doctor has been a respected professional for years, but I like the look of that accountant over there when it comes to my brain surgery." That would be stupid.

Also, people may not realize it, but Sam has brought millions of dollars into Buffalo, whether from state aid or funding for demolitions and neighborhood revitalization.

[1776]

Stan,

Illegally dumping millions of dollars into a smear campaign that is distorting the truth in an attempt to win an election and ruin a man's career and family is nothing less than a subversion of democracy.

Again I say, one affair with an adult woman who just happened to be finishing up an internship is hardly "chasing young interns".

[Dave]

Well 1776 nice to throw out Pigeons name and that for those who don't agree with Hoyt are trolls. Nice. I'm not in Hoyt's district any longer. Don't know Pigeon. While Hoyt may be responsive, and has accomplished a few things don't you think that in 16 years that's all he has to hang his hat on? I could careless about two adults doing what two adults want to do. I think that all of those "accomplishments" could have been easily accomplished by anyone. He's just a step better than our "rock star Mayor" another empty suit when he was in Albany. To use the analogy of your doctors experience and a politician is a huge reach...please. There is such a thing as a shelf life for politicians and for Hoyt it's up.

[Phil]

It is extremely disappointing that Tom Golisano is putting his money into smear campaigns. If Hoyt is such an empty suit it shouldn't be hard to beat him legitimately. Golisano said he was going to change things around here -- and he is indeed making it worse.

[Jack]

Why don't Pigeon and his pathetic friends like Jack O'Donnell and Gary Parenti get real jobs instead of leaching off of millionaires. I'm not defending what Sam Hoyt did, but does this gutter politics make WNY any better off? Does it help the economy? All it does is enable Pigeon and his pathetic followers to get fat while claiming they are "reformers." Dsigusting!

[Celtic Tide]

How many democrats does it take to screw an intern (or call girl or mistress)?

Let's see, nope Hoyt was not enough, neither was Kilpatrick, Spitzer, Kennedy (J & T), Clinton, etc.

[WNYMind]

I am totally disgusted with politics in WNY. Hoyt is making his district a circus. We have Jack Davis spewing racist garbage as a Democrat (although in WNY party is meaninless, it's all about patronage). We have baby Joe fighting for everyone. We have judges buying prostitutes and candidates partying at strip clubs. We have party switchers in the Amherst supervisor position. We have a Buffalo Mayor violating the city charter's requirement for a director of OSP. We have a county executive fixated with lean six sigma. In short, we have a mountian of sh*t.

True, it is time for a change, but no way to change this mess short of the state disolving all local governments and appointing a commission to run the region. It is hopeless.

[1776]

Yeah, Gary Parenti is so down on his luck he got arrested in March for drunk driving with a known gang member he'd paid with his pocket change to help him find a prostitute. The call he made from the police station was to Steve Pigeon to get him bailed out.

It was reported in the Niagara Gazette.

[Stan]

To 1776,
A 46 year old guy chasing down a woman half his age is just plain creepy.
Yes, the girl is old enough to consent but I don't care if she's a 90 year old intern. A politicin should not be fraternizing with students sent to Albany to learn about government.
This poor girl got a lesson alright and so did Hoyt.
I usually don't even vote in primary elections, but I'm mad enough to express my feelings by pulling the lever for his opponent.
It's my right as a citizen and I really don't care what you or others think about my rationale.
I do however care about my community and having this guy represent me is not what I want.
Sorry if that puts you out of a patronage job but blame Mr. Hoyt, not a disgusted citizen like me.

[Celtic Tide]

Sixteen months ago Barry O. was in Detroit telling his audience that Mayor Kilpatrick is a great leader who will accomplish many things for many years to come. Dude just got sent to the pokey for poking a staff member and texting her dirty msgs. At the same time Slick Johnny Edwards was running his campaign for president while having his mistress discreetly on the trail with him.

You let one of these dirty b@stards go and it's all the more reason for the next guy to try. I don't care what their party is; what happened to the times when "Shame on You" really made someone feel shameful about their deed? Now we just give them a pass, oh, he wasn't really chasing interns, oh, it's just a one time thing. Excuse me folks but the last time I checked, character was measured much more by the actions of a person when no one else is looking than by the promises you make on a stump.

It's no wonder people are leaving NYS in droves and incumbents continue to philander with coeds and lobbyists. The people who remain in the electorate might as well drop their drawers and say "Please sir, may I have another?".

[Stan]

To 1776 again,
Sorry to keep posting but I just re-read your message again.
You're saying that reporting these incidents to the citizens who elect him is a smear campaign? And you further say that it's an
attempt to win an election and ruin a man's career and family?
Sorry to give you this bulletin, but Mr. Hoyt is to blame if he ruined his career and his family.
It is so typical of the politicians to blame everyone except themselves.
Mr. Hoyt should just accept responsibility for his own actions and maybe he'll actually realize that doing the right thing is a positive step toward the healing process.
Being truthful to himself and to the people he represents might actually feel good for him.

[Nancy S.]

Take it from the mother of a 20 year old daughter.
A 46 year old man hitting on a 23 year old woman IS being very "creepy."
In my book, he certainly does fall into the "dirty old man" category.

[1776]

Stan, when notoriously conniving and unethical political operatives like Steve Pigeon dump hundreds of thousands of dollars into an illegal campaign in an attempt to unfairly influence an election that is a huge problem, even if the candidate they are opposing did make a mistake 4 or 5 years ago.

It is up to newspapers to report to citizens, not dodgy committees run by known Hoyt-haters.

[Stan]

I don't know who Steve Pidgeon is nor do I care who he is.
I suppose you think that Steve Pidgeon also sent the intern to lure Sam Hoyt into sleeping with her too.
Get real. Somebody earlier blamed Tom Galisano too. I guess Ralph Wilson will be named next.
If Sam Hoyt needs someone else to blame, let me know. I'll be happy to buy him a mirror.