Collins and Brown -- the sequel

So much for Chris Collins' rant about Sheldon Silver the anit-Christ being "unscripted" and "off the cuff," as claimed by his flak.

Artvoice reports:

When Erie County Executive Chris Collins called Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver an anti-Christ last Saturday night at a Republican dinner, it wasn’t the first time he’d pulled the line out of his bag.

He recently made the exact same comparison to a group of Buffalo State political science students, who were visiting the Rath Building. Two Buffalo State faculty members were present.

Geoff Kelly goes on to say:

But it’s clear to me that his remark comparing an orthodox Jew to Hitler and the anti-Christ was not “off the cuff” or “unscripted”; it was not a momentary lapse in judgment. The joke is part of Collins’ repertoire. He has used it more than once, who knows how many times.

Which begs the question -- anyone else hear Collins deliver this punchline?

This comes from an aspiring career politician who was quoted last week as saying he didn't want to name any Republicans who might be career politicians because "I don't want to get into name-calling necessarily."

Come to think of it, Byron Brown has an unusual double standard, as well.

The mayor who was too busy to meet last week with the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development when the cabinet member made a rare visit to Buffalo is the same fellow who took time out from his busy day a couple of years back to help Leonard Stokes out of a jam.

Interesting.

And telling.

Speaking of telling, let me share this photo taken last week under the category of "a picture tells a thousand words."

Let's see, we've got HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan, Congressman Dan Maffei, Senator Chuck Schumer, and, on the far right, Syracuse Mayor Matt Driscoll.

A mayor meeting with a congressman, senator and cabinet member. Imagine that.

Comments

[sock puppet]

Artvoice's Bruce Fisher asked a good question too.

"Even worse, reports are coming in that this Western New York elected official has for some weeks now, perhaps longer, been using the lines that were first reported in the New York Daily News. Collins recently made the same comparison to a group of Buffalo State students, in the presence of two members of the faculty.

How does a community look when its leaders—religious, secular, institutional, and elected alike—merely shrug at hate speech? "

http://artvoice.com/issues/v8n44/time_to_go_chris

Why didn't any of our fine WNY republicans speak up/out on this?

[Buffalo Libertarian]

Oh, please! Knock off the damned whining! The statement was not "hate speech" since it had nothing whatsoever to do with Sheldon Silver being an orthodox Jew. Or is it being suggested that the three-men-in-a-room who run New York State are a protected class?

[lanres]

Artvoice, so who needs the Bufnews if we can just google Artvoice?
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You guys are just getting lamer everyday!

[lanres]

Bufnews is hiring, anyone who can answer this will be considered:
"Which begs the question -- anyone else hear Collins deliver this punchline?"
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No not realy but you will be quoted as a "Informed Source"

[Mike]

Anyone ever consider Hitler being offended at being compared to Sheldon Silver? Now, that's what I consider offensive.

[Mike]

Sorry, that was offensive. I apologize. What I really meant to say was wouldn't a mayor of a real city be offended by being compared to Byron "too busy doing nothing to meet the HUD secretary, but have plenty of time to bail out my pal Leonard Stokes" Brown.

[gravedancer]

I see the buttheads at the News continue to harp on the Collin's supposed "hate speech". I still do not see any reporting being done on why there are no arrests yet by the Buffalo police regarding the attack by "urban youth" on the white kid and his black girlfriend. Yeah, right. The reporters are too busy setting up their facebook and twitter accounts...

[gogobuffalo]

We're third in line behind Detroit and New Orleans in terms of abandonned housing stock as well as one of the poorest cities in the nation. ...and the mayor doesn't have time to meet with the HUD secretary, a member of the President's cabinet who doles out money for housing problems.
Brown is a public employee. His superiors are us. What was he doing? We need all the help we can get from HUD. What was so important?

[unnamed sources]

Funny you should mention the hate crime not being solved. Here are the names of the people in charge of that case:

Byron Brown, Mayor, yet to speak on the matter and is African-American.

H. McCarthy Gibson, Police Commissioner, African-American.

Byron Lockwood, Deputy Police Commissioner of Patrol, African American.

Fred Young, Chief of District E where crime occurred, African American.

Steven Turner, Detective Sergeant of District E in charge of all criminal investigations, African American.

Barbara Larke, Detective assigned the investigation, African American.

Ladies & Gentlemen, I mention their race only to hightlight the abysmal and inept response to this hate crime. Imagine if you will, the race and roles reversed of the actors and victims? If it bothers you that a man was nearly killed by a mob in broad because of his race, please call any of the above persons and demand action.

[sock puppet]

Hey Jim - at least we know where some of those spineless republicans are, on your blog spewing hate anonymously. Too bad they can't speak up when it counts.

[gravedancer]

Hey sock puppet, that's your real name? Or are you writting anonymously like some spineless republican?

[pgr88]

Who knew that besides the pages of adverts for gay massage services, Artvoice also did politics!? Oh well, I guess that is what we call "journalism" these days.

[OP Mike]

Considering the real damage Sheldon Silver has done, and the extreme prejudice that Silver has demonstrated over the years to the NY taxpayer, referring to him as a fictional character - the anti-Christ - is soft peddling what this man really is all about.

[frquarter]

GET OVER IT,,,BUT LOOK AT THE SCENARIO,,HE IS A DICTATOR,,,HE CONTROLS WESTERN NY DEMOCRATS....2 OF HIS MAJOR PUPPETS STACHOWSKI AND DUH THOMPSON.....ADD PEOPLES..ETC HOYT,ETC,,A FEW IN THE ASSEMBLY,,,,THEY HAVENT COMPLAINED ABOUT THE BUDGET,,,,AND DAVY BOY AND SMITTY DEFINITELY PUPPETS,,,, 3 MEN IN THE ROOM...SO KEEP VOTING THE SAME PEOPLE INTO OFFICE ,,,SAVE YOUR MONEY NEXT YEAR TAXES AND FEES GO UP AGAIN,,,,NY STATE>>>EXCELSIOR...MEANING ALWAYS UP

[ERETC1]

Big surprise that the writers at Artvoice would consider it front page news when a Republican tells a bad joke. This whole incident is so blown out of proportion! Collins comment clearly had nothing to do with whether Silver was Jewish or not, that's totally beside the point. He was trying to say that New York politics is a corrupt, insider business, something Artvoice would normally love to write about except when a Republican says it. Instead these writers are literally wetting themselves like overexcited toddlers at the chance to write a front page 'expose' on the fallout to a bad joke. You guys are so out of touch, it's scary anyone still publishers your work!

Have the guts to think outside the box once in a while, and you might elevate yourself to be a better newspaper than the freebee we all read while we're waiting on Elmwood for our sub or taco order to come up!

[RKT]

Here comes the Buffalo News again on Byron Brown bowing out of a photo op. The mayor is working hard to meet the needs of the people of Buffalo. He's not like the corrupt predecessors like Massielo, Griffin, and Makowski who would have been there all smiles knowing nothing was going to happen and how they weren't going to do anything. All the Buffalo News ever did for those clowns was give them glowing endorsements. Give Byron Brown credit for putting his job first and publicity seeking second. Somehow I just think the News can't get off the fact that Byron Brown is popular and has won each election he's in handily by the voters in Buffalo. He's also got the best intentions for Buffalo and somehow the News looks at it like its some foreign concept considering what they've put up with over the last 40 years with "their guys".

[Buffalo Libertarian]

RKT wrote: "He's also got the best intentions for Buffalo."

What's that old saying? The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Brown should have been there even if for no other reason than protocol.

RKT wrote: "Give Byron Brown credit for putting his job first."

Dealing with the blight in our fair city IS part of the Mayor's job; so, an opportunity to discuss the problem with someone who can help provide a little bit of relief is something the Mayor should have jumped at.

[RKT]

Buffalo Libertarian:

I'm sure Massiello, Griffin, and Makowski would have been there glad handing, back slapping, smiling, and maybe even taking some additonal federal funds to "pocket" with their cronies. I think Byron Brown knows who these guys are and is working hard behind the scenes to get action on Buffalo's blight. A scenario which he inherited after years of neglect on his predecessors parts. I'm sure everybody on his case right now went right along with Griffin, Massiello and Makowski's corrupt antics because they were part of a "old boys network" that is declining today in Buffalo voters attitudes.

[Buffalo Libertarian]

RKT wrote: "I'm sure Massiello, Griffin, and Makowski would have been there glad handing, back slapping, smiling, and maybe even taking some additonal federal funds to "pocket" with their cronies."

But of course they would! Politics in Western New York has not really changed since the 1920s.