Stefanik took an oath to uphold the Constitution but says she would not have done what Mike Pence did?

Echo opinion published in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise:

New York Republican district 21 congresswoman Elise Stefanik is going to cringeworthy lengths to be Trump’s vice president, with no sense of shame. She repeated the former guy's language about January 6th criminals being “hostages,” and soon after, the House GOP leader removed her original statement about the January 6th attack from her official website. 

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik campaign slogan

Stefanik initially said the perpetrators should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. These people, more than 1,000 sitting in jail, committed crimes.

Now, she goes one step further. She said if she had been vice president in Mike Pence’s place, she would not have certified the election for President Biden. This alone should disqualify her from her current job and any chance at vice president. She lied about it being consistent with the Constitution. It goes against the Constitution.

Stefanik said if she had been vice president in Mike Pence’s place, she would not have certified the election for President Biden. 💬💩

How can anyone have any respect for her? Naked ambition* … Michael Steele, former RNC chairman, said: “Just stop it!”

I was very sad to read the poll in the Enterprise that 44% of respondents would vote for a convicted sexual abuser and fraudster, a criminal. We are waiting to find out how much he will have to pay in penalties for committing massive fraud in New York. 

Since when do we elevate a man of this low-kind to the presidency?

In all my life, I’ve never seen anyone who is as manipulative as Donald Trump. He was born rich. He has pulled numerous scams and cons his entire life and never been held accountable. Trump University? Trump Steaks? Trump casinos in Atlantic City … he took the money and left them holding the bag by filing — wait for it — another bankruptcy. Bone spurs❓ To get out of serving his country in Vietnam? Calling our military suckers and losers. “Why would anyone want to do that?” He asked. Why would anyone in the military vote for this guy?

Why would anyone want to be his vice president? He is under indictment for 91 felonies. He and his minions threaten anyone who opposes him with violence and destruction. Senator Jim Langford of Oklahoma, who worked with senators Sinema and Murphy, after working on a border bill that Republicans demanded, said he was threatened with destruction after Trump said to kill it.

What on earth is going on in our Congress? Bible Thumping Speaker Mike Johnson has had to kowtow to Trump. People may be elected, but Trump is calling all the shots. Johnson is a Christian? Being a Christian should give you the strength to stand up for what it right, politics be damned.

The world is watching all this foolishness. It makes our country look feckless and weak. It will leave us vulnerable to our enemies. Just stop it❗

Start with you, Elise. Why sell your soul to someone who will assuredly will end up in jail? Or at the very least never be allowed to hold public office again.

From  Jennifer Zahn in Saranac Lake, New York

Elise Stefanik has a constituent problem. She is a "Trumpzi doll".

In this echo opinion letter published in the Adirondack Daily News, the writer calls out the ambitious Congresswoman Elise Stefanik for her irresponsible acceptance of Trumpziism. In my social media messages, she is "Lady Macbeth of Congress", because she is driven by ambition absent scruples. This echo letter was written by one of Stefanik's outraged constituents:

Oh Elise, what happened to you? How disappointing you’ve become! You hopped on the Trump bandwagon and left us 21st Congressional District (New York 21) folks behind. You’re supposed to be doing stuff for us, your constituents, but instead, all you talk about are wackadoodle theories, such as that the 2020 election was stolen! Haven’t you heard that that’s not true? You went to Harvard, for Pete’s sake! Didn’t you learn critical thinking there? Do you ever stop and think about the harm that you’re doing to our country by continuing to espouse these lies? If I didn’t know better, I’d think that you’re power hungry and will do or say anything to keep getting elected. That can’t be true, can it?

Janis Beatty in  Saranac Lake

Former intelligence officer Matt Castelli is a formidable Democrat in NY21

An echo report in North Country Public Radio by Emily Russell

Aug 23, 2022 — Former CIA officer Matt Castelli has won the Democratic primary for New York's 21st House District. Castelli will face Republican Elise Stefanik for her seat in Congress in November.

Over nearly 15 years at the Central Intelligence Agency, he hunted down terrorists in one way or another.

Castelli kept a consistent lead over his Democratic opponent, Whitehall lawyer Matt Putorti, as unofficial election results trickled in on Tuesday night.

“It’s been pretty exciting," said Castelli from his election night party in Glens Falls. "I’m just grateful for all of the support that folks have placed in this campaign, the trust and confidence that they’ve placed in it, not just from the voters but all of our volunteers.”

Matt Putorti issued a press release Tuesday night congratulating Castelli on his win. "We are united in the mission to defeat Elise Stefanik. Matt Castelli has my support, and I ask that you give him yours too."

Castelli said on Tuesday night that he sees a path forward for his campaign, despite New York's 21st House District becoming even more Republican after redistricting earlier this year.

“The combination of my ability to build a coalition plus [Stefanik] changing and disappointing folks puts us in a strong position to actually do something really special here and deliver the win in November.”

Castelli is running to unseat Representative Elise Stefanik

Tuesday's primary election appears to have had a low turnout. In Saranac Lake, just seven people per hour were trickling into the town hall to vote Tuesday morning. One of those people was Paul Herrmann, a retired lawyer from Saranac Lake.

“I’ve voted every time I’ve gotten a chance and I just hope I get to keep voting," said Herrmann. "It’s the hallmark of a democracy.”

Herrmann cast his ballot on Tuesday for Matt Putorti. He said he liked that Putorti grew up in the district.

Beatrice Beguin also showed up early to vote on Tuesday. She cast her ballot for Matt Castelli, but didn’t seem super excited about her vote, so I asked her why that was.

“Well, you know, I’m not really feeling connected to a political party. I choose it because it makes it possible for me to vote in the primary.”

Beguin said her values don’t line up completely with Castelli’s but she thinks he’s got the best shot against Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik. Stefanik has won by an increasingly wide margin in recent years. She defeated Democrat Tedra Cobb in 2020 by nearly 18%.

Beguin said she hopes Castelli can do better than that. “I think in this climate someone with a law enforcement background is probably competitive.”

Castelli served in the CIA for years and worked as the Director for Counterterrorism under Obama and for a year under Trump. He’s campaigned more as a moderate, touting his support for the second amendment and not committing to an assault rifle ban. He’ll also be on the moderate party line in November.

It’s an attempt to appeal to more conservative voters. Dwight Stevenson, who teaches government and economics at Saranac Lake High School, says Democrat voters in the North Country shouldn’t be too picky.

“You’re not going to get everything that you want in a candidate, so being able to compromise and know what is that you’re willing to compromise on is a really important thing as a voter.”

Stevenson said he's met Castelli a couple of times and appreciates that Castelli has been campaigning across the district. He doesn’t see Stefanik engaging in that way.

“She’s not really listening to the voters around here," said Stevenson. "Matt Castelli is a fresh face and a fresh change and an opportunity to have someone listening to the people in the district, not looking to further their own political aspirations.” ❗

Stefanik has the highest profile she’s ever had since she was first elected in 2014. She is now the third-ranking Republican in the House and has raised more than $7 million this election cycle, according to federal campaign finance data.

Castelli’s campaign has raised about $1.1 million. He’s never held public office and just recently moved to the North Country, so doesn’t have deep roots in the district.

Paul Herrmann, the retired lawyer from Saranac Lake, says it’s a long shot for any Democrat in this district. “It doesn’t look great at the moment, but between now and November is an eternity.”

“Look like th'innocent flower, But be the serpent under't” 

Maine Writer Post Script- Are voters in NYDistict21 asking Stefanik about her position for legalized abortion?  I have "nicknamed" Ms. Stefanik the "Lady MacBeth" of the Congress, precisely because of her mean spirited and insatiable ambition.