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McMahon gets an earful from Bay Ridge liberals

By Helen Klein
Community Newspaper Group
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The Brooklyn Paper / Ben Muessig
Rep. Mike McMahon — he heard an earful from liberal voters yesterday.
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Community Newspaper Group
Rep. Mike McMahon was questioned about his “No” vote on health care reform by the liberal Bay Ridge club, Brooklyn Democrats for Change, on Thursday.

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Members of a progressive Bay Ridge political club slammed Rep. Mike McMahon for opposing the just-passed health care reform bill and for his right-of-center positions on war, terrorism and military policy.

The freshman Democrat visited Brooklyn Democrats for Change at its regular meeting on Thursday night in the wake of his rejection of President Obama’s health reform package and discovered that liberal anger over the vote was a pre-existing condition.

“I was quite happy [when you got elected],” said Margaret Brennan. “But since then, you seem to have become a Republican. The health care issue is not good. The war is not good. There are a lot of us who are not happy with that.”

Brooklyn Conservatory

Fellow club member Vicki McFadyen reminded McMahon that his support for the war in Afghanistan has given the White House a free ride.

“The only brakes we have is Congress,” she said.

Members of the club were quick to complain that McMahon has voted with the GOP minority on issues of warfare, the rights of terror suspects, and weapons systems, as a Brooklyn Paper investigation revealed last month.

In response, McMahon pointed out that he had voted with the Democratic majority 87 percent of the time.

“A Republican would have voted ‘no’ every time,” he said, adding, “I don’t regret the positions I’ve taken because I believe they were the right ones.”

He said he opposed the health care bill because it cuts subsidies to Medicare Advantage, could hurt local hospitals, and “doesn’t do enough to contain costs,” which, he asserted, will lead to “dramatic increases in premiums.”

McMahon’s vote against the health care bill may have tarnished his reputation with progressive Dems, but it does put him in step with the two Republicans who are facing off to challenge him in November.

Both GOP challengers, Michael Allegretti and Michael Grimm, said they would have voted against the bill, too — eliminating that as a possible wedge issue.

©2010 Community Newspaper Group

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Reader Feedback

Lt. Colombo from Great Kills, Staten Island says:
Actually Helen, McMahon's no vote does not eliminate ObamaCare as a wedge issue. He supports the public option, he voted to let health care be voted upon using deem and pass, he supports Nancy Pelosi as Speaker and he did nothing to rally opposition to the bill or block its passage.

"No" isn't good enough when it comes to ObamaCare. McMahon lack of protest and opposition allowed Obama and Pelosi to cut Medicare benefits for 40% of our seniors, and will massively cut support for our local hospitals which seniors depend upon. Many retired seniors will now also be losing the prescription drug benefits because of ObamaCare as well.

Once Michael Grimm wins the Republican Primary, and puts away the RINO liberal Republican Allegretti, who moved onto Staten Island only months ago just to run for Congress, McMahon is history.
April 2, 2010, 9:42 am
JudahSpechal from Bed-Stuy says:
So in other words he voted for his future instead of that of those he was sent to represents. I hate the GOP, hate the Tea Party, but come Jan, 2011, when I tune in to CSpan I hope to see all new Progressive faces, who knows how to support our President.
April 2, 2010, 10:47 am
Ray from Bridge says:
In response to Judah, I live in McMahon's district. It's composed of the most conservative neighborhoods in Brooklyn and all of Staten Island. This is not a "progressive" area like Park Slope or the Upper West Side. If McMahon had voted for Health Care Reform, he would almost certainly lose the election in November.

People need to understand that this district is unlike any other in the city. If you want further proof, the previous representative was Vito Fossella, a conservative Republican.
April 2, 2010, 12:35 pm
Kevin from Bay Ridge says:
McMahon is a great man. He votes for his district and thats the bottom line. With all the partisan politics being played in DC its refreshing to have someone like McMahon represent my family and do the right thing.
I have supported Mike in the past and will continue to do so in the future.
April 2, 2010, 12:48 pm
JudahSpechal from Bed-Stuy says:
Thank you Ray & Kevin maybe I didn't understand.
April 2, 2010, 1:30 pm
John from Bensonhurst says:
Our Congressman is no Conservative, take this into consideration

First, His wife is a judge.

Second, His sister in law works for Bloomberg as a Deputy Mayor.

Third, His brother is a lobbyist

Fourth, He was the chair of the sanitation in the city council, that in itself raises some questions about his ties.

Fifth, He asked for permission to vote again term limits because he knew he wanted Quinn's support, and didn't want to risk losing his endorsement from Mayor Bloomberg.

Sixth, He said he was against congestion pricing than voted for it.

Seventh, He's no Independent, just your average ambulance chaser turned skilled politician as noted by all these dots I have connected.

Come November Congressman you will be out of a job.
April 2, 2010, 4:16 pm
JudahSpechal from BedStuy says:
John come up first air. This guilt by association GOP tactics works on non inform voters. While it may work in Middle America (whom I will always believe are he biggest victims of propaganda on planet Earth) I weep in my sleep for them, my fellow Americans. New Yorkers are a bit more aware.
April 2, 2010, 5:11 pm
NY13 from NY13 says:
Is McMahon still the House Freshman Whip ?
April 3, 2010, 12:31 pm
Stan from Dyker Heights says:
Judah there is good news for you, Bed Stuy is not in the district, so your opinion doesn't matter.

McMahon will be given the boot, come November 2nd.
April 4, 2010, 9:55 am
Joe from Dyker says:
Why will he get the boot? He has done a much better job than fossella ever did. not to mention he knows the district doesnt end at the bridge. something fossella never understood.
April 4, 2010, 11:25 am
Steven Rosenberg from Park Slope says:
Although I do not live in his Congressional District, I would like to publicly thank Rep. McMahon's for showing at least, a modicum of sanity in voting against Obamacare.

Rep. McMahon seems to have decided how to vote on Obamacare based on his conclusion that it was too expensive. Let us hope that he saw through the fake claims of "savings" to the TRILLIONS this legislation will cost if it ever goes into force.

Rep. McMahon harkens back to a time when the Democrat Party was not dominated by extreme leftists and Marxists, as it is now.

When the Democrats lost the House and Senate in November, I hope Rep. McMahon will work with Republicans and other sane Democrats to make sure this disgusting legislation is never funded; and then repeal and replace it before it kills our country, and the best medical system in the world.

So, thank you Rep. Michael McMahon: you're about the brightest Congressional spot I've been able to find in New York City.
April 4, 2010, 6:14 pm
Bayridgite from Bay Ridge says:
Steve Harrison won the primary in Bay Ridge--Bay Ridge is not NEARLY as conservative as Staten Island. We're just stuck with McMahon because of the way the districts are drawn.
April 5, 2010, 10:01 am
Chris from Dyker says:
To Joe from Dyker, bottom line McMahon will have to go back to his slip and fall ambulance chasing law office come November 2nd, as change is coming we can trust.
April 5, 2010, 10:37 am
Steven Rosenberg from Park Slope says:
Report abuseMonday, Apr 5, 2010 at 10:37 am

Where is McMahon on "climate change"? We need politicians who have the integrity to call a lie a lie, a leftist a leftist, and criminal spending what it is.
April 5, 2010, 11:05 am
Steven Rosenberg from Park Slope says:
Where is McMahon on "climate change"? We need politicians who have the integrity to call a lie a lie, a leftist a leftist, and criminal spending what it is.
April 5, 2010, 11:05 am
Big V from 'slope says:
Can someone please explain this position to me: He said he opposed the health care bill because it cuts subsidies to Medicare Advantage, could hurt local hospitals, and “doesn’t do enough to contain costs.” How are you going to cut costs if you don't..... ah, cut costs? Nobody got everything they wanted in the health bill, but all of us got something, which is way more than the Republicans and this moron had to offer.
April 5, 2010, 1:20 pm
Steven Rosenberg from Park Slope says:
No, we got nothing in the bill, except an initial "sugar high" of illusory coverage, to be followed by a permanent physician shortage; a huge drop off in medical advances; and government-arbitration of coverage, aka Death Panels. Oh wait, I forgot financial ruin for our nation.

To answer your question, the bill takes money away from Medicare while spending it elsewhere, which is why you can spend more, and defund certain things.

Average medical insurance company profits are in the 2-4% range. A large number of ins. companies are non-profits. But WAIT, the government is going to do much better!

November's elections may be our last chance to kill the Obama DeathPanelStar before it kills our economy, and the world's best medical system.
April 5, 2010, 3:19 pm
Steven Rosenberg from Park Slope says:
PS: full insurance coverage for a future of ——ty medical treatment is what "we got"--YIPEE.
April 5, 2010, 3:21 pm
Lee from Bay Ridge says:
So is there a REAL DEMOCRAT challenging McMahon in a primary? How about Margaret Brennen? She seems well-spoken.
April 6, 2010, 10:16 am
Steven Rosenberg from Park Slope says:
LOL. Real Democrat? You mean Social(ist)-Democrat--be honest, at least.
April 6, 2010, 10:54 am
Jerry K. from Bay Ridge says:
http://bayridgeinterpol.blogspot.com/2010/03/bay-ridge-interpol-exclusive-mcmahon.html
April 7, 2010, 1:27 pm
Maureen from Bay Ridge says:
Congratulations Mike...the only one who stood up against Obama and voted NO,you will have my vote!!!
April 7, 2010, 1:27 pm
jack from bay ridge says:
I did not know that there were so many moron republicans living amongst us!!
Hey Staten Island is only a car ride away! Move over there you fascist idiots!
April 9, 2010, 3:38 pm
Gary from Bay Ridge says:
Maybe you should move, Jack.
April 9, 2010, 11:50 pm
Joey Bots from Dreamland says:
Why do liberal Dems always call people names if they do not agree with them?

Why are they so intollerant of other's views?

Why do they think Obama's healthcare bill will be good for them and the country when most experts are still evaulating what is in it and what the impact will be?

Why are the so willing to give over their rights and money to the government to fund these questionable programs without understanding the impact?
April 20, 2010, 2:22 pm
Joey Bots from Dreamland says:
JudahSpechal from Bed-Stuy - why do you hate my friend, people you do not know or try to undertand? Is that how you would like people to treat you because they disagree with you?

JudahSpechal from Bed-Stuy says:
'I hate the GOP, hate the Tea Party'
April 20, 2010, 2:26 pm
Steve Rosenberg from Park Slope says:
While I don't know what's in Rep. McMahon's heart, he needs to be saluted for opposing Obamacare, which, day by day, is revealed to be more of a sham and lie that will explode, rather than reduce healthcare costs. The latest evidence: that the Obama Administration suppressed a study that what was passed would raise costs (http://tinyurl.com/2wkm72b ), and that your employer isn't going to allow you to keep your doctor (http://tinyurl.com/2wb9lh4).

In any case, much of Brooklyn isn't Liberal City, and by November, it will be much less so, as the fasc-socialism of the Democrats fails to make any real dent in this endless recession, and inflation starts to kick in.

In other words, Rep. McMahon just politely, but clearly ignore the "liberals" (nah, leftists is what they really are), and keep tacking to the center. Otherwise, he will be gone in November.
April 28, 2010, 7:03 pm

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