The words "progressive" and "convervative" (except for the use of "fiscally conservative") do not appear on Peter Hort's web site. However, the word "progressive" is used in mailings sent out by his supporters (more on that in another post), and in his responses on this web site to my previous posts about him.
When I wrote about his campaign for Congress here and here, I hadn't realized that he was also running on the New York Conservative Party line. The Conservative Party is anti-choice and anti-gay. Not only are they opposed to gay marriage, they are opposed to civil unions. Their Senate candidate, Marilyn O'Grady, is running a television advertisement portraying Senator Schumer and his Republican opponent as gay grooms atop a wedding cake.
Sen. Charles Schumer hit the airwaves yesterday with the first TV ad of his front-running re-election effort even as a challenger from Garden City launched a spot portraying the Democratic incumbent and another challenger atop a gay marriage wedding cake.
Citing support by Schumer and Republican challenger Howard Mills for gay civil unions and abortion rights, Conservative Party candidate Marilyn O'Grady's TV spot featured male figurines representing the two men atop the cake.
"Schumer and Mills, the perfect liberal couple," O'Grady's 30-second ad states. "Only conservative Marilyn O'Grady stands with President Bush to defend marriage and protect the unborn."
Mr. Hort's web site makes no mention of his being on the Conservative Party ticket. The campaign materials I've seen in my neighborhood of Chelsea don't mention the Republican or Conservative parties. I had to visit the NYC Board of Elections to find that out. His web site issues page says nothing about civil rights, gay or otherwise, and abortion rights.
Isn't it fair for New Yorkers to ask how someone can run on the Republican and Conservative Party lines and claim to be a progressive candidate? Was it merely expedient to get on those ticket lines, and he doesn't agree with their positions? Or does he believe them but won't say that in his campaign literature? Neither answer is one that should win votes.
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UPDATE: James says that this post seems to let Mr. Hort off the hook for being a Republican if you don't read the earlier posts. I'm not saying the GOP isn't an anti-gay, anti-abortion party. I'm saying that Mr. Hort makes the argument, which many people do, that there is a place for moderates in the GOP. I don't happen to believe that. I believe that a vote for any GOP candidate for the House is a vote to keep Tom DeLay in power. I do not know how Mr. Hort justifies being on the Conservative Party ticket if he claims to be a moderate. There is no "moderate" wing of the Conservative Party in New York. I think that's the point of the party.
