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Altschuler Earns Party Support Ahead of Primary

Though the 2010 Republican candidate for congress has earned GOP, Conservative, and Tea Party support for a rematch against Tim Bishop, rival George Demos has promised a primary campaign.

Deciding to stand side-by-side rather than across the table from one another in 2012, Republicans, Conservatives, and Tea Party members flocked to Riverhead's last week to stand behind Randy Altschuler, their choice to run a rematch against Rep. Tim Bishop, D-Southampton, this fall.

The showing marked a stark contrast with 2010, the year Suffolk County GOP Chair John Jay LaValle called Altschuler a "flawed candidate" and Suffolk 9-12, an East End Tea Party group, threw their support behind Chris Cox, the son of the New York State GOP Committee Chairman Ed Cox.

Amidst that division, by just under 600 votes.

The State Chair was on hand last week supporting Altschuler at the Suffolk 9-12-sponsored event. While the mainstream GOP and conservative wings stand united behind Altschuler, Mary Meyer - who co-founded Suffolk 9-12 along with her husband Bob - stated that unity amongst the different groups should be illustrated in the candidate they all support. And that's a work in progress.

"We want to win. That’s what it’s about," said Meyer, whose group is supporting Altschuler this time around. "There is to some degree a meeting point that has to be made and I think that we’re all working toward that."

Altschuler, who lives in St. James, has returned a more confident candidate than last time around, openly admitting how he "let Tim Bishop run all over [me]" in 2012. 

The former businessman took wide criticism two years ago for starting a company which specializes in securing overseas jobs for American companies, Office Tiger. But this time Altschuler has his own point of attack, labeling five-term congressman a career politician who has lost site of what's important.

"It’s a sad state in this country when have to apologize for being successful," he said. "When we have to apologize for living the American Dream. When people like Tim Bishop, who have gotten rich on the backs of the taxpayers ... is somebody we honor, while Americans who are working every day, living the American Dream, are the ones that we vilify. That’s not the kind of America I want to live in," Altschuler said.

But before the businessman hears from Bishop he'll have to best another former opponent.

George Demos, a former Securities and Exchange Commissions lawyer from Ronkonkoma, took 30 percent of the Republican primary vote in 2010. And this time, with Chris Cox out of the picture, Demos believes he can score the conservative base that gave Cox 25 percent of the vote in 2010. The primary is set for June 26.

"Party bosses don't control the will of the voters. Surprisingly, most people didn't get that last time," Demos said this week. "And Randy Altschuler lost in a year when Republicans couldn't lose. The reason Randy can't win is simple: the outsourcing issue. I don't care what party you're from or what beliefs you have. You can't go to the voters saying you made a living specializing in outsorucing, and then say 'I want to be your congressman.'"

Altschuler supporters say being a more seasoned candidate will help him win over more voters this time around. Others have pointed to the amount Altschuler can donate to fund his own campaign – he donated $2.9 million in 2010.

Demos spent $500,000 to run his primary campaign. His campaign committee has nearly $90,000 on hand, according to disclosure reports, compared to Altschuler's $580,000.

Monique Hennings February 26, 2012 at 01:30 am
Yeah, you're right. But it's sure tough to accept. This country used to work like a team...whether we agreed with each other or not, we'd find a way to make it work without all the vitriol. At least we should stop pretending and call it like it is...the destruction of America as it was meant to be. If this is progress, I want nothing to do with it!
John Massaro February 26, 2012 at 03:08 am
Okay, I'll try to explain this one more time...
AMERICAN CARS being built HERE IN AMERICA use JAPANESE & GERMAN parts. Virtually every FOREIGN AUTO MANUFACTURER has factories building full lines HERE IN AMERICA with AMERICAN LABOR. Here's just a few... Honda / Acura - Marysville & East Liberty, OH & Lincoln AL. BMW - Spartanburg, AL Mercedes Benz - Vance, AL Mazda - Flat Rock, MI, Minneapolis, MN & Kansas City, MO Hyundai - Montgomery, AL Mitsubishi - Normal, IL Nissan - Smyrna, TN & Canton, MS Subaru - Lafayette, IN Toyota - Georgetown, KT, Princedon, IN & Fremont, CA
Chico Little February 26, 2012 at 03:38 am
This country never worked like a team. We had a Civil War. We had the election of 1800. Those dusty people in old photographs look boring, but they could go at it. They lived and died and fought partisan battles and real battles over things. Heck, they used to have DUELS!
forward thinking February 26, 2012 at 05:11 am
figures someone who deals in maybe, possibly, and i think and has no facts about the human psycology since it was a created science to explain the mind of which there is no physical proof - "more psycobabble" . "and how do you feel about that" .. and or more copious quantities of middless drivel...
forward thinking February 26, 2012 at 05:18 am
c l - i guess you never served with others to protect - so you cant relate about team work - lib.'s and consv's and repub., dem.s' and whigs all served and bleed red all for the right to be free - when most stay home and vomit their poison. duels are for gentlemen we have "progressed "
now we have drive by's.
Monique Hennings February 26, 2012 at 05:19 am
@Chico Let me try to explain what I meant. I did not mean to imply America worked like a team in THAT sense. Terrible things have happened in our past, but we got through them because most people were grounded in the same value system. No matter how bad we fought amongst ourselves, we could always fall back on what we held in common. Things like hard work, self-reliance, responsibilty, integrity, charity, respect, honor and citizenship were the foundations of society. No one argued over whether these were good things to strive for. Now these values themselves are under attack, and that is the vitriol I was speaking about.
Even after the Civil War, this country was able to pull itself back together and move forward "as a team", so to speak. But the moment we started confusing differences of opinion with morality (i.e. you are a good person if you believe in global warming, bad if you don't), we were lost. I don't believe we can save ourselves this time, and like all great civilizations of the past, America is doomed to destroy itself because it betrayed its own identity. Sad, but inevitable.
forward thinking February 26, 2012 at 02:52 pm
It has become a society that allows illiterate loud mouths to be put on tv news / newspapers rather than the voice of reason. I think the woodwork people are too struggling with the economy and the moral decay around them to be heard. But make no mistake they are like a sleeping giant who in America’s case will join David in slaying the immoral corrupt giant. It is time sane dem.’s and rep’s etc. take back control of the govt. and not let the banks, and stock controlled companies from running it into the ground. When we take control of the banking (money) we then control oil…. To dig for oil required a loan – if you and I went to the govt (sallie / fannie) for help (our large student loans) we cannot sell stock in ourselves to pay it back … we cant even “go bankrupt on these loans… but stock “controlled” companies can … what’s with that
Craig February 26, 2012 at 02:56 pm
If by financial manipulations you are referring to cost cutting I will sign up for that. I think NJ was on the brink of bankruptcy last year, so if he pushed it off another 30 that seems like progress to me.
forward thinking February 26, 2012 at 03:03 pm
One might think that cars from Detroit's big-three are best for the U.S. economy. Not so fast. A Jeep Patriot is assembled in the U.S., but only has about two-thirds of its parts and pieces sourced from inside the U.S., and the Jeep brand is owned by Fiat, a company based in Italy. Meantime, a Toyota Sequoia SUV is built in the U.S., and has about 80% of its parts sourced in the U.S.
What would be the most American car based on where it is built, U.S. content, etc.? Ford F-Series pickup built in Dearborn Michigan? Nope, not even close. But it depends on who you ask. Cars.com compiles an annual American-Made Index and lists the Toyota Camry as the #1 car for U.S. content and assembly. Honda Accord is #2. The first U.S. brand on the list is the Ford Escape at #3, followed by the Ford Focus at #4. But the Focus could well drop off in the next survey because Ford is now building the Focus for global consumption and has broadened the parts procurement for the car globally. The F Series didn't even make the most recent top-ten list.
highhatsize February 26, 2012 at 03:15 pm
to forward thinking:
On a entirely different topic from the study that found stupidity to correlate positively with conservative political ideology, another study by Dr. Paul Babiak found that psychopaths were four times as prevalent in the corporate hierarchy as in the population generally. Of course, since you dismiss psychology wholesale as do those other deep thinkers, the Scientologists, this is of no import to you. However, it is interesting that similar predilections have NOT been shown among Liberals or government employees. Rather explains the mutual admiration of Altschuler and Wilkinson.
robkoz February 26, 2012 at 03:36 pm
Sounds like a flawed study since it's usually liberals that are the ones getting arrested for violent acts. Compare the Tea Party demonstrations vs OWS and get back to me. As a matter of fact stupidity correlates very high with liberals during ANY protest/demonstration. Don't really recall police in riot gear having to show up at conservative rallies. I'll have to look into liberals vs incarceration/arrests. I'm sure the liberals win in that category but I'll have to come up with some facts to prove it.
forward thinking February 26, 2012 at 03:39 pm
Ineptocracy
highhatsize February 26, 2012 at 03:53 pm
to robkoz and forward thinking:
I just found the references; I didn't do the studies. They were published by respected academics and based on objective data. Whether you choose to believe them or not is up to you. However, they are NOT impressionistic observations such as those which you (robkoz) cite in rebuttal.
forward thinking February 26, 2012 at 03:57 pm
from an outsider standpoint one could draw the conclusion that liberals want to give away what conserv. have or lets give to the entitled what the hard earner has. is it not funny how we have to protect our borders from intruders....
robkoz February 26, 2012 at 04:07 pm
Liberals don't have the ability to say no to abusers of the system. That is their flaw. It is noble that they want to help everyone but they don't have the ability to draw the line in the sand. They abuse the ones that have worked hard to become responsible law abiding American citizens.
robkoz February 26, 2012 at 04:12 pm
@ Chico, This country never worked like a team?! Try reading up on how this country pulled together during WWII. Or how everyone rallied behind Bush after 9-11-2001, Democrats and Republicans alike (as shortlived as that was...)
John Massaro February 26, 2012 at 04:53 pm
Yeah, let's see. Carry on for a day or so about something stupid like vancant houses or naming convicts & the discussion gets closed down. But two hundred ignorant, over-zealous hypocrites can berate each-other for almost a week in here & nothing gets done? Where's the obligatory "I think we've discussed this matter enough" cut-off? Me thinks the editors want to see where everybody's politcal values lie, like it might be good information to have in the future. No other reason why this discussion thread is still running, IMHO. I've seen threads in here shut down for much much less than what's going on in here...
Mo Neill February 26, 2012 at 06:48 pm
He has been spending here! A lot. He's given generously to local campaigns, to towns' Repub candidates across Suffolk, to NY county' committee orgs, the NY State Party org, all across the State & nationally to Party orgs like RNC, to House & Senate Election Committees. How much he has given to political PACs is unknown as "free speech" does not have to disclose the speaker's identity, like an ordinary person's contribution, who has limits on his "speech," & can't hide thier influence. Money is flowing deeply & unaccountably. Corporations are not just people, but quite exceptional people, who can give without limits or ID, underwriting political office & election winners. Money speaks, the Court's Repubs ruled, but buying elections isn't cheap.
Altschuler repeatedly sd he's a very special person living the American dream however many lazy people have lost theirs. Living the American dream, he became a rich man, a leader who deserves our gratitude; a success who's brought himself up by his own boot straps. He can use his money to legally deminish our democracy & undermine one man one vote, unless you believe that money has no influence, no value, no power in our elections. He wants to be elected to help us see that equality is not dependent on how wealthy a person is & is just as much a member of society as is an unemployed, homeless man, who has free speech too. He's worth his weight in gold & deserves our vote not because he's truly vain, but because he's inspiring us all!
forward thinking February 26, 2012 at 07:11 pm
ok thats it i am taking my marbles and goin home. bty the usa has the largest gnp and mostly rpoduced by rep./ conserv.
Mo Neill February 26, 2012 at 10:59 pm
I drive two Cadillacs. We two cadillac owners can spot a phony from way off, that's what some anti-Romney people tell me. Romney's wife likes her two American cars too & was glad the company was saved. Although she doesn't like unions, because they force people to ship off jobs, good jobs offshore. The Romney's legally keep their money in the Cayman Islands and Switzerland in order to save on their taxes in case the Mrs. goes shopping in France & Italy. Although, she says her husband was at the forefront of outsourcing wasteful union jobs, they didn't like to see people foreclosed on. She says her husband Millard needs a Teapartier in Congress like Randy who will have a favored place in the Lincoln bedroom.
Me? Since I have 2 Cadillacs, I will get to vote for Obama two times.
Henry Powderly (Editor) February 27, 2012 at 06:35 pm
Thank for the feedback, John. While this debate has been spirited, it has not had the level of personal attacks that have led us to close down comment chains on other stories.
Preliator February 28, 2012 at 08:39 pm
Thank you for leaving this topic open. Though spirited I do think that the posters here kept matters civil and passionate. We face a great many divides but nothing so great that we can not overcome no matter what your political stripe. I think every one who participated here should be happy with themselves for having the courage to defend your point of view and keeping this valuable public forum open and a big thank you to Patch for putting up with us.
John Massaro February 28, 2012 at 08:52 pm
Which is a pretty big surprise actually, given the subject matter.
My grandfather used to say, "Discussing politics & religion will turn the best of friends into mortal enemies faster than a war..."
Hazel Wilkonson the First February 29, 2012 at 01:10 am
Preliatot, your posts have been far from civil
John Massaro February 29, 2012 at 01:52 am
Miss Wilkonson, I didn't ask you for your opinion...
John Massaro February 29, 2012 at 01:25 pm
And what point would that be?
That you're a self-righteous pretentious old bat who has a bad habit of instigating where she don't belong?
Preliator March 1, 2012 at 01:06 pm
And yes Hazel your comment has added so much more to the conversation, thank you for your insight and wisdom.
Preliator March 1, 2012 at 01:48 pm
You are right Mo, I guess Obama and the democrats pay for all of their advertising with lollipops and home made bake goods...get real, stop trying to make success a bad thing. You don't think Bishop and Obama are going to spend tons of dough this year, ha.
Greg Fischer March 3, 2012 at 11:59 pm
I am disappointed that conservative pro-American voters are endorsing someone with a destructive economic history who is committed to being a job outsourcer. I pray for the days when both parties can offer candidates that are well qualified so we are in a win-win (with two great candidates) when we go into the polling booth.
NY-1 Voter March 9, 2012 at 04:32 pm
http://thetruthaboutrandy.com/

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