MAGGIE BROOKS WANTS TO "REPEAL AND REPLACE" AFFORDABLE CARE ACT; CAMPAIGN OFF TO ROUGH START

Rochester, N.Y. -- Just recently, County Executive Maggie Brooks, who incidentally is running for Congress politicking on the taxpayer’s dime, signed on to an op-ed where she advocated repealing the Affordable Care Act. One reason why Brooks will not reveal her platform is because she knows the GOP national party ideology won't fly in Monroe County. 

This is not your father's GOP House-- they have been overrun by 87 House freshman who are so extreme that they have vowed to be obstructionists in every circumstance. House Speaker John Boehner has had a devil of a time trying to reel them in-- with little progress.

Brooks' major challenge right now is placating the moneyed interests of the extremely conservative national party and trying to message a less radical approach to a moderate electorate in Monroe County.

Here is an excerpt from Capitol Tonight:

“Maggie Brooks really is a champion of not saying anything and today the New York State Democratic Party is awarding her with our first ever Congressional Candidate Ducking Issues Award for her outstanding service to silence,” said state Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs.

Yesterday, for the fifth time in a month and a half, the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reprimanded Brooks for failing to take a position on the issues that matter to voters. Instead she’s decided to be responsive to DC lobbyists and contributors. If you want someone who won’t say anything on the issues you care about, voters should know, Maggie Brooks is the candidate for you.”

“…Maggie Brooks is a champion of not telling voters how she feels about the issues they care about. She has really taken to heart that silence is golden.”

Brooks has refused to take a position on any federal issues – from the Ryan budget to the so-called war on women – insisting that Monroe County voters are more than familiar with her ideology and record.

Perhaps, but since she has never been pressed on anything national, like, say the debt ceiling or Social Security, voters (and reporters) could perhaps be forgiven for being curious about where Brooks stands on issues she would voting for (or against) when and if she manages to oust Democratic veteran Rep. Louise Slaughter.

Brooks might want to talk to her fellow Republican, Assemblyman Jim Tedisco, about the danger of ducking issues while seeking higher office. As you’ll recall, (I’m sure Tedisco certainly does), the assemblyman’s refusal to answer questions about how he would vote on the $780 billion federal stimulus bill played a large role in his loss to Democrat Scott Murphy in the 2009 special election for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s old House seat.

After weeks of being hounded by reporters, Tedisco finally said he would have voted “no” on the stimulus bill, which Murphy supported. The damage was already done, however, and Murphy won in a squeaker. Murphy was defeated by Republican Rep. Chris Gibson in 2010, and Gibson is now trying to win re-election in a district that has been dramatically redrawn.

Any way you slice it, Brooks’ silence is deafening. And, by the way, the next time you see her, ask her if she is doing County Executive work or just campaigning on the taxpayer's dime. Who paid for the transportation to your most recent public appearance? Who paid for the phone bill? Who paid for the meals? Go ahead, ask her. Good luck with that.