Got this email today from Chris Lee to his supporters:

Dear Friend,

 I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for all you have done to support this campaign. Whether it was putting up a lawn sign, going door-to-door, participating in phone banks, coming out to our rallies, or investing in the campaign - your grassroots efforts made all the difference.

During this campaign, we traveled through all the seven counties – we’ve been to farms, factories, schools, gas stations, and hospitals – we’ve talked to seniors, veterans, small business owners, police, firefighters, and first responders.   Thank you to all those who were kind enough to open their homes, neighborhoods, and businesses to our campaign.

I’m prepared to work with anyone who is committed to getting our economy back on track, Democrats, Republicans, or otherwise. We are going to make government more accountable to the people of Western New York.

This is a victory worth celebrating – but we certainly have our work cut out for us, and I will need your help in the months ahead.

Again, please accept my heartfelt gratitude for your support.

Thanks,

 

CHRIS LEE

Alice Kryzan also emailed her supporters today

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in an otherwise sad election, it does give me great pleasure to see Chris Lee elected to Congress. Alice Kryzan’s smears didn’t work, and the voters of the 26th District have chosen someone who will look out for their best interests. I also feel honored to have been a part of the fight to hold on the 26th District.

Congratulations to Chris Lee. Fight for us. Give ‘em hell.

Excerpts from Chris Lee’s remarks to supporters at the Buffalo Niagara Marriott after being declared the winner of the 26th district Congressional election:

“Tonight we are one step closer to getting Western New York and our country back on track.

“We are now going to take to Washington our agenda of job creation, lowering taxes and making government more accountable.

“What has brought me here tonight has truly been a team effort – I owe a debt of gratitude to the dedicated group who helped run this campaign, to the incredible number of volunteers and the more than 1,300 supporters who invested their resources into our message. I am grateful to my family for their love and support. They have been incredible.

“My career has been solely in private sector these past 20 years. I will bring a much needed voice to Washington as someone who knows how difficult it is to earn a dollar and will therefore be a much better steward of your hard-earned tax dollars.

“This is a victory worth celebrating – but we certainly have our work cut out for us, and I will need your help and support in the months ahead.”

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The Buffalo Bean recently had the opportunity to interview Chris Lee, candidate for U.S. Congress in New York’s 26th district. The interview was conducted via email and is posted below:

THE BUFFALO BEAN: You have been the target of some false negative ads put out by the DCCC on behalf of Alice Kryzan. As a newcomer to politics, were you surprised by the tone taken by your opponent and the groups trying to put her in office?

CHRIS LEE: It is unfortunate that Alice Kryzan has run a negative smear campaign against my family and our business. It does not surprise me that she has nothing positive to say about her background or her vision for Western New York.

Unlike my opponent my campaign has focused on the issues. Alice Kryzan has been on record for wanting to raise taxes which would harm our economy and destroy jobs in Western New York.

TBB: A new poll by SurveyUSA has you with a significant lead over your opponent. With the outlook for Republicans nationwide considered bleak even in Republican-leaning districts, why do you think you’re running so strong?

CJL: I don’t take a lot of stock in polls. The only poll I care about is the one on Election Day.  Voters are interested in electing someone who brings solutions and experience.

TBB: According to that same poll, there are still 18% who are undecided. What would you tell those voters to convince them they should support you?

CJL: In these troubling economic times we need a leader in Congress that has the real world experience of creating jobs in Western New York, balancing a budget and meeting a payroll.  Western New Yorkers deserve an independent voice in Washington who won’t accept business as usual.  A leader who will fight to keep taxes low, not raise them - who will fight for affordable health care, not government run health care. We have enough attorneys in Washington it is time to send a businessman to Congress.

TBB: What part of your message has resonated the most with the voters you’ve talked with on the campaign trail?

CJL: People like the fact that I have created jobs in Western New York. I have spent my career growing a family business that helped Western New York’s economy. Out of the 535 members of Congress, 237 members hold a law degree and only 18 members hold an MBA degree. Western New Yorkers understand that we don’t need another lawyer in Congress we need a businessman.

TBB: How do feel your experience as a successful businessman makes you better suited to represent the 26th district than your opponent?

CJL: I am a businessman, not a career politician. I bring real world experience to the job.  I’ve helped build a business and create jobs in Western New York.  I’ve been fortunate enough to sign the front of paychecks as well as the back. I know the challenges job-creating businesses face — and in Congress, I will work to make sure it is easier for them to grow in our communities.  When you are meeting a payroll you understand how difficult it is to earn a dollar. Therefore you are also a better steward of taxpayer’s hard earned tax dollars.

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I just heard that Channel 2 News released a new SurveyUSA Poll during their noon news broadcast with the following results for the congressional race in the 26th district:

Chris Lee 48%
Alice Kryzan 34%
Undecided 18%

Looks like Alice’s smear campaign isn’t working out for her, and Chris Lee’s message is resonating big with the voters.

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UPDATE: The DCCC and Alice Kryzan are continuing their smear campaign against Chris Lee… Here a mailer that was recently sent out:

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Today, Vets for Freedom, the largest Iraq and Afghanistan veterans’ organization in America, endorsed Chris Lee for congress. David Bellavia, decorated Iraq War veteran and Vets for Freedom Co-Chairman was with Lee today to announce the endorsement.

“As a veteran who has proudly served my country in the United States Army, I am here to speak on behalf of Vets for Freedom in offering our support of Chris Lee for United States Congress,” said Vets for Freedom Co-Chairman David Bellavia. “Chris understands that the fight we are currently undertaking in Iraq is essential to our success in the global fight against Islamic extremism. Vets for Freedom looks forward to working with Chris in Congress.”

“It’s an honor to have the endorsement of Vets for Freedom,” said Chris Lee. “In Congress, my commitment to our service members and veterans will be absolute. I’ll fight to ensure we have world-class care at our VA facilities, our troops have the equipment they need to succeed and the proper benefits they deserve when they come home from the battlefield.”

Vets for Freedom is a nonpartisan organization established by combat veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Their mission is to educate the American public about the importance of achieving success in these conflicts by applying first-hand knowledge to issues of American strategy and tactics in Iraq. Vets for Freedom supports policymakers from both sides of the aisle who have stood behind the great generation of American warriors on the battlefield, and who have put long-term national security before short-term partisan political gain. Vets for Freedom is the largest Iraq and Afghanistan veterans organization in America.

And Alice Kryzan has Jon Powers, the Iraq War veteran who created a charity meant to help Iraqi children, but helped his own bank account a lot more.

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This morning a number of candidates attended the Town of Amherst Center for Senior Services Coffee With the Candidates Debate.

Candidates in attendence included State Senate candidates Mike Ranzenhofer and Joe Mesi, Assemblyman Jim Hayes and Jerry Schad, Amherst Town Clerk candidates, NYS Supreme Court candidates, and District Attorney candidates Frank Sedita and Diane LaVallee.

Also in attendence was congressional candidate Chris Lee. But, The Buffalo Bean has learned that his Democrat opponent, Alice Kryzan, was a no-show.

So, while candidates from both major parties at every level of government were there, why didn’t Alice Kryzan attend?

Where is she hiding?

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As you may be aware, Chris Lee and Alice Kryzan will be debating tonight.

I had an opportunity to attend, but I had previously made arrangements to make my first return visit to Boston, MA since I moved to Western New York in March of this year. So, I will unfortunately miss the debate.

I hope to acquire audio of the debate this weekend and offer my thoughts on it when I return.

In the meantime, I would like to take a moment to direct your attention to a new user blog here at The Buffalo Bean called GOP Steam. While I’m gone this weekend you can check out GOP Steam for some fresh content.

If you’re a Western New York conservative and are interested in starting your own blog, click here to learn about how you can start your own blog here at The Buffalo Bean.

UPDATE, 11:05 PM: I have arrived in Boston, and made it back to my brother’s condo where I will be staying during my visit. I have received multiple emails telling me that Chris Lee clobbered Kryzan in the debate. With no access to a laptop I can’t provide any links to audio or anything as I am limited by the capabilities of my iPhone, but I hope to listen to the debate soon after my return Sunday night. But, nevertheless it is good to hear that Chris Lee beat Kryzan in the debate.

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Today, Chris Lee was endorsed by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).:

“I am pleased to have the endorsement of the nation’s leading small business association,” said Chris Lee. “Small businesses are the building blocks of our economy, however red tape and high taxes are making it harder and harder for small businesses to stay alive. We need experienced leaders in Washington who know what it means to meet a payroll, grow a business and create jobs.”

The National Federation of Independent Business is the leading small business association representing small and independent businesses. A nonprofit, nonpartisan organization founded in 1943, NFIB represents the consensus views of its members in Washington and all 50 state capitals. According to NFIB polling data, small business owners and their employees make up 43 percent of registered voters in America.

“Chris Lee is the proven pro-small business candidate in the race to succeed Rep. Tom Reynolds,” said Lisa Goeas, NFIB’s vice president. “Lee is keenly aware of the issues facing small business owners, having seen his family’s small machine shop grow into a successful, international business. He is a proponent of pro-growth economic policies and believes such policies are the key to keeping the American economy vibrant and competitive.”

Today’s endorsement puts the considerable grassroots support of the state’s small businesses behind the Lee campaign. Small business owners and their employees vote in high numbers and are known for actively recruiting friends, family members and acquaintances to go to the polls. NFIB will encourage its members to help turn out the influential small business voting bloc on Election Day. According to NFIB polling data, small business owners and their employees make up 43 percent of registered voters in America.

Chris Lee was also endorsed by the National Chamber of Commerce. This shows that when it comes to economic issues, clearly Chris Lee’s experience business has shown that he’s the better candidate to send to Washington with the economy in the state it is in.

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Chris Lee has a new ad running. Here it is:

How long before Alice In Liberal-land whines about being attacked?

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The Independence Party, New York’s third-largest political party, announced they are endorsing Chris Lee for Congress in the 26th District. Chris Lee released the following statement upon learning of the endorsement:

“I am honored to have the endorsement of New York State’s Independence Party.  I greatly appreciate their support in this election.

“On November 4, the people of Western New York will have a clear choice, and the opportunity to send a real independent voice to Washington who will restore fiscally responsibility and fight to lessen the tax burden on our families. 

 ”Washington is broken - I will fight to end the gridlock and restore taxpayer trust by holding leaders accountable for how they spend our hard earned money. 

“In these tough economic times we need a new direction in Congress and a leader who has the real-world experience to get solutions for our families.”

The Buffalo News reports:

The development is seen as a major coup for Lee, who now has the top two minor party lines along with the GOP slot.

The Independence Party was able to place Lee on the ballot under its line by exercising a series of technical moves.

Anthony L. Fumerelle previously had been the Independence Party’s candidate, but is now nominated for a State Supreme Court judgeship in Queens even though Fumerlle is a Buffalo attorney.

Other than death, nomination for a Supreme Court post is the only way a candidate can be replaced at this late date, according to state election law.

“We requested that Anthony move off after we found what we consider to be the best candidate for our line,” State Vice Chairman Thomas S. Connolly said. “This is necessary in a very tough situation where we are in the midst of a primary and you can’t determine who the candidates will be until after.”

When asked why voters should have confidence in a party that switches candidates after nominating them, Connolly said confusion in the Independence Party and in the Democratic primary caused the minor party to take the unusual step.

According to the story, Alice Kryzan was not considered for the endorsement.

 Connolly said the party did not contact Democrat Alice J. Kryzan, feeling more comfortable with the former businessman from Amherst.

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It’s pretty sad that the only way Barack Obama can attack John McCain is by linking him to President Bush… my friend Scott Leffler seems to think that a similar strategy would work in the 26th District by linking Chris Lee to Tom Reynolds, who many liberal bloggers in WNY despise, for whatever ridiculous reason they can come up with.

… I just found this web page that lists congressmen based on how well they stick up for the middle class. It says he’s at 50 percent for the year. And he’s gotten F’s on the previous four years they graded.     

Yup, that’s the Tom Reynolds I remember … stickin’ it to the middle class.

And he’s endorsed Chris Lee. I wonder if Lee thought about declining that endorsement? Doubt it. From what I can tell, Lee aspires to be just like Reynolds. He’s got the same campaign staff. And he doesn’t return my calls. Just. Like. Reynolds.

If I were advising the Dems, I’d tell them to make sure to link Lee to Reynolds just like Obama is linking McCain to Bush. After all, no one really believes that Reynolds isn’t running so he can spend time with his family. It’s cause he was afraid of getting his ass kicked.

And no one really believes Barack Obama is qualified to be President of the United States, but that’s not stopping millions from for him… But I digress.

What I don’t understand is why Scott was so quick to accept the assessment of the website TheMiddleClass.org as legitimate and objective. It’s easy for a blogger or even a member of the media to give credence to a poll, or a study, or an organization that tells them what they want to hear, while dismissing those that don’t.

The other day, Buffalo Pundit criticized Chris Lee’s latest ad for citing data from a conservative think tank, the Heritage Foundation. It’s fair argument to make, just as I have similarly questioned the sources Democrats use to support their claims, be it from liberal think tanks, research groups, etc. 

What Scott failed to do (or just chose not to do) was question the source. It would have taken all of 10 seconds to find out that TheMiddleClass.org is run by the Drum Major Institute, and that the Drum Major Institute is a liberal research group. Not bipartisan. Not nonpartisan. Liberal. 

Do I really need to say anything else?

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Chris Lee has just released a new television ad…

UPDATE: Kryzan responds with a lame-ass press release with the same old laughable Democrat talking points (via Buffalo Pundit).

The bottom line is that Alice Kryzan has said she’d let the Bush tax cuts expire. Letting those tax cuts (which lead to record economic growth in this country) expire would be an effective tax increase. And guess what? I ain’t a millionaire, and contrary to the talking points Buffalo Pundit is regurgitating, I got a nice tax cut thanks to President Bush. And you know what? I don’t want a tax increase.

Why does Alice Kryzan want to raise my taxes?

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Chris Lee has a new ad out:

Donate.

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The netroots who are keeping an eye on the congressional race in the 26th district clearly are lost in the wilderness. Their golden boy Jon Powers lost in the primary after being dogged by the War Kids scandal and after getting caught up in a nasty battle of attack ads with Jack Davis.

So, now they have to settle for Sloppy Seconds Alice Kryzan… and from the looks of things, the enthusiasm they had for the substitute teacher was far greater than they have for the trial lawyer.

So, they’ve predictably chosen to attack Chris Lee. And can you imagine, with the economic slowdown we’re experiencing right now that this blogger at Rochester Turning not only finds fault in Chris Lee’s background in business, but his opposition to regulation?

You don’t have to be an economics major to understand that regulation hurts businesses. But, who would think that a left-wing blogger would understand something as simple as that?

The WNY netroots is really grasping at straws in their lame attacks against Chris Lee. This blogger predictably chose to play the Bush card by saying “Christopher Lee is more George Bush.” It’s the same line of attack Democrats are using all over the country. Democrats like Barack Obama have no record to run on, so it’s easier to blame the world’s problems on President Bush and couple Bush with their opponent. 

That strategy hasn’t exactly worked all that well for Barack Obama, and it certainly isn’t going to work in the 26th district, a Republican-leaning district that went for Bush in 2000 and 2004, and reelected Tom Reynolds despite a rather toxic political environment for Republicans in 2006.

Playing the Bush Card is a weak strategy for the netroots. It is indicative of a major strategic problem they have in an election year where the economy is a top issue. Chris Lee’s background in business gives him a huge advantage over Sloppy Seconds Kryan’s experience as a trial lawyer.

UPDATE: Now isn’t this rich… After eight years of liberal bloggers calling President Bush things like “bushitler,” “bushit,” or “chimpy;” calling black Republicans “house slaves” or “Simple Sambo;” or new ones like calling Sarah Palin “Sarah Piglin,” somehow it’s Republican “old method of thinking” for me to refer to Alice Kryzan as the netroots’ sloppy seconds. Yet, for some reason, I am the one that should apologize for using offensive and “beyond the pale” language?  Ain’t that a hoot.

And I guess finding humor in Hurricane Gustav is somehow appropriate.

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With the golden boy of the left-wing bloggers defeated, the netroots of Western New York are now trying to drum up enthusiasm for Alice Kryzan.

For those Democrats who might be upset that Powers or Jack Davis didn’t win, let’s look at the other option: Chris Lee. In today’s Buffalo News, Lee gave us a lot of fodder. He said he supports the Bush tax cuts, which doesn’t surprise us as Lee is a millionaire and has received the tax breaks while the rest of Western New York’s middle class has picked up the slack for him. He also said that while he supports a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq, he believes the timetable should be made by the military and not the politicians (even though it is the politicians who will need to set such a timetable). Lee also supports the same free trade practices that have hurt Western New York and shipped many of our jobs out of state or out of the country.

Okay, this is fairly standard Democrat talking points here. First, what Harding doesn’t see to understand is that Bush’s tax cuts took many lower income families off the tax rolls all together. Second, it was the Bush tax cuts that helped bring our economy out of recession and into a period of record breaking economic growth. Recycle these old ant-tax cut talking points even when they’ve been proven wrong repeatedly doesn’t exactly help your credibility.

Harding also ignores the positive impact of free trade on our economy while ignoring what really hurts it. Our economy, while currently struggle has staved off a recession, in part because of trade. Erecting economic barriers to international trade would most certainly worsen the problem, not make it better. As I’ve noted in the past, the raising of tariffs during the Great Depression did just that.

That’s just the facts.

Harding continues with a classic liberal straw man argument, blaming Tom Reynolds for everything he believes is wrong with the district:

So, as a Democrat, you have to ask yourself: Do you want two more years of Republican representation that has done nothing for NY-26? Do you want another representative in the mold of (and endorsed by) Tom Reynolds? If not, the only option is to vote for Alice Kryzan. If you want to continue the abysmal Republican leadership here in NY-26, you will vote for Chris Lee. It’s that simple.

Harding may not like Tom Reynolds or the Republican Party, but that’s no reason to claim that he’s poorly represented the district or should be blamed for all the things Harding sees as wrong. The fact is, the local economy in Western New York is largely affected by local/state government. Western New York’s economy is being slowly suffocated by overregulation and overtaxation. And since the Democratic Party pretty much runs the state, Harding out to be directing blame towards his own party… but instead finds it more politically convenient to blame Reynolds, in the hopes that his readers will just swallow it up and repeat it.

But, facts are facts. And the liberal netroots will eventually figure out that if pointing fingers erroneously at Tom Reynolds is the best way they can drum up enthusiasm for Alice Kryzan,

It’s clear from Harding’s post that he thinks economic issues will be a big factor in the race for the 26th District. Well, then they out to start writing their concession speeches now. When it comes time to vote in November, who does he think voters will trust on economic issues? A successful businessman who understands what’s best for business, or a liberal trial lawyer who stands for the the same old overregulation and overtaxation that has kept Western New York’s economy down?

My money is on the successful businessman. 

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