NY-21's Unambassador

President Trump’s revocation of Rep. Stefanik’s nomination for U.N. Ambassador is emblematic of the chaos that currently exists in Washington, DC, and within the national Republican Party. Here’s a tariff for today, but not tomorrow, but maybe next month; 100,000 workers are fired this week and rehired next week; here’s a nomination today, but revoked tomorrow. Blame it on the hapless journalist, blame it on a judge, blame it on the media, blame it on Biden, but heaven forbid, avoid any inward glance.

Clearly, the Republican establishment is afraid of the growing discontent with this dysfunction; they know voters did not elect them to cut or weaken Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, VA benefits, or education funds in order to provide tax cuts to the ultra-rich, four of whom sat behind Trump at his inauguration. They know voters did not choose to have an unelected billionaire making funding decisions that the U.S. Constitution grants to Congress and then threatening to primary any member of Congress who dares cross him, according to Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R, AK).

It is also not lost on us that the withdrawal of Stefanik’s nomination came two days after a narrow Democratic win in a Pennsylvania State Senate seat in a district that carried Trump by 15%, similar to NY-21. Republicans are correct to be nervous.

The excitement and energy surrounding the Blake Gendebien campaign illustrates the frustrations of everyday residents of St. Lawrence County who are more concerned with paying bills, filling the gas tank, and putting food on the table than the machinations of power hungry demagogues in Washington, DC. Blake and his team hear this firsthand from Democrats, Republicans, and independent voters who attend his events, seeking someone who would listen and return common-sense and ethics to representation in Washington, DC. These are all things Stefanik would hear if she ever stooped to make an in-person public appearance that was not strictly limited to her most devoted followers.

The St. Lawrence County Democratic Committee is stronger than ever because of the grass roots unity and strength of purpose gained through this entire process. It is clear that residents of St. Lawrence County and NY-21 will not sit by idly while jobs are lost; funding for Social Security, veterans, and education is cut; medical progress is stunted; and relations with our friends in Canada are damaged and used as bargaining chips in a game with no clear strategy other than to grab power.

St. Lawrence County is better than that, and the St. Lawrence County Democratic Committee commits itself to reaching out to all residents and politicians, regardless of party affiliation, in a joint effort to return normalcy and purpose to government.

Mike Zagrobelny

Ginger Storey-Welch

Chair and Vice-Chair of the St. Lawrence County Democratic Party