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David Sirota wrote a great piece about Eric Schneiderman a few weeks ago. David talks about all the different progressive issues that Eric has become involved in – organized for and made happen. Below is a more close up view, mine, that tells you a lot about what kind of Attorney General Eric will be. And he is on the verge of winning this primary with the help of progressives like all of you who read this blog.
I have known Eric Schneiderman a long time.
Eric started out as my State Senator. When he was elected in 1998, Dr Slepian, who worked at the Buffalo Women’s Clinic, was murdered in his own kitchen in front of his children by an anti-choice fanatic. The NY State Clinic Access bill had already been in legislative limbo for nearly 5 years. Governor George Pataki kept saying if the Clinic Access bill got to his desk he would sign it, knowing full well that the Republican State Senate would keep it 1000 miles from his desk.
That year though, Eric got elected to a State Senate. Against both the Republican Senate majority leader’s dictates and sad to say, the recalcitrant foot dragging in his own party’s conference; he brought up motion after motion to get the Clinic Access bill to the floor. He was a progressive pain in the *** :-). But the bill passed finally, because he was unwilling to ever give up. And Eric continues this profile in courage, smarts and perseverance to this day.
He is no longer my State Senator because, in 2000, in order to get rid of him, they redistricted him uptown into a predominantly Hispanic district. They were sure he would lose. Unfazed, he ran hard, learned Spanish and ably represents his new constituents who are not nearly as well off financially as his old ones.
Eric is smart, and tough but also effective. He knows when to challenge and when to work cooperatively.
Despite The New York Times’ concern about entrenched incumbents in Albany, they have enthusiastically endorsed Eric for Attorney General because they know he is someone who has long fought both inside and outside to make the State of New York a better place for everyone, a State where justice will get the first plate at the table.
The Times cited his “sound judgment, legal expertise, political independence, and long history of fighting for government reform.”
Every single person’s vote will matter on Tuesday. Please join me in supporting Eric Schneiderman tomorrow, on Tuesday, September 14th.
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