The Bay Ridge Democratic Club today called out the Brooklyn Republican Party over their endorsement of Donald Trump, and wondered aloud how Bay Ridges three elected Republicans: Congressman Dan Donovan, State Senator Martin Golden and Assemblymember Nicole Malliotakis feel about Trump.
“What about Trump’s vision for America won over the Brooklyn Republican Party? Was it his call to ban people of certain religions from entering the country? Was it his incitement to violence at his campaign rallies? Or was it his daily insults to women that sealed the deal? Trump is wrong for Brooklyn. Donovan, Golden and Malliotakis need to stand up and say they will not support Trump’s hateful brand of politics,” said Bay Ridge Democrats spokesperson Chris McCreight.
“We know Bay Ridge Republican politicians do not agree with us on the need to raise the minimum wage or a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions, but surely we can all agree that Trump must be stopped. It’s time for Dan Donovan, Marty Golden, and Nicole Malliotakis to put politics aside for the good of the country and join the rest of Brooklyn in opposing Trump. Failure to do so, would be, in a word, sad,” he added.
But Bay Ridge Republicans shot back that anything would be better than Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders.
“I’ll support whoever the (Republican) nominee is,” said Malliotakis, who was the New York State Chair for Marco Rubio and insisted she’s not prepared to make another endorsement. “I do believe Trump is somewhat divisive, but there are some things I agree with. Regardless, any of the three left on the Republican side will be better than Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders.”
Golden did not personally return a phone call, but sources said Golden has been telling insiders it seems clear that Trump will be the eventual nominee and that he is intent to support whover the GOP nominee will be.
Donovan did not respond to phone calls or emails at post time.
Also checking in with comments were two-of-the-three Bay Ridge Republicans eyeing City Council Member Vinnie Gentile’s seat next year when he becomes term-limited. This includes Liam McCabe, John Quaglione and Bob Capano, who refused comment.
“At this point I have not decided whom I am voting for in the New York primary but I am leaning towards John Kasich,” said Quaglione, who is Golden’s communications director. “It is a shame that there are so many non issues taking the attention away from the real issues this country is facing.”
Quaglione said he will eventually support whoever the Republicans nominate. “I’m ABC – anybody but Clinton,” he said.
McCabe said he backed Rubio for his reaganesque qualities and vision of a futre American. “But now I don’t have a dog in the fight. I didn’t think Trump had a real shot, but he struck a nerve with the way a lot of people are frustrated,” he said.
“We could see a brokered convention and that a dark horse like Scott Walker or Jeb Bush could be nominated. I have a real problem with the Clintons coming back, though. I won’t be supporting Hillary that’s for sure. Anybody but Hillary,” he added.
