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Bellavia says second camera operator identified

By Howard B. Owens

Press release from David Bellavia:

(BATAVIA, NY) - Decorated Iraq combat veteran David Bellavia today challenged Congressional candidate Jane Corwin to come clean on her involvement in a gambit to disrupt a veterans' event in Greece, NY. The former Army Staff Sergeant whose actions during the Battle of Fallujah earned some of the nation's highest honors also pointed out the second Corwin staffer caught by WGRZ-TV videotaping the candidate's chief of staff as he repeatedly called a U.S. Marine a "coward."

"Media reports indicate the second camera was operated by Rep. Chris Lee's former Congressional staffer Emily Hunter, a native of Rochester," Bellavia said. "This is further proof Corwin has ordered the local GOP machine to push the edges of common decency in a desperate attempt to help her buy this seat."

Military veterans are hunting for Michael Mallia, Corwin's Assembly chief of staff, in Florida, where Corwin sent him to hide from the media after he embarrassed himself and his candidate in a Youtube video edited to look like he was assaulted. Angry veterans in the 26th Congressional District have taken to referring to Corwin's dirty trick as "CowardGate."

"I urge Jane Corwin to come clean on why she ordered her chief of staff and Rep. Lee's staff assistant to disrupt the Greece veterans' event," Bellavia said. "I also beseech her to release the unedited tapes of CowardGate, reveal where she has hidden Mallia from the media and produce the second shooter and her video."

"It was bad enough that Jane Corwin ordered this dirty trick - now she's lying. Corwin is the architect of a cover up designed to deceive voters and duck the media," Bellavia said. "The veterans of Western New York will not give her a pass on this despicable prank."

"Jane Corwin is failing her CSPAN audition: if she will not tell the truth about CowardGate, she is not ready for prime time and cannot represent our Congressional District with honor and effectiveness," Bellavia said.

Veterans in Florida have offered a $5,000 reward for information on Mallia's whereabouts that leads to a media interview of the Corwin staff chief. They have published a Web site offering a WANTED poster to help in the hunt (www.WheresMallia.com). Broadcast quality b-B-roll of the Florida search is available at http://vimeo.com/23776422.

Ed Gentner

One place Mallia won't be found is at a recruiter's office enlisting....he might be in hiding with Chris Lee in Florida...or check if there is a Jane Fonda film festival he might be there.

May 18, 2011, 2:10pm Permalink
Lorie Longhany

Ron my favorite sandwich -- bologna with ketchup and sweet relish.
Seriously, the Corwin campaign is devoid of basic human values. It's a morally bancrupt group of goons, liars and bullies.

May 18, 2011, 7:23pm Permalink
Janice Stenman

I don't know why any informed voter would support Jane Corwin. Her ads are some of the worst, lie filled, sleezy things I've seen in a long time.

Just the idea that she supports Ryan's attempt to gut Medicare should be enough.

But the one that gets me the most is her claim that Kathey Hochul wants to raise taxes. SHE DOES! ON THE RICHEST 2%. That's the part Corwin conveniently leaves out of the ad. Is anyone here in the top 2%? I know I'm not.

May 18, 2011, 5:37pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

You know, I never heard of gravy on fries until I moved to WNY. Seemed odd to me at first and I didn't even try it until a couple of months ago. Now I love it.

Along those lines, years ago I put peanut butter on an apple and thought it was really good, so for a while it became a regular snack. But I only ate it in secret thinking other people would find it weird. Then one day I walked into a coffee shop and they were selling sliced apples with a cup of peanut butter. I was kind of blown away. Since then, I've found lots of people who like apples and peanut butter.

May 18, 2011, 6:20pm Permalink
Dave Olsen

Janice, the big problem is: most voters are not informed, they don't bother, they'll just vote along a party line. Someone said to me the other day that they thought Jack Davis was too liberal, I asked why they believed that, I was told because of the commercials. So there ya go.

May 18, 2011, 6:43pm Permalink
Bea McManis

sliced strawberries with a drop or two of balsamic vinegar - heaven
a wedge of crisp lettuce, miracle whip on white bread. yummy
my mom's favorite was toast, a sliced banana and peanut butter - I called this the 'egad' sandwich. I like all three but not together.
As a kid I would walk the garden with my grandfather. He would pick a sun warmed tomato, rinse it with the garden hose, cut it in half with his pen knife, sprinkled salt on it and we'd share.

May 18, 2011, 7:09pm Permalink
Kyle Couchman

Ok since I make my own specials I am putting fried bologna sandwiches on tomorrow at Michelles Cafe, all I got though is swiss,american or provolone so if you want muenster gotta bring your own....

My own fav pb concoction.....pb and j with a couple of slices of american

May 18, 2011, 9:03pm Permalink
Brandon Burger

Kyle- Your favorite concoction sparked a memory: back when I was in elementary school, a slice of American cheese (I want to say it was the government-issue stuff) came with every peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich you would get in the cafeteria on soup-n-sammich day.

I never knew why and I have never seen it since.

The closest thing to cheese and pb'n'j that I know of is a slice of cheddar with apple pie...because apple pie without the cheese is like a hug without the squeeze.

May 18, 2011, 9:28pm Permalink
Brandon Burger

I just realized that this string of commentary about strange (but delicious) food-couplings is attached to a post about Bellavia's latest press release regarding Jane Corwin's Chief of Staff. Hahaha.

I guess I didn't realize it sooner because nobody has mentioned Jane Fonda yet.

May 18, 2011, 10:05pm Permalink
Lorie Longhany

Corwin has run the meanest, ugliest campaign I've ever seen locally. It's no surprise the president of the College Republicans withdrew support. That's a scathing indictment when a candidate loses support from a group that offers a campaign energetic and youthful support.

May 19, 2011, 8:04am Permalink
Kyle Couchman

K I'm gettin muenster cheese for todays special....we'll call it the batavian Bologna Snd and I'll put mac salad with it :D. We'll see how this special goes.

May 19, 2011, 6:52am Permalink
Dave Olsen

Sounds good, Kyle. There's a favorite little bar/restaurant in West Seneca of mine that has a "Polish Rueben" Fried Bologna, muenster cheese, sauerkraut and thousand island dressing because no self-respecting polack would eat Russian dressing. It's really good too and I'm not even Polish

May 19, 2011, 8:13am Permalink
Steve Ferrando

And everyone thought that Chris Lee was a sleaze after his craiglist episode....well this Jane Corwin has got him beat hands down even with her shirt still on !!!!! WOW!!!!

May 19, 2011, 8:54am Permalink
Billie Owens

Many, if not most of the concoctions, mentioned on this thread seem nauseating to me. But there are a couple that I think I'll try.

I myself like some things a lot of people might not.

On rare occasions, I like big jumbo pickled pig's feet. Or Bristling sardines with apple vinegar, a dash of hot sauce and Saltines.

When I was a kid, my mom made sliced banana and mayo sandwiches on white bread. She also made sandwiches with just ripe, sliced tomatoes, salt, pepper, mayo and white bread, which was messy-juicy. Fried baloney and mustard on white bread, which I've discovered can be found in these parts, too. She and I are natives of Charlotte, NC, which may explain some things.

Elvis liked PB and banana sandwiches on white bread, fried.

I was surprised at some foods in WNY: fried pickles, horseradish cheese, Philadelphia salad -- which has French fries in it, white hot dogs, and beans-n-greens.

May 19, 2011, 1:02pm Permalink
Bea McManis

lol, Billie - I can remember having fried fiddleback ferns down south. Coming from someone who loves burdocks, it shouldn't have been that surprising.
My mom was the queen of the sliced tomatoe, fresh from the garden, served in a bowl with olive oil, sliced onions, a hint of garlic, fresh basil and oregano and sopping it up with Italian bread.

May 19, 2011, 1:33pm Permalink
Kyle Couchman

Sorry Dave... I work as cook @ Michelle's Bakery, right next to Parmenters Tire. I didnt sell any fried bologna sandwiches so the are on the truck and will be distributed to Michelle lunch truck stops.

I like the polish ruben idea though, might try that next week.

Hey Steve my dearest hope is that Corwin leaves her shirt on.... I wouldnt want to see that in the paper or online as it would nauseate wny and I'd have no one for breakfast or lunch.

May 19, 2011, 5:53pm Permalink

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