Opponent calls on Collins to renounce Trump's rejection of nation's core democratic beliefs

The United States is NOT a Democracy, it is a Constitutional Republic. Of course progressive Democrats like Hillary Clinton and Diane Kastenbaum would welcome the abolition of our Constitution... they already ignore it at every turn possible. Of course Ms Kastembaum doesn't believe the election is rigged, her candidate is benefiting. She probably also believes that the strictest gun laws in the nation under Rahm Emanuel [a Democrat mayor and former Obama Chief of Staff] are working in Chicago???

Ms.  Diana Kasebaum, the Democrat candidate for New York's 27th United States House seat,  asks  incumbent  Chris Collins   to  step out  of the shadows, and  disavow  Trump's  claim  that, coincident   with  several  other  pet  conspiracy  theories held by candidate at the top of the Republican ticket,  the  national Presidential   election has been rigged against him.

Ms. Kastenbaum concludes: "However, the tone the Trump campaign and all of its surrogates have set forth, including Mr. Collins, is anything but civil. The time has come for all patriotic Republicans to speak out against this unprecedented attack on our core beliefs and our fair election process.”

Given the demolition derby the Trump campaign has become, speaking up wouldn't seem such a tall order. But take the measure of the man. . .

To thus stand and speak out seems the antithesis of the Collins strategy. The man who asks for our vote to lead and represent us, is too busy hiding in the weeds. He has the back of crazy, and seems most secure there. He lacks the courage required of leadership, and certainly does not deserve another term in office.

Brian - The word 'democracy' in this context comes from having a Western style representative government that is popularly elected in separate branches, it is a democratic style republic. This is the bedrock of our Constitution and it frames federalism by checks, balances and authority given to Congress and the President to regulate interstate commerce. Perhaps you should read it before arguing semantics. Anytime there is universal adult suffrage, there is a small-d democracy. As for the 'abolishing' of the Constitution, that's just foaming at the mouth, if you're gonna be baseless, be more creative about it.

I'm not arguing semantics Daniel, I'm addressing intent, and it is very obvious to me what the intent of the progressive Democrats and Republicans is. It ought to be to everyone, we just lived thru eight years of it! But then there are many who want the government to take care of everything for them, and the Constitution which is the guarantor of personal liberty also requires personal responsibility, and that gets in their way. Liberalism truly is a mental disorder.

As for Trump's contention that "the election is rigged" is being unAmerican... REALLY? Maybe you should take a gander at this "sampling": http://thf_media.s3.amazonaws.com/2015/pdf/VoterFraudCases-Merged-3-2.p…

Brian - You just gleaned from the use of the word 'democracy' some hidden agenda to destroy the constitution and left a strange, disjointed, non-sequitur comment thereafter. I have the mental disorder? Did the voices in your head give you that line? Or are you like Ed and suffer from derailment?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derailment_thought_disorder_

For starters, I am DEFINITELY planning to vote for Diana Kastenbaum. I agree with Scott, Mr. Collins has been INVISIBLE in the district during this campaign. I guess he's been too busy kissing trump's a$$. He deserves to be thrown out. He has done NOTHING for our district.

I am however, very troubled by the effort put forth by the Democratic party in support of Ms. Kastenbaum.This is a district that is ripe to be flipped with some sort of concerted effort on the part of the Democrats, but there has been precious little advertising.

Contrast that with the election in the 23rd district (Southern tier) between Reed & Plumb. Both parties are running TV commercials, but nothing here? I get that both are gerrymandered republican districts, but why wouldn't the national Democratic party spend some advertising $$ here to take advantage of Collins' early and enthusiastic support of the loser that is trump? I don't get it.

I'll vote for Ms. Kastenbaum because I believe she will do the best job representing the district simply because she better understands the issues and she's 'from here' as opposed to her opponent who I'm sure would have to be reminded where Elba is or where countless other small towns in the district are.

Dave, Collins has as much knowledge of this area as she has of the urban area he is from. To say he has not been out here is just not true. Both candidates have been all over the area. The main difference is that while she has gone after him on a number of issues, he has pretty much just ignored her.

"I certainly wish Mr. Trump hadn’t said what he said, but of course," said Collins, R-Clarence  [. . .]  "This is America. Were he to lose, he would accept that, and his supporters would accept  that."

That makes me feel so much better. If   wishing only  made  it  so.  In fact, of course,  it's  inconsistent  with  what  the  candidate  originally  said to  Chris  Wallace's  debate query:

(Quoting from PBS Newshour)

"Trump’s claims Wednesday night that the election was being rigged against him, Wallace asked the Republican whether he would accept the results win or lose, saying GOP vice presidential candidate Mike Pence had said that he would. When Trump answered that “we will look at it at the time,” Wallace seemed incredulous.

The veteran newsman pointed out that a peaceful transition of power is one of the nation’s longest traditions, no matter how tough the campaign.

“Are you saying you’re not prepared to commit to that principle?” Wallace asked.

Answered Trump: “I will keep you in suspense.”

Words have meaning, even from as practiced liar as Donald Trump. And in Trump is where our representative Collins places his trust. That "He (Trump) would accept that (defeat and concession). . . "

Just because, I suppose, Chris Collins says he will. Since Trump hasn't said so. And after the fall, all the Trumpers march off to the great rigged election conspiracy lamentation, and along the way will probably found a new network dedicated to truthiness, guns, and God: something on the order of an amalgam of Alex Jones and the late great Fox News.

Trump TV, of course! Branding! This was what it was all about,probably from the beginning. After the "Apprentice", the real estate rackets, like Trump University, paled. Onward and upward!

The New York 27th needs and deserves better representation. Chris Collins is an embarrassment.

Scott, and you don't think Hillary has been lying? Really? Be honest, both have lied.

One final post from me... I am not voting for Collins, I have never supported him. It kinda sucks that there's only going to be (I believe) 3 races on my ballot that offer a choice [the rest are uncontested] and this one will get a NOTA.

BTW, Daniel's implication that the progressive liberals are some keeper of the Constitution is laughable. He gave us a glimpse of the true nature of the progressives when he wrote "authority given to Congress and the President". Our Constitution was primarily designed to "limit" the power of the government, not bestow power upon it. Today we have Presidents who rule by Executive Orders and bypass Congress, the Supreme Court making Laws, and a Congress that can't recall their Constitutional responsibilities... SAD.

Recommended reading: http://store.mises.org/Progressivism-A-Primer-on-the-Idea-Destroying-Am…

John, I'm afraid Hillary has told a few whoppers, the controversies here continually breaking over what she's said that is verifably untrue, and what is simply charged against her as untrue. But most will agree that as far as Trump is concerned, if he said it, the smart money is gonna bet it's a lie. (Muslims dancing in the streets of Queens as the towers fell, as so many of his friends perished, etc etc). The molehill is many orders of magnitude less than the Everest.

I lied, I'm making another post. Actually the first 10 Amendments [aka the Bill of Rights] although added approx 2 years later, are considered part of our Constitution.

Scott, if not telling lies is your main criteria for the election, you just might have to vote for Gary Johnson.

"Today we have Presidents who rule by Executive Orders"....

I know Howard frowns upon personal attacks, so I will attack that statement...

That statement is one of the stupidest dang things I've heard today (and I heard a few quotes from Trump today).
http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/executiveorders.asp

Claims of our President Obama "ruling by executive order" are insane, as President Obama has issued fewer executive orders than other recent Presidents, including GW, GHW Bush, and St. Ronnie.

Yeah... that claim is insane.

I didn't see it posted yet, but Chris Collins was on CNN and got cut off. CNN isn't even pretending to be biased anymore.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tydRQuzedy0

Just a wee bit of a non--sequitur, John. Were not lying a main criteria for selecting leaders, the cupboards would be very bare. To get through decades of diplomacy or politics, one's nose will grow longer than average. Odd that it wasn't until Eisenhower (U-2 spy incursions over the Soviet Union) that an American president got caught in a lie. This is not to defend Trump, who lies like a psychopath, but hardly recommends Johnson, either, who seems quite the innocent in the woods.

John, granted HRC is a much less than perfect candidate. It's sad that these 2, especially trump, who is a joke, are the best our political process can give us.
Having said that, the fact that Collins was early and enthusiastic in his support for trump is enough to disqualify him for me. He sits there in his gerrymandered district, does nothing, & expects to be elected. It's bull$hit, and I will not support him.
Likewise, although HRC is flawed, trump is COMPLETELY unqualified to be POTUS, and I will vote for HRC.

Dave, if you vote for Collins (I will) or not is not my business. Just keeping the record clear. Don't make it sound like Collins put himself in "his gerrymandered" district. The Albany Democratic Assembly did that. They did it to make sure Congressman Brian Higgins and Congresswoman Louise Slaughter have real safe seats around here. Remember, NY lost 2 seats in Congress after the last census and every district was changed to adjust for that

Hey Miller, did I say Obama specifically??? You're so damned preoccupied with your progressive agenda... why don't you pay better attention. Don't be stupid yourself.

I guess my point is (as you said) that "he's ignoring her (Kastenbaum)" and essentially the entire district. I guess better put, he's taking advantage of the district he's in because he knows there is a preponderance of registered republicans.
Any way you cut it he's a know nothing trump shill who doesn't deserve the support he gets simply by virtue of his party registration.

BTW, it looks like the districts were actually created by a panel of federal judges: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/20/nyregion/judges-impose-new-congressio…
Thanks Obama :)

It`s quite simple really. If you like where the country is at with the broken healthcare system, sky-high taxes, open borders, etc. then vote for Hillary because she is just an extension of what`s there now. If you want to take a chance that change could happen and want to vote against the establishment, vote Trump. It`s hard to sugarcoat either one but I agree with Trump`s views way more than hers.

Thanks Howard :)
Needless to say, I didn't do that research, but my Obama comment was meant as a joke because everybody blames him for everything that's wrong anyway. :)

Trump has made too many enemies,even if he wins the election,he won't get anything done.Bad mouthing everyone in DC will make for a very uncooperative congress.