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Today's Poll: What is your take on the Jack Davis 'assault' video?

By Howard B. Owens
Howard B. Owens

That would have been a good one to include, as would something along the lines of "I didn't learn anything about Davis I didn't already know."

But I wanted to keep the number of positive/negative options for both sides even.

May 13, 2011, 7:42am Permalink
Steve Ferrando

That video is as phony as Corwin, another millionaire prima donna who has to delve into Facebook, U-Tube, Craiglist and the like with their monkey business. What scandal will she be into when and if she gets to D.C.????????

May 13, 2011, 9:00am Permalink
Ed Gentner

Enjoy the u-tube video as NY tax payers we paid the salary of the man ith the camera....He's Jane Corwin's legislative chief of staff camaigning on the public's dime...it didn't take Jane long to catch up with the habits of other political big shots having staff working on campaigns....I wonder if he picks up her dirty laundry as well

May 13, 2011, 9:40am Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Nick Langworthy said Michael Mallia was not on the clock at the time of the incident. Considering the hour, that's a believable statement.

Staff members are allowed to campaign for whomever they wish during their off hours.

It's legal, and IMHO, ethical.

To be clear, I'm not defending Mallia's action, just that factually, he wasn't on the taxpayer clock at the time of the incident.

May 13, 2011, 10:03am Permalink
Bob Harker

Steve: "What scandal will she be into when and if she gets to D.C.????????"

Maybe a shirtless picture on Facebook would help her dwindling chances......

:)

May 13, 2011, 10:14am Permalink
Dave Meyer

Ummmmm.....Bob, I doubt it.

I will say that this entire fiasco demonstrates the complete idiocy of this candidate and her handlers. I mean everyone knows Jack is a grumpy old man. Who didn't know that when a young whippersnapper shoved a camera in his face and bombarded him with questions that he wouldn't react the way that he did?

And Howard, while Mr. Mallia's actions might have been legal, I couldn't disagree more with you regarding them being ethical. I'm no Jack supporter, but what is ethical about invading the personal space of anyone? I wonder how Mr. Mallia would feel if that were done to his boss while he WAS on the clock. I'm thinking his reaction would be quite different.

May 13, 2011, 10:34am Permalink
Chris Charvella

He's on salary and makes in the neighborhood of $40K/ year. Standard practice for political staffers if they want to work for their boss' campaign is to take a leave of absence from their public job.

May 13, 2011, 10:44am Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Dave, I mean ethical only in the sense that it is ethical for a staff member to work on a campaign during off hours.

I'm made no comment on the actual conduct in this instance.

May 13, 2011, 10:50am Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Even if you're on salary, you still have your own off hours. Employment law is pretty clear that "salary" can't be used to work somebody around the clock. For the most part, a salaried employee should still adhere to a 40-hour work week, you just don't punch a clock.

When I worked for a legislator in California, myself and all of my co-workers volunteered on campaigns, including for, and not limited to, our boss. We didn't have to take a leave of absence. There were still constituent cases to handle and legislative matters to deal with. We still had to attend to the business of the district.

It would seem to me a violation of a person's constitutional rights to say "you're a salaried employee of the state so you can't volunteer for the political campaign of your choice during your off hours."

Of course, the reality is, if you're on legislative or district staff and don't volunteer, your staff career will be cut short.

May 13, 2011, 10:56am Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Also, as I understand it, you need only take a leave of absence from your legislative job if you are on campaign staff, even if an unpaid position.

At least that was how it was in California.

Because I was my boss's press advisor, I was not allowed to fulfill the same role in the campaign. That would have been seen as a campaign staff position. I was limited to walking precincts and stuffing envelopes.

We didn't engage in dirty tricks, so I was never asked to stalk an opponent, but that has task traditionally assigned to volunteers, not campaign staff, as I understand it.

May 13, 2011, 11:04am Permalink
Gabor Deutsch

It should not be about "who" shot the video but the real intent or purpose of the video and how it was being recorded. "Political Paparazzi" should be kept at a reasonable personal space distance period. That includes the reach of my arms out front of my face ! Just saying. WTF

edit: I voted sadly it's politics as usual......
edit 12:16pm
@ Chris, this should be your blog video for Friday 13. (don't leave me hanging). *BUMP*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMxX-QOV9tI&feature=fvwrel

May 13, 2011, 12:21pm Permalink
Tim Miller

That person with the camera really needs to take acting lessons, or maybe get on Stone Cold Steve Austin's "Tough Enough" to learn how to take a fall and make it believable.

Or, maybe he could just keep his day job.

May 13, 2011, 11:43am Permalink
Chris Charvella

"Or, maybe he could just keep his day job."

He's caused a level of embarrassment to the Erie County GOP high enough so that may not be possible.

May 13, 2011, 12:04pm Permalink
C. M. Barons

None of this is Jane's fault! Why are you persecuting her?

<object width="425" height="349"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cDDEhLw1PVI?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0"></par… name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cDDEhLw1PVI?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;rel=0&quot; type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="349" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

May 13, 2011, 12:06pm Permalink
Dave Olsen

Yeah, you guys are supposed to be honored that she is willing to serve the taxpayers. With her background, she could be a CEO somewhere or back on Wall St. making tons of money. (great old GOP chestnut)
Gabor: "I still wouldn't vote for her but I would friend and "poke" her good !"
Easy big guy, don't get too excited. LOL

May 13, 2011, 12:16pm Permalink
Steve Ferrando

C.M. Barons" None of this is Jane's fault!" "Why are you persecuting her?" C'mon C.M.,where do you live? under a rock?? That "clown" that shot that video works for her!!!!! He is her Chief of Staff!! C'mon C.M. wake up and smell the coffee!!!

May 13, 2011, 12:24pm Permalink
George Richardson

C.M.? Steve? Heh heh, leave Jane alone, she's not feeling too well right now.

"Bite me Karl Rove." - George Richardson, Austin, Texas.

Vote for Ian Murphy and send a real message to Washing Machine.

May 13, 2011, 12:47pm Permalink
C. M. Barons

Apparently Chris Crocker's ebullient language crossed the line. So Google Chris Crocker YouTube Leave Britney Alone and discover the connection for yourself.

May 13, 2011, 12:58pm Permalink
Chris Charvella

@Gabor I was too busy writing a piece about this topic last night to do my usual lazy Friday stroll through YouTube park. Next week I'll try to do something special just for you.

May 13, 2011, 1:02pm Permalink
M. Gary Guiste

The day of the candidate NOT videographing their campaigns is coming to an end.

This video albeit quite absurd, demonstrates the need for someone (the targeted) to have someone documenting the candidates POV.

It is not expensive. My iPod has video ability. Then these videos can easily become a video blog from the candidate and make the candidate a little more real.

Again, I defer to Marshall Macluhan "...the medium is the message..."

May 13, 2011, 6:13pm Permalink

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