Spring Break
Democratic trashing of Gov. Rowland unacceptable
Shawn Nottage
Issue date: 9/9/02 Section: Commentary
"DEATH TO THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS!" It sounds like something one would hear during one of those fantasy role-playing games. It is not. This was one of the epithets used to describe incumbent Conn. Gov. John Rowland at the recent Democratic Convention. There is a fine line between the usual campaign mud-slinging and being downright nasty.
Billy Curry and his direct supporters have shown they are the latter of the two: nasty. A liberal activist, Ned Coll, the invocation speaker at the Democratic Convention, not only referred to Rowland as "the prince of darkness," but went on to tell supporters he was a "snake." It appears to me, Coll and any of his supporters, are the snakes. Coll was not showing his support for Bill Curry, the Democratic candidate for governor. He was directing unnecessary and unacceptable insults at Rowland.
Many readers may not realize just how spiteful Curry is. Perhaps Curry is green with envy; after all, Rowland did defeat Curry in the 1994 gubernatorial race.
Curry's 1994 campaign, which highlighted tax cuts as the focus point, obviously did not work out. It looks like he and his cronies are taking a different direction in 2002, and that will be simply insulting.
This guy has a lot of strength to be so unpleasant when speaking about a man who has masterfully led our state into the 21st century. Rowland deserves respect. To see him berated by a man who is interested only in himself and his votes is sickening.
What is worse is Curry's direct ties with corruption. Curry's running mate in the 1994 race was much-maligned and now indicted former Bridgeport Mayor, Joseph Ganim. Ganim was arrested on 54 counts of election law violations and later sued for embezzlement. Fifty-four counts! This is a man Curry was prepared to take into office with him if he was elected in 1994. Curry seems to have a hand in this corruption as well. During his tenure as State Comptroller he was caught using his tax-payer-funded car on personal vacations. The Democrat, Curry, in his infinite wisdom, defends this act by pointing out that other state-elected officials also have been found to use their state cars for personal reasons. This is quite the defense. I hate to say it, but if all of your friends jumped off of a bridge would you?
Billy Curry and his direct supporters have shown they are the latter of the two: nasty. A liberal activist, Ned Coll, the invocation speaker at the Democratic Convention, not only referred to Rowland as "the prince of darkness," but went on to tell supporters he was a "snake." It appears to me, Coll and any of his supporters, are the snakes. Coll was not showing his support for Bill Curry, the Democratic candidate for governor. He was directing unnecessary and unacceptable insults at Rowland.
Many readers may not realize just how spiteful Curry is. Perhaps Curry is green with envy; after all, Rowland did defeat Curry in the 1994 gubernatorial race.
Curry's 1994 campaign, which highlighted tax cuts as the focus point, obviously did not work out. It looks like he and his cronies are taking a different direction in 2002, and that will be simply insulting.
This guy has a lot of strength to be so unpleasant when speaking about a man who has masterfully led our state into the 21st century. Rowland deserves respect. To see him berated by a man who is interested only in himself and his votes is sickening.
What is worse is Curry's direct ties with corruption. Curry's running mate in the 1994 race was much-maligned and now indicted former Bridgeport Mayor, Joseph Ganim. Ganim was arrested on 54 counts of election law violations and later sued for embezzlement. Fifty-four counts! This is a man Curry was prepared to take into office with him if he was elected in 1994. Curry seems to have a hand in this corruption as well. During his tenure as State Comptroller he was caught using his tax-payer-funded car on personal vacations. The Democrat, Curry, in his infinite wisdom, defends this act by pointing out that other state-elected officials also have been found to use their state cars for personal reasons. This is quite the defense. I hate to say it, but if all of your friends jumped off of a bridge would you?