Post-Star backs Doheny; editorial angers Hassig

On Saturday, the Glens Falls Post-Star formally endorsed Watertown businessman Matt Doheny in the race for New York's 21st Congressional District. Doheny will be on the Republican, Conservative and Independence party lines in the Nov. 6 election; he faces incumbent U.S. Rep. Bill Owens, who will be on the Democratic and Working Families party lines, and Don Hassig, who will be on the Green Party line.

The Post-Star's endorsement of Doheny was lukewarm at best:

"After interviewing Democratic incumbent Congressman Bill Owens and Republican challenger Matt Doheny for an hour each, our editorial board was left underwhelmed and uninspired about who to endorse for Congress in the new 21st District," the editorial board wrote.

"Perhaps it is the state of the country, but the candidates seemed to mirror what we are seeing on a national scale, with both repeating party talking points and little indication that either was prepared to step and be his own man," it continued. "Both are smart, successful professionals who seem to have a good handle on the complicated array of issues that confront the country and the district. But both lack solutions that stray far from their party’s talking points."

The newspaper ultimately concluded that "Doheny’s business experience was better suited to the challenging economic environment that now faces the country and the district."

The Post-Star noted that because it wasn't thrilled with either Owens or Doheny, the opportunity to endorse a third party candidate presented itself. But the paper went on to chide Hassig for remarks he made at a candidate forum in Wanakena earlier this month.

"But seeing Hassig at the congressional debate at Queensbury High School, it was apparent he did not have the experience or expertise to tackle any of the difficult issues the country now faces," the editorial said. "It came as no surprise this week when the Green Party distanced itself from Hassig after he made several inflammatory statements about Mexican immigrants."

Hassig fired back at the comment in an emailed statement:

"I visited Glens Falls several times since starting my campaign in July 2011," he said. "Glens Falls is dominated by smokestack industries. The Post Star is showing itself to be dominated by these industries when its Editorial Board (EB) speaks falsely of me. What I said at the Queensbury candidate forum would convince anyone who can think that I am the only candidate who possesses the strength of character to make the changes that will save our country from the ruin that is being caused by greedy American business people. I presented a plan for creating millions of new jobs, ending the evil wars, protecting our environment; eliminating cancer and creating fairness in taxation, health care and education: withdraw from the WTO and FTAs; downsize to a defensive purposes only military; ban shale gas and shale oil extraction; enact a Cancer Elimination Act; establish a sales tax on Wall Street sales; and provide free health care and education through graduate school for all Americans."