‘Derogatory’ puppet ad criticized
We should not be surprised that someone who has spent their political career attacking women would be comfortable putting his name next to an image of a woman tied up in strings.
I am the State Director of the Connecticut Working Families Party, an independent political organization fighting for an economy that works for everyone, not just the greedy few and well-connected. Every election, we review all the candidates and make endorsements based on their positions and records.
We typically cross-endorse Democrats, but sometimes we choose to run our own members independently or endorse Republicans. In the past, we have even cross-endorsed Senate Republican Leader Len Fasano — back before he was leadership, when his Republican caucus allowed him to support common sense legislation like minimum wage increases and paid sick days.
That’s why I was so stunned to see the recent mailer sent by the Senate Republican Majority Committee, which is controlled by Senator Fasano. The piece features Democratic state senate candidate Julie Kushner tied in strings as a puppet, and claims many falsehoods about her record and her positions. It is unacceptably derogatory and dishonest.
Kushner served as a co-chair on the Working Families Party state committee for eight years. As State Director of the WFP, I worked with her regularly to pass legislation to improve people’s lives and hold politicians accountable. Among the things we have fought for together are paid family leave, clean elections, keeping utility bills down, and retirement security. I have always been inspired by her strength. Julie Kushner is a fearless, independent, and thoughtful leader. As a co-chair at WFP, she supported us when we ran independent legislative candidates against corrupt Democrats, she fought alongside us when we criticized Gov. Malloy on the state budget and education, and she stood with WFP when we endorsed Republican candidates because it was the right thing to do to help working people.
For four decades, Kushner has brought businesses and workers together to find common solutions. As Director of UAW Region 9A, she led a membership of 50,000 in seven states and Puerto Rico, negotiating contracts, finding solutions for both the employees and employers, and speaking truth to power when necessary. That local Republicans would diminish a woman with such a substantial background as a “puppet” is all too consistent with the attacks on women we see from the Republican Party in Washington, D.C. Shame on them.
As an advocate with the Working Families Party, I have seen a thing or two about puppets for the special interests up in Hartford. After 10 years in the state Senate, Michael McLachlan is trying to rebrand himself, but the truth is his friendly approach has masked his fierce partisanship and radical agenda. Instead of working for a strong economy, he has spent his time in the legislature proposing legislation to take rights away from women and obstructing progress for middle and working class families. That is why special interest PACs are spending tens of thousands of dollars to keep Senator McLachlan in office. I guess we should not be surprised that someone who has spent their political career attacking women would be comfortable putting his name next to an image of a woman tied up in strings.
We need independent voices in Connecticut, and Julie Kushner will never put any interests ahead of those of her constituents. She will build coalitions and find creative solutions because that is what she has done and who she is. I hope you will support her on Nov. 6 to bring change to Hartford.