THE CORNWALL LOCAL

BREAKING -- Sunday, September 16, 2007

Challenger: Petraeus' own congressman won't defend him

By Margaret Menge -- The Iraq war vet who's likely challenging Rep. John Hall in 2008 lashed out at the congressman yesterday in an article (click here) for the online mag American Thinker. "One might wonder what kind of Congressman could sit back and watch in silence as his own District's favorite son is slandered by the cretins at MoveOn," wrote Kieran Michael Lalor, referring to the ad that MoveOn.org took out in last Monday's New York Times that called Gen. David Petraeus "General Betray Us." Lalor writes that MoveOn.org "mobilized an army of tie-dyed liberals from outside the district" to get Hall elected in 2006.

Rep. John Hall (D-NY-19), who lives in Dutchess County, has an unpublished number, and could not be reached for comment today. But Hall's press secretary in Washington, Meaghan Smith, says he has a written statement about Gen. Petraeus that he is submitting to the Congressional Record tomorrow.

What do you think?  Should Hall swear off taking MoveOn.org money in 2008 and ever after? Should he have spoken up earlier last week to defend Gen. Petraeus?

Readers of The Cornwall Local are encouraged to send e-mail with their thoughts to: editor.local@verizon.net.

BREAKING -- Monday, September 17, 2007  2:47 p.m.

Hall Gives Mealy Mouth Response, Still Won’t Swear

Off MoveOn Money or Defend the General

By Margaret Menge -- Rep. John Hall said today that he regrets the language MoveOn.org used in the full page ad that ran in last Monday's New York Times (rhyming 'Petraeus' with 'Betray us') and says he wouldn't take money from MoveOn.org in 2008 unless he's satisfied that they won't be "misdirecting their efforts in such a way."

In a phone call with the Local this morning, Hall said the following: "I first of all disassociate myself from any attacks, including this one, on our military...I regret that they [MoveOn.org] used the language that they did...I also think the honesty of his [Gen. Petraeus'] testimony was demonstrated when he was asked if the war was making us safer and he answered, 'I don't know'."

Rep. Hall, who defeated Sue Kelly last November, says he hasn't ever received any contributions from MoveOn.org that he knows of. He told the Local that he thought any frustration or disagreement about the war in Iraq should be aimed at the administration, and not at the General.