Cicilline Accuses Doherty of Trying to “Score Political Points”
Friday, November 25, 2011
With less than a year before the 2012 election, first-term Congressman David Cicilline's campaign offered its first criticism of one of his potential opponents this week, blasting Republican Brendan Doherty for trying to "score political points" following the candidate's comments on the Congressional Super Committee's failure to reach an agreement on $1.2 trillion in cuts.
Doherty issued a statement Wednesday ripping the state's Congressional Delegation for blaming Republicans for the joint committee's inability to reach compromise. The candidate singled out Cicilline, accusing the Congressman of threatening to cut defense jobs. He said Cicilline celebrated the threat of cuts to defense spending.
“I am appalled that David Cicilline would play chicken with Rhode Island defense industry jobs and celebrate the threat of drastic cuts in defense spending, risking the livelihood of thousand of Rhode Islanders in the First Congressional district as a means to achieve a partisan political victory,” Doherty said.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTCicilline's Spokeswoman Fires Back
But Cicilline's campaign spokeswoman Nicole Kayner responded, calling on Doherty to urge GOP leadership to force the wealthy to pay more in taxes.
Kayner said the Republicans on the Super Committee lacked the courage to reach a compromise.
"If Mr. Doherty is serious about ending the partisan bickering in Washington, instead of issuing press releases, he should call on the Republican leadership and the Republicans on the Super Committee to end their unwillingness to ask millionaires and billionaires to pay their fair share. It is disappointing that not a single Republican on the Super Committee had the courage to do what is right, even if it meant breaking their pledge to lobbyist Grover Norquist," she said. "Our country is facing serious problems and it is critical that our leaders are able to reach a reasonable compromise that doesn't undermine Social Security and Medicare or jeopardize our national security. Now is not the time to try to score political points."
Failure to Give Honest Answers
Because the joint committee could not reach an agreement Monday, $1.2 trillion in automatic cuts are expected to begin in January 2013. Medicare and Social Security will not be included.
“Political grandstanding and partisan bickering have no place in this discussion,” stated Doherty. “Washington’s continuing failure to give honest answers or take real action to address our debt crisis threatens not only the day to day livelihood of hard-working taxpayers, but with every passing day, increases the burdens that we are shifting to our grandchildren and future generations. The finger pointing and ultimatums only work to perpetuate the gridlock in Washington.”
Doherty is widely viewed as the top challenger to Cicilline at this point. The Republican has matched the Congressman in fundraising since he announced his candidacy in May. Doherty is expected to face a primary challenge from former State Rep. and Congressional candidate John Loughlin, who nearly defeated Cicilline in 2010. Cicilline may face a primary himself, with business man Anthony Gemma, for State Rep. David Segal and BankRI CEO Merrill Sherman all considering entering the race as Democrats.
Editor's Note: The original version of the story attributed quotes to Congressman Cicilline. The quotes actually came from Nicole Kayner, his campaign spokeswoman.
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