Fact Check: Republicans’ Deceptive Ad in NY-22

October 14, 2016

Washington, D.C. – A new NRCC ad in NY-22 resorts to a false claim that conservative candidate Martin Babinec supports Hillary Clinton for president, specifically claiming “Kim Myers and Martin Babinec both support Hillary Clinton.”
 
In reality, Babinec has never publically stated any support for Hillary Clinton for president. However, Babinec has said he would caucus with Trump-supporting Republicans in Congress, and that he would repeal the Affordable Care Act.   
 
“It’s no surprise that Tenney’s allies at the NRCC are desperately resorting to the same kind of Albany-style politics she’s well-known for,” said House Majority PAC Communications Director Jeb Fain. “Their deceptive tactics won’t fool Upstate New York voters. The fact is – Martin Babinec’s own campaign manager is a former Trump staffer, and Babinec has pledged to caucus with a Republican Party that is firmly behind Trump’s presidential bid. Both Republican candidates in NY-22 are clearly wrong for Upstate New York.”  
 
Background
 
Martin Babinec said he would caucus with Republicans in Congress. “If he’s elected, Babinec said, he’ll caucus with House Republicans.” [Press & Sun-Bulletin8/10/16]
 
Martin Babinec said he wanted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, called it a “train wreck”“Obamacare has been one big headache. If it was up to me we wouldn’t have it. I would truly like to repeal it. The fact is, when it comes to Obamacare, I did spend about two years advocating against the passage of what I knew was going to be train wreck with what we call today Obamacare, the Affordable Care Act.” [Utica Observer-Dispatch9/27/16]
 
Martin Babinec’s campaign manager worked for Trump’s campaign. “Jim Baker, who served as Trump’s state director for multiple states before being fired by Lewandowski in May (some say for recognizing Manafort’s authority above the campaign manager’s), texted Lewandowski a mocking job offer as soon as news of his firing broke. The offer: ‘Hey bud, I see you’re looking for work now – I may be willing to have you interview for a field rep position I have open in Binghamton.’ Baker now manages the congressional campaign of independent candidate Martin Babinec in New York’s 22nd district.” [Politico6/20/16]