Grimm Blasted For Trying To Have It Both Ways In Government Shutdown Debate

Representative Michael Grimm (R), was ripped by Brooklyn and Staten Island Democrats for voting to continue the government shutdown while at the same time making television appearances where he states he is against it. SI Live is reporting that two dozen Staten Island-based Democratic leaders spoke out against Grimm outside the closed Gateway National Recreational Area.

Democrats like State Senator Diane Savino and Councilman Domenic Recchia, who is running against Grimm in the upcoming 2014 election, stepped up their criticism of Grimm with heated rhetoric:

Recchia also said Grimm (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) ”has been trying to have it both ways, voting to shut down the government while going on television saying he’s against a shutdown.”

“Enough of the talking points and the television appearances and the games,” said state Sen. Diane Savino, who joined Recchia and two dozen Island Democrats outside the gates of the shuttered-to-the-public Gateway National Recreation Area, Fort Wadsworth…

Recchia and Ms. Savino said that if the shutdown continues into next week, it will have a “ripple effect” on local businesses and eateries and the borough’s economy overall.

“He says he doesn’t want a shutdown, so let your actions speak louder than your words,” said Recchia of Grimm. “Instead, he falls in line, behind [Speaker John] Boehner, who delayed the vote on Sandy aid. He’s trying to have it both ways. He is misleading the people of New York and the people of New York are smart.”

Recchia also accused Grimm of voting against a clean CR (continuing resolution) Wednesday night, despite having said previously he would support one — which would have the effect of keeping the government operational for a week or two while the Senate takes up House objections to Obamacare.

In his defense, Grimm laid out his position, in which he cast himself as a member of a splinter Republican effort to end the shutdown. The Daily Kos published part of a press release put out by the congressman:

To be clear, I do not support a government shutdown, no matter what the objective is. While I have consistently stated my opposition to Obamacare, I do not believe that shutting down the government and abandoning vital public services is an acceptable way to address issues of policy. It is unconscionable to do this at the expense of seniors, military service members, and other federal workers and ordinary civilians dependant on the continued functioning of our government. I have heard from many constituents in the past week, and I truly understand the pain that this gridlock is causing across our district and the entire country.

Rest assured that I, like you, know we must end this shutdown immediately. That is why I am one of three Republicans leading the effort to strongly urge my leadership to reach a compromise while garnering support from other pragmatic members to bolster our position and end this shutdown.

As we previously reported, Grimm indeed voted for the initial bill that led to the government shutdown. At the time, Grimm argued to the New York Daily News that he voted for the bill because he was in favor of an amendment that would deny Congressmen better health care than the poorest Americans would receive from Obamacare. Despite Grimm’s words, Democrats were not buying it, arguing that his Tea Party ties would hurt the city:

Meanwhile, Recchia and Ms. Savino said that with non-essential employees at HUD, SBA, FEMA and the Interior Department furloughed, Sandy money not already allocated could be stalled in the pipeline.

They also suggested that if the shutdown continues through this month, it could deal a huge economic blow to the city by putting the New York City Marathon in peril. The marathon was canceled last year in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

“Send a message to Michael Grimm that we are not fooled by what you are saying on TV,” said Recchia.