Kelly-Hall debate: a ‘snow job'

To the editor: Monday evening last, Sue Kelly and John Hall presented views on agriculture questions at Warwick Town Hall. Taking a page from junior Bush, Kelly’s people in Warwick set up a qualified attendance pass system. The Farm Bureau (Orange County) hosted the event, reserving 100 of the 200 seats for farm bureau members. This assured Kelly of the loudest sound bits, or so she thought. The hundred seat passes got passed around until every breathing Republican who would waste their time listening to Sue Kelly showed up. It was a hard sell because the Republican executive board, non-farmers to be sure, took up another ten seats. In all the best Kelly could muster were about 130 souls, locking out about that number of John Hall’s people. The atrium adjourning the chamber could have allowed the locked out Hall supporters to be sheltered and listen to the discussion through the open door. John Hall and his people were unhappy, but knew this would be about the only shot they had at Ms. Kelly, who might be off to Tahoe any day now, as the snow is coming. She delivered the anticipated snow job, while John did his best to remind the farmers that while things aren’t too good in the farming industry, they have re-elected a country club mama from a fancy zip code address in Westchester. John was trying to tell ya, fellas, she ain’t your baby. Her war chest contributions from the food controlling syndicates in 12 years in office is probably twice the value of your hard earned cash crops. Cast your fate with people who, like yourself, work for a living, not Kelly’s crowd who work you for their living. RJ Donnelly Highland Mills