The quest of Blue Dog Kirsten Gillibrand (D-Amato) to survive a primary from the left and hold onto her Senate seat in 2010 just got a lot harder, as The New York Times blows the lid off her history with Big Tobacco, by whom she was paid over $300 per hour. [LINK]
Since her clumsily-handled appointment by Gov. Paterson, Gillibrand's record has been under scruntiny -- deservedly so. With a history of ties to right-wing figures like "Senator Pothole," a pedigree from the once-notorious Albany political machine, high ratings from the NRA, immigrant-bashing campaign mailers, touting English as the "official" U.S. language, and her belated switcheroo on gay marriage, many key constituencies in this progressive state have begun looking for alternatives.
A growing sense that Gillibrand (who I know personally, but do not support politically) may have an opportunistic streak and a weak moral compass is greatly increased by today's lengthy Times exposé, which depicts the appointed Senator as avidly abetting the Philip Morris cover-up to launch her legal career. Details after the jump...