The New Civility: 'If President Obama Came In With a Cure for Cancer They Would Have Turned That Down, Too'

So glad we're past calling Republicans terrorists. It's so obvious they want people to die of cancer because clearly anyone on the right side of the aisle is immune from such diseases.

New York could lose hundreds of millions of dollars in Medicare and homeland security money because of the Tea Partiers who "played chicken" with President Obama - and won.

New York Democrats tallying up the local costs of the $2.1 trillion deficit reduction deal say New York will pay a steep price.

"They played chicken, and they won," one Democratic staffer said.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney said Republicans came away with more from the bargaining table because they refused to budge on tax hikes.

"If President Obama came in with a cure for cancer they would have turned that down, too," she said.

Maybe if we cut back on Obama's vacation and party fund there'd be a few more bucks for cancer research.

Meanwhile, the always calm, cool and collected senior senator from New York weighs in:

Breaking News From 1972: Democrats Pushing for ERA

We obviously don't have enough important issues facing us these days. Now Democrats have to rehash lost battles from the early 1970s.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney said Monday she plans to make a major push to pass and ratify the Equal Rights Amendment.

Bills calling for a Constitutional amendment to ensure women get equal treatment under the law have been introduced since 1923.

Legislation passed in 1972, but only 35 of the necessary 38 states had ratified it by the 1982 deadline.

ERA bills have been introduced in each session of Congress since, but Maloney says this time there will be a bigger effort to get it passed.

Most clear-thinking people would move on, but not Maloney. Especially in these dark days where women are under unprecedented assault or something.

"What is different now is the onslaught against women, the efforts to roll back rights we thought we had," Maloney (D-Manhattan, Queens) said.

"Many cuts Republicans are proposing affect women, children and families."

Women struggle with workplace discrimination and poverty, she said.

"In factories and offices, in mills and malls, women receive only 77 cents for every dollar that men make - and this has been consistent for 25 years," she said.

It's been a consistent fabrication for even longer.

Maloney is enlisting some real Democrats heavyweights for her battle. Or at least one.

Maloney also cited a recent observation by Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia that the 14th Amendment - which says no person should be denied equal protection of the law - does not include protecting women from sex discrimination.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-Manhattan, Brooklyn) called Scalia a "troglodyte" and vowed to work with Maloney to get the ERA passed.

Nadler said he'll build support for the ERA by enlisting as many bill co-sponsors as possible. Women's groups plan to keep score; lawmakers who don't co-sponsor it will be considered opponents, and their constituents will be told.

Oh no, someone's going to tell on them!

Not to quibble with Jerrold Nadley, Constitutional Scholar, but here's what the "troglodyte" Scalia actually had to say about the 14th Amendment.

In 1868, when the 39th Congress was debating and ultimately proposing the 14th Amendment, I don't think anybody would have thought that equal protection applied to sex discrimination, or certainly not to sexual orientation. So does that mean that we've gone off in error by applying the 14th Amendment to both?

Yes, yes. Sorry, to tell you that. ... But, you know, if indeed the current society has come to different views, that's fine. You do not need the Constitution to reflect the wishes of the current society. Certainly the Constitution does not require discrimination on the basis of sex. The only issue is whether it prohibits it. It doesn't. Nobody ever thought that that's what it meant. Nobody ever voted for that. If the current society wants to outlaw discrimination by sex, hey we have things called legislatures, and they enact things called laws. You don't need a constitution to keep things up-to-date. All you need is a legislature and a ballot box. You don't like the death penalty anymore, that's fine. You want a right to abortion? There's nothing in the Constitution about that. But that doesn't mean you cannot prohibit it. Persuade your fellow citizens it's a good idea and pass a law. That's what democracy is all about. It's not about nine superannuated judges who have been there too long, imposing these demands on society.

‘It Was Like Saying N----r To a Puerto Rican'

Well, it didn't take long for the Democrats in New York long to inject racial politics into the contest between Kirsten Gillibrand and her challenger, Rep. Carolyn Maloney. This one's got all the earmarks of a good dustup. We've got the trash-talking Maloney invoking blacks and Pueto Ricans in charges against Gillibrand. Then we've got renowned racial healer and hero of the downtrodden, Al Sharpton, chiming in, never one to miss the opportunity to pour gas on the slightest embers of racial discord.

Break out the popcorn, kids, this should be fun.

New York Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney apologized Monday for repeating a racial slur when she quoted another person during an interview.

Calling the N-word disgusting, the Democrat said she was relaying a story as it was told to her.

"I apologize for having repeated a word I find disgusting," Maloney said in a written statement. "It's no excuse, but I was so caught up in relaying the story exactly as it was told to me that, in doing so, I repeated a word that should never be repeated." Maloney is quoted on www.cityhallnews.com criticizing Democratic U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, whom Maloney may run against. Maloney says she got a call from someone who used the slur in accusing Gillibrand of backing English-only public education.

"Sen. Gillibrand believes that any use of the word is offensive," said Matt Canter, a spokesman for the senator.

Nothing like diving right into the gutter, conveniently invoking the word that shall never be repeated and claiming it was a quote from someone on the phone.

Typical Democrat behavior, using the race card early and often.

Here's the original quote from Maloney.

There is Carolyn Maloney, ripping into Kirsten Gillibrand broad and hard for voting against the two stimulus bills and for changing her positions on several core Democratic issues, sounding out her case on the fly as, “It’s the NRA, it’s immigration, it’s all these other things. In fact, I got a call from someone from Puerto Rico, said [Gillibrand] went to Puerto Rico and came out for English-only [education]. And he said, ‘It was like saying n—r to a Puerto Rican,’” she said, using the full racial slur. “I don’t know—I don’t know if that’s true or not. I just called. I’m just throwing that out. All of her—well, what does she stand for?”

She doesn't know if it's true, but she's just throwing it out.

Classy.

Meanwhile, Sharpton no doubt plans to milk this until he races off to his next shakedown gig.

"The quote by Congresswoman Maloney if accurate is alarming and disturbing at best," he said in a statement. "No public official even in quoting someone else should loosely use such an offensive term and should certainly challenge someone using the term to him or her."

Speaking of his next gig, look no further.

Instapundit links. Thanks!

Update: Well, we certainly know Al Sharpton's routine.

The Rev. Al Sharpton said he will attend Gates' arraignment.

"This arrest is indicative of at best police abuse of power or at worst the highest example of racial profiling I have seen," Sharpton said. "I have heard of driving while black and even shopping while black but now even going to your own home while black is a new low in police community affairs."

Of course copping an attitude and playing the "don't you know who I am" card is nothing new with these racial arsonists. Gates could have simply shown ID and the incident would have been over. Yet when you carry a boulder-sized chip on your shoulder, that's just not possible. Now they have to make a national incident out of it.

How tiresome.

'I Really Don't Understand Why President Obama Got Involved in Our Primary'

I love the smell of Democrat civil wars.

Have at it, boys and girls.

Rep. Charles Rangel defended colleague Carolyn Maloney's right to take on Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and lashed out anew at President Obama for butting into New York's Democratic primary.

"I really cannot say anything negative about a senior member who wants to run and whose polls, at this point in time, appear to be in her favor," Rangel, dean of the New York House delegation, told the Daily News.

Rangel stood up for Maloney while the state's senior senator, Chuck Schumer, and the Democratic establishment are rallying around Gillibrand.

"Nobody can challenge that she's not a hardworking member of Congress," Rangel said of Maloney, citing her work on behalf of 9/11 victims and her landmark legislation protecting credit card holders.

"She is certainly one of our most active members," he said.

In May, President Obama phoned Long Island Rep. Steve Israel to nudge him away from a challenge - a move that also prompted Rangel to criticize the President. Last month, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said publicly Team Obama favored Gillibrand.

"I really don't understand why President Obama got involved in our primary," Rangel said.

"I don't want to use the word wrong, but it doesn't seem like the astute political thing to do," he said.

Chuckles ought to look out for that bus that's about to run over him.

Sen. Chris Dodd and His Partner In Crime

Certainly an odd choice of words to use when talking about Chris "Friend of Angelo" Dodd. I don't think the residents of Connecticut would disagree with the characterization of Dodd as a criminal but the phrase was used to introduce Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL), who helped craft this credit card legislation.

"I want to give a special shout out to Chris Dodd, who has been a relentless fighter. Chris wouldn't give up until he got this legislation passed. He spent an entire career fighting against special interest and fighting for ordinary people and this is just the latest example. I want to thank his partner in crime, Sen. Richard Shelby.

On the House side, Rep. Barney Frank, Carolyn Maloney, and Luis Guiterrez...."

You have to forgive the president in training pants. I guess he has had a busy 24 hours. First getting verbally beat up by Dick Cheney on national security, losing a vote to close Gitmo, speaking at the Naval Academy graduation and taking a swipe at Bush again, while John McCain's son was in attendance, and turning away kindergartners so that he could meet with Pittsburgh Steelers all the while trying to rein in the gaffe-tastic Joe Biden and running for cover from Nancy Pelosi calling the CIA liars.

Yes, I sure sleep better at night knowing these guys are in charge.

Coronation Interrupted: Caroline Kennedy, Um, You Know, Withdraws

Personal reasons, of course, as opposed to the reason she's totally unqualified.

Caroline Kennedy has told Gov. David Paterson that she is withdrawing her name from consideration to replace outgoing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in the U.S. Senate, The Post has learned.

Kennedy cited "personal reasons," according to sources.

Her stunning move comes as sources revealed that Paterson had intended to appoint her to the now-vacant seat today.

The 51-year-old Camelot daughter's decision removes the highest-profile name in the ring to step into Clinton's seat, as she departs after getting confirmed as President Obama's Secretary of State today.

The surprise decision leaves a crowded field of about 15 people, mostly elected officials, vying to replace Clinton - including Long Island Rep. Steve Israel, Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi, upstate Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand and Rep. Carolyn Maloney.

For the first time on Tuesday, shortly after Obama was inaugurated, Paterson acknowledged publicly that he is considering state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo for the slot.

'Evil Eyes' Cuomo is the likely successor, but I've suspected for some time Carolyn Maloney may have a shot for several reasons. She's stridently liberal, represents the Upper Left Side of Manhattan and is a woman. Some in New York argue that since it's Hillary's seat it should go to a woman. Go figure.

Fairly quietly she's also be upstate working for it, something the Princess apparently couldn't handle after her disastrous public, you know, debut.

With New York Gov. David Paterson's announcement of a successor to Sen. Hillary Clinton just days away, U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney tried Friday to inject a blue-collar image into the star powered field of contenders led by Caroline Kennedy and Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.

In meetings with fellow Democrats and reporters in Albany, she underscored her established contacts with top Washington officials, noted she is already on key committees working on a stimulus package for New York, and pointed out she is simply a hard worker who doesn't have a famous father.

Maloney is well-established in Washington, and does have credibility. Paterson would likely gain more appointing her than he would Cuomo.

'It's Clear David is Just Trying to Play Mind Games With the Press'

The fix is in. Raise your hand if you're even mildly surprised.

DESPITE claims that he's still undecided, Gov. Paterson is "certain" to pick Caroline Kennedy to replace Hillary Rodham Clinton in the US Senate, several unhappy contenders for the job have told friends and associates in recent days.

The contenders based their conclusion on the view that Paterson, after nearly two months of indecision, would "greatly embarrass" and "entirely humiliate" Kennedy, anger her prominent political family and even offend President-elect Barack Obama by picking someone other than President John F. Kennedy's daughter.

As for the governor's claim to be weighing a last-minute finalist, the contenders agree with a close Paterson friend who said, "It's clear David is just trying to play mind games with the press."

Some of the contenders warned, however, that the unelected Paterson, who must face the voters next year, could face a serious backlash from Democratic activists by choosing Kennedy, whose standing with the public, and with Democrats in particular, has been sliding in recent weeks.

US Rep. Carolyn Maloney of Manhattan, a would-be Clinton replacement who is backed by several women's organizations, was the most publicly adamant in saying the fix was in, citing a scenario - first outlined in last week's Village Voice - under which Paterson, in a deal with Mayor Bloomberg, a Kennedy friend, selects Kennedy in exchange for help for his own election bid next year.

Another potential candidate told The Post that he was convinced that Kennedy would get the job because Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, - who polls show is the public's favorite to succeed Clinton - failed to line up the right replacement at the AG's office.

"Andrew just couldn't assure the governor that he could arrange for [Assembly Speaker Sheldon] Silver to provide an acceptable successor," said the contender.

A third potential candidate claimed that Paterson's repeated contention - told to the media in private - that there is no front-runner is "baloney."

"It's been a done deal from the start," said the would-be candidate.

"David goes with Caroline with the understanding that Caroline, and her family and its resources, go with David next year. This stuff with Paterson saying he's looking at other people is a crock," the source continued.

Shed Your Burqas!

Yes, it's the return of the ERA, and I'm not talking about earned run average.

Democratic Lawmakers to Reintroduce ERA

Liberal Democrats in the Senate and House plan to resume "the fight for women's equality" on Tuesday, when they reintroduce the Women's Equality Amendment.

Sens. Ted Kennedy (Mass.) and Barbara Boxer (Calif.) and Reps. Carolyn Maloney and Jerrold Nadler, both of New York, plan to join Eleanor Smeal, president of the Feminist Majority, in making the Tuesday afternoon announcement.

This time around, supporters say they hope "women will finally achieve official equality in America." But a conservative group said women's rights activists are "fighting old battles."

First proposed in 1923, the ERA states: "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex."

Mary Jo Kopechne was unavailable for comment.

Michelle Malkin has more.