Senator says her new colleague already broke several promises
WILMINGTON, Trinton--Senator Kelsey Frascanio (C-Trinton) is unendorsing Trinton's new Conservative-turned-Independent Senator-elect George Reedsworth--for the second time.
Earlier this week, Reedsworth--who previously promised to caucus with Conservatives if elected--joined forces with Nationalists, helping the NAT to form a coalition to take control of the Senate.
That move has Conservatives outraged, including fellow Trinton Senator Kelsey Frascanio, who endorsed Reedsworth during a run-off election between he and incumbent Sen. Grace Kemp (N), whom Reedsworth defeated.
"Had I known George Reedsworth was going to jump into the arms of the Nationalist Party as soon as he got elected, I would never have endorsed him," Frascanio said at a press conference outside her Mavocke office. "He used me. And he betrayed my trust and the trust of the people of Trinton, who voted for him because they thought he would be a conservative voice in the Senate. Obviously he is proving to be a dishonest liberal masquerading as a Conservative."
Reedsworth insists his alliance with Senate Nationalists does not mean he has sacrificed his Conservative views.
"This is not a union of ideals or ideology. It's a union of numbers. [The NAT] want me on their side, not because I agree with them but because I can help form a majority," he said at his Mavocke office.
"I've already made it clear to John Morandi and the other Nationalists that I will not vote with them on a number of issues. They know that I will live up to my promise during the campaign, and that is to be an independent voice for Trinton. I promised not to let any political party control me and just because I'm forming a coalition with the Nationalist Party does not mean I will vote liberal or go hand-in-hand with John Morandi. I will vote my conscience, and I will vote what the people of Trinton want," Reedsworth said.
But when asked about his pledge to caucus with Conservatives, Reedsworth was firm.
"I was planning on caucusing with the Conservatives, yes. But the way it ended up was the Nationalists had the first opportunity to form government, and it became increasingly clear to me that the NAT was going to hold power in the Senate, and that I would be guaranteed a lot more influence if I joined them. So I did what was best for Trinton. I joined the majority party. Would I rather be with the Conservative Party? Of course. My views are more in line with their's. But they're in the minority and Trinton needs a majority-party senator."
Reedsworth's complicated relationship with Frascanio goes back a long ways. During the CNS Senate primary campaign, Frascanio initially pledged her support for Reedsworth. But when the then-congressman failed to announce his candidacy in a timely fashion, Frascanio about-faced and endorsed the more hard-line state Sen. Randy Kalamaza, who ended up winning the primary.
Then in the three-way general election, in which Reedsworth ran as an Independent, Kalamaza came in last place, while first-place Sen. Grace Kemp failed to attain the necessary 40 per cent to win. That prompted a run-off election between the top-two candidates, Kemp and Reedsworth. It was then that Frascanio (at the last minute) endorsed Reedsworth, telling reporters he was not an ideal choice but a better alternative to the ultra-liberal Kemp.
For now, it seems Frascanio and Reedsworth will be at odds.
"I really feel betrayed," Frascanio told GNN's James Madine. "George Reedsworth campaigned as a conservative. And now he's on the Nationalists' side. That's essentially a lie. He's broken campaign promises and he has lied to the people of Trinton. I can't stand behind someone like that."
"With all due respect to my colleague, I don't need her endorsement," Reedsworth told the NPF. "The people of Trinton sent me here to be a Senator for the people, not for the Conservative Party or the Nationalist Party. I will continue to advance conservative causes in the Senate, and I will never change my views to fit in with a certain political party's agenda. But I will work with whichever party can best deliver for Trinton, and right now that happens to be the Nationalist Party. Later on down the road it may very well be the Conservative Party. But right now I'm with the NAT.
"Again, it's not a happy marriage, but a marriage of necessity. I don't like them and they don't really like me. But we need each other," Reedsworth said of his relationship with the Nationalist Party.
WILMINGTON, Trinton--Senator Kelsey Frascanio (C-Trinton) is unendorsing Trinton's new Conservative-turned-Independent Senator-elect George Reedsworth--for the second time.
Earlier this week, Reedsworth--who previously promised to caucus with Conservatives if elected--joined forces with Nationalists, helping the NAT to form a coalition to take control of the Senate.
That move has Conservatives outraged, including fellow Trinton Senator Kelsey Frascanio, who endorsed Reedsworth during a run-off election between he and incumbent Sen. Grace Kemp (N), whom Reedsworth defeated.
"Had I known George Reedsworth was going to jump into the arms of the Nationalist Party as soon as he got elected, I would never have endorsed him," Frascanio said at a press conference outside her Mavocke office. "He used me. And he betrayed my trust and the trust of the people of Trinton, who voted for him because they thought he would be a conservative voice in the Senate. Obviously he is proving to be a dishonest liberal masquerading as a Conservative."
Reedsworth insists his alliance with Senate Nationalists does not mean he has sacrificed his Conservative views.
"This is not a union of ideals or ideology. It's a union of numbers. [The NAT] want me on their side, not because I agree with them but because I can help form a majority," he said at his Mavocke office.
"I've already made it clear to John Morandi and the other Nationalists that I will not vote with them on a number of issues. They know that I will live up to my promise during the campaign, and that is to be an independent voice for Trinton. I promised not to let any political party control me and just because I'm forming a coalition with the Nationalist Party does not mean I will vote liberal or go hand-in-hand with John Morandi. I will vote my conscience, and I will vote what the people of Trinton want," Reedsworth said.
But when asked about his pledge to caucus with Conservatives, Reedsworth was firm.
"I was planning on caucusing with the Conservatives, yes. But the way it ended up was the Nationalists had the first opportunity to form government, and it became increasingly clear to me that the NAT was going to hold power in the Senate, and that I would be guaranteed a lot more influence if I joined them. So I did what was best for Trinton. I joined the majority party. Would I rather be with the Conservative Party? Of course. My views are more in line with their's. But they're in the minority and Trinton needs a majority-party senator."
Reedsworth's complicated relationship with Frascanio goes back a long ways. During the CNS Senate primary campaign, Frascanio initially pledged her support for Reedsworth. But when the then-congressman failed to announce his candidacy in a timely fashion, Frascanio about-faced and endorsed the more hard-line state Sen. Randy Kalamaza, who ended up winning the primary.
Then in the three-way general election, in which Reedsworth ran as an Independent, Kalamaza came in last place, while first-place Sen. Grace Kemp failed to attain the necessary 40 per cent to win. That prompted a run-off election between the top-two candidates, Kemp and Reedsworth. It was then that Frascanio (at the last minute) endorsed Reedsworth, telling reporters he was not an ideal choice but a better alternative to the ultra-liberal Kemp.
For now, it seems Frascanio and Reedsworth will be at odds.
"I really feel betrayed," Frascanio told GNN's James Madine. "George Reedsworth campaigned as a conservative. And now he's on the Nationalists' side. That's essentially a lie. He's broken campaign promises and he has lied to the people of Trinton. I can't stand behind someone like that."
"With all due respect to my colleague, I don't need her endorsement," Reedsworth told the NPF. "The people of Trinton sent me here to be a Senator for the people, not for the Conservative Party or the Nationalist Party. I will continue to advance conservative causes in the Senate, and I will never change my views to fit in with a certain political party's agenda. But I will work with whichever party can best deliver for Trinton, and right now that happens to be the Nationalist Party. Later on down the road it may very well be the Conservative Party. But right now I'm with the NAT.
"Again, it's not a happy marriage, but a marriage of necessity. I don't like them and they don't really like me. But we need each other," Reedsworth said of his relationship with the Nationalist Party.
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