NY Democrat running for Stefanik's House seat once ridiculed upstate constituents in comparison to migrants: ‘They show up late. They drink too much'
Longshot hopeful Blake Gendebien, who co-owns Twin Mills Farms in Ogdensburg near New York's border with Canada, said during a 2013 interview that local residents could not replace his hard-working Hispanic immigrant employees because they were too messed up.
He noted in the interview, which was apparently designed to document rural life in America, that his Hispanic farmhands often work 12-hour days, 'six and half a week.
'That's their choice,' contended Gendebien, who is running for the 21st Congressional District seat vacated by Stefanik, a Republican named by President Trump as the US ambassador to the United Nations.
'Three Hispanic employees. They would need to be replaced by probably six local people,' the Democrat said.
But Gendebien said he'd be hard-pressed to find even one decent local replacement worker.
'It's hard to find one local person that doesn't have domestic abuse problems, alcohol problems, wage garnishments,' he claimed.
'So you have all these plans and these [local workers] leave for court all the time because they are in custody battles and child-support battles. It's just awful.
'They show up late. They drink too much. There is just no labor force out there,' Gendebien said.
The farmer-turned-candidate said he once bailed out a farm worker who was detained by US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents, posting $10,000 bail.
He said the ICE agents 'profile' people based on 'skin color.'
Border crossings and illegal immigration are potent political issues, particularly in the more conservative North Country.
Gendebien did not respond to a Post request for comment.
The Republican Party has not yet settled on its own candidate.
But GOP officials blasted Genebien as out of touch with the district.
'Republicans are thrilled by the selection of Democrats of radical Far Left Blake Gendebien, who not only supported Joe Biden's open border policies, but also bailed out illegals from ICE,' said state Republican Party Chairman Ed Cox in a statement.
'Gendebien viciously claimed that local correctional officers 'don't have much self-worth' and disparaged local North Country children as not having 'practical independence and an ability to think,' ' Cox said.
'Far Left Democrat Blake Gendebien even castigated hardworking North Country workers as 'awful' people who 'drank too much.' '
The GOP leader said Democrats 'didn't do their homework' when they selected Gendebien and that he is confident that Republicans will easily hold the seat in the upcoming special election 'because the North Country is unquestionably Trump Country.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 minutes ago
- Yahoo
'That kind of thing really dings Trump hard,' former Congressman Joe Walsh quipped of the opening episode to the show's 27th season.
A top former member of the Republican Party has explained why the opening episode of South Park's 27th season hit President Donald Trump where it hurts. 'Remember, a lot of Trump's base, they're not Republicans. They're just men—they're guys who typically don't belong to a party, they don't vote all the time, and they watch South Park,' former Illinois Congressman Joe Walsh, who's since defected to the Democrats, told MSNBC. 'They watched an episode this week where Trump looked really silly and stupid—a big fat man with a teeny, tiny penis. I think that kind of thing really dings Trump hard, too,' he added. 'No pun intended.'
Boston Globe
8 minutes ago
- Boston Globe
Dozens gather at Boston Medical Center to protest Trump''s ‘Big Beautiful Bill,' cuts to Medicaid
Donald Trump's tax bill, which he signed into law on July 4, will strip about $186 billion from SNAP and close to $1 trillion from Medicaid over the next decade, the Globe Advertisement The bill could strip healthcare coverage from some 250,000 Massachusetts residents, Governor Maura Healey Advertisement Republicans frame the bill as a way to target Medicaid fraud and save money. It would require states to 'We're here to expose the harm of this big, bad bill that will transfer wealth from working people to wealthy people,' said Marlishia Aho, the regional communications director for 1199SEIU. Franswa Jean-Enard, a personal care attendant for his mom and a member of the union, said he's anxious his mom could be stripped of her healthcare benefits 'at any time' because of the cuts even though he has 'all the paperwork to justify her need for it.' She has several conditions, including advanced arthritis, and relies on Medicaid for 'all her care,' including physical therapy and medication. Jean-Enard said it was important for him to protest because even if he isn't ultimately affected, he doesn't want other people to lose access to life-saving treatment. 'Back home in Haiti, there's a saying — when your friend's or neighbor's beard is on fire, put yours in order — which means when something is happening to your neighbor, it could happen to you,' he said. The state requiring more frequent eligibility checks would also be a burden, as Jean-Enard said the paperwork for his mom's Medicaid is already time-consuming and can take months to process. 'I'm hoping it doesn't get to that, but I'm hoping with the help of the union, what we're doing and organizing, we can push back,' he said. Advertisement Jean-Enard said he understands the government wants to streamline spending, but that it shouldn't come at the expense of healthcare. 'Every single PCA is doing crucial work,' he said, adding that his mom's needs will only grow with time. Janice Guzman, also a PCA for her mom, was cut from 'That's why I'm here, fighting back,' Guzman said. 'My mom needs my assistance 24/7 — and I don't get paid for 24/7 — but it's helping me pay my bills. Right now, it's like, what am I going to do?' Others at the protest, like 70-year-old Fe Guidry, a PCA in New Bedford, said they're worried about cuts to SNAP, which Guidry said SNAP 'really helps' her purchase healthy food. 'We're fighting for the benefits that we have,' she said. Emily Spatz can be reached at
The Hill
8 minutes ago
- The Hill
George Conway says Trump not ruling out Maxwell clemency ‘just insane'
Attorney George Conway criticized President Trump on Friday for not completely ruling out a pardon for convicted sex offender Ghislaine Maxwell at the center of the Jeffrey Epstein case. His words came after Trump told reporters earlier in the day that he was 'allowed' to grant Maxwell clemency but hadn't considered taking the measure. 'She is a sexual predator. She was found guilty of doing these things. She [was] found guilty of, she would take the passports away from these girls, who they dragged to Epstein island. She did all of this stuff,' Conway said during an appearance on CNN's 'The Lead with Jake Tapper.' 'She's neck deep, way in.' 'And so the notion that they would give her clemency is just insane,' he added. Conway, a staunch Trump critic, joins a chorus of Democrats and even some conservatives who are railing against the Trump administration for failing to release files related to the Epstein case. Epstein, who died in prison in 2019, and Maxwell, who's now serving a 20-year sentence, were convicted for sex trafficking and other charges. Maxwell appealed her guilty verdict and is fighting to have her case heard before the Supreme Court. This week, she met with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche about the case. During those meetings, the Justice Department granted her limited immunity in exchange for her candor, ABC News reported. However, some, including Conway, said she can't be trusted. 'The Justice Department trashed on her credibility back when they prosecuted her,' he told Tapper on Friday. 'They said that she couldn't be trusted under oath.' Trump was notified that his name was listed in files tied to Epstein's dealings earlier this year. But the president denies any wrongdoing and says those seeking information about his involvement with the deceased financier are engaging in a 'witch hunt.'
