Ed Cox, chair of the New York Republican Party, repeatedly criticized President Barack Obama and called him “incompetent” in a speech to the Cornell Republicans on Friday.
Citing a recent Republican victory in the 9th Congressional District, as well as his views on the current Republican presidential candidates, Cox said he believes the party will take control of both houses of Congress and the presidency in 2012.
“We are painting all of upstate red, as well as Long Island,” Cox said, noting Bob Turner’s (R-N.Y.) recent victory in the historically Democratic ninth district, which was previously held by Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.).
A veteran of the political system, Cox became Chairperson of the N.Y. GOP on Sept. 29, 2009. Cox, the son-in-law of Richard Nixon, served in both the Nixon administration and the administration of Ronald Reagan. He also worked as the New York chair for Senator John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) unsuccessful presidential campaign in 2008.
Cox said that Turner was successful because of the public’s current disapproval with Obama’s position on Israel, citing the district’s large population of Orthodox Jews.
He also criticized the president’s decision to hold a joint session of Congress on Sept. 8 when, he said, there was no real crisis to address.
“To be frank, I’ve never seen a president arrange a session to talk about a big political issue. You don’t use a joint session of Congress to do that — you use it for Pearl Harbor or 9/11, where you talk to the Congress and public as the president, not the leader of your party,” he said.
Cox said he believes that the population of undecided voters will be swayed to the Republican Party.
“These working class people who go to their community’s church, keep the city running and are patriotic usually vote Democrat, but in this referendum, they’ll vote Republican,” he said.
Cox also blasted Obama for failing to be a leader both internationally and at home.
Cox said he attributes the success of an election to the support a candidate enjoys from his or her base.
Convincing the public that a candidate is not of the “elite stereotype” is key, Cox said.
He also criticized former president George W. Bush, contrasting him with Gov. Rick Perry (R-Texas).
He also offered former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-Mass.) and top contender in the Republican presidential race some campaign advice.
“Take initiative and earn the scorn of The New York Times to get well known,” he said.
Original Author: Kevin Milian