Patrick Gaspard, Obama's behind-the-scenes clean up man in New York, warned a wavering Blue Dog Democrat to get in line during the health care debate.Rep. Mike McMahon defied a high-level arm-twisting campaign to vote no on health care, leaving some White House aides furious with the Staten Island rookie.The Daily News learned that President Obama's political director, Patrick Gaspard, dispatched a prominent New York donor last week to warn McMahon his campaign contributions would dry up if he sided with Republicans."The message was that a 'no' vote could cause you a problem in the fall, but the other side of it was we can help you raise money," said a knowledgeable source. The Tammany-style squeeze play was delivered at a Democratic Club lunch in Washington last Friday by Alfred E. Smith 4th, great-grandson of the former New York governor and 1928 Democratic presidential candidate.
McMahon later voted no, the only congressman from the New York delegation to do so. It was a rare loss for Gaspard who usually gets his way in the Empire State -- his fingerprints have been on everything from Kirsten Gillibrand's success to David Paterson's implosion. But in defying Gaspard, McMahon may have saved his political career. His Staten Island district is being targeted by Republicans this year.
The unions were also outraged at McMahon's decision. One unidentified union boss growled, "He's going to lose in November, and I'm going to enjoy helping make it happen."
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