Roger Gitlin: Who is Bob Turner?

Bob Turner; who is this Republican congressman-elect giant killer who has been elected to arguably one of the bluest districts of one of the bluest of Blue States, New York? While the radicals on the Left and the media sycophants who adore them, stop and try to figure what happened and how this Republican with little name recognition could win the special election in New York’s 9^th Congressional district to replace Anthony Weiner. The District is registered three-to-one Democrat. I thought I would give you a thumb nail sketch about the man.

Robert L. “Bob” Turner is a 70 year old retired media executive. He is Catholic, and graduated from St. John’s University. He defeated David Weprin, a longtime New York State Assemblyman who is an Orthodox Jew. The 9^th District is 40% Jewish. .

Turner retired as president of Multimedia Entertainment. He created and launched the Rush Limbaugh television show. He also launched The Jerry Springer Show, oversaw production for The Phil Donahue and Sally Jesse Raphael Show. Turner also was the key person in selling Multimedia to Gannett Corporation. Though he retired in his 60s, he oversaw his own personal investments including a hotel business in Orlando. He sits on several Boards of Directors including Readspeak, Liberty Imaging, the Achilles Track Club, and the Family Focus Adoption Services.

He ran and lost for Congress in 2010 against Anthony Weiner..

Turner campaigned on fiscal recovery via cuts in federal spending, opposed the construction of Park 51, a planned Islamic community center located near Ground Zero. Many of the Orthodox Jewish community who reside in the District changed party affiliation based on opponent David Weprin’s support of Park51 and because of president Obama statements on negotiations with the Palestinians.

Former three-term mayor Ed Koch endorsed Turner and urged all New Yorkers to vote Republican as a statement of repudiation against president Obama’s Middle-East policies which many in the District perceive as compromising Israel’s security. Turner has been strong to condemn Obama’s ignorance of the factual data and geography in using the pre-1967 borders as a basis for a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.

Turner has been married to wife Peggy, a foster care nurse for special needs kids, for 46 years. The couple also has five adult children and 13 grandchildren.

I wish him the best in the short-lived 9^th District. Apparently, the District will be compacted and integrated into a new district as New York will lose a representative for 2012. The State’s population has decreased and subject to reapportionment based on the 2010 census.

I say Bob Turner is a real mench. I say Turner’s victory is a clear statement that Obama has serious problems with the implementation of his errant policies. I congratulate Representative-elect Turner and his victory as he comes out of retirement to lend his support in saving the United States of America from further destruction by the Obama regime.

Roger Gitlin is an American who happens to be Jewish. He was born in the 9^th congressional district in New York, 64 years ago. Roger Gitlin is a retired teacher and member of the National and Del Norte Tea Party. He also founded the Santa Clarita Valley Independent minutemen. He lives in Crescent City, California and can be reached at [email protected]. His commentaries represent his own opinions and not necessarily the views of any organization he may be affiliated with or those of the West Ranch Beacon.