Borough Park

Hikind to cast write-in vote for Paul Ryan

‘Hillary Clinton, for me, is not an option,’ lawmaker says

November 2, 2016 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle
House Speaker Paul Ryan isn’t running for president but that isn’t stopping Assemblymember Dov Hikind from voting for him. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)
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Turning his back on his party’s nominee for president, Democratic state Assemblymember Dov Hikind announced that he plans to write House Speaker Paul Ryan’s name on his ballot on Election Day.

“Hillary Clinton, for me, is not an option,” Hikind said bluntly.

But if Clinton was not an option for him, neither was Republican nominee Donald Trump.

In fact, Hikind (D-Borough Park-Midwood) described himself as being distraught over both the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates. “It is unfortunate that America, as great as it is, is left with repugnant candidates that are highly unfavorable,” he said.

Hikind outlined his objections to the two major candidates.

“If we wanted another term of President Obama, we would push to change the constitution, and have a third term of Obama rather than an Obama replica. I was hoping that Trump could show me he could act presidential, but nothing that has transpired over the past six months led me to believe he could. From mocking a physically disabled reporter to degrading women based on their appearance, I simply cannot support nor condone that type of behavior. As far as I’m concerned, I believe both candidates have disqualified themselves,” Hikind stated.

Ryan, by contrast, is someone he could feel comfortable with in the White House, Hikind said.

“Speaker Ryan is as class-personified as it gets. Paul Ryan is a man of courage, integrity and possesses the necessary values we look for in a presidential candidate,” Hikind said of the Republican House speaker.

There was another factor that tipped the scales in favor of Ryan in Hikind’s view.

Hikind, who represents a district that is home to large numbers of Orthodox Jews, also said he appreciates Ryan’s strong and steadfast support of Israel. “Paul Ryan stands for principles that are parallel to my own and is a staunch supporter of a stronger American-Israeli relationship,” he said.

 

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