Collins' gaffe clouds his political future
Insults aimed at Silver admittedly "a poor joke'
Political observers across New York are asking today whether Erie County Executive Chris Collins has irreparably damaged his prospects for statewide office after he compared Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to Adolf Hitler and an Antichrist during a Saturday speech in Buffalo.
Collins has already apologized for what he called "a poor joke," delivered during a speech at the county Republican Party's annual fundraiser in the Adam's Mark Hotel.
That's when the county executive referred to French seer Nostradamus' prediction that the world would experience three Antichrists in conjunction with the Apocalypse, whose origin is the New Testament's Book of Revelation.
Collins then said it's generally accepted that the first was Napoleon, the second Hitler, and that he was "pretty sure" the third is Silver, an orthodox Jew from Manhattan.
The county executive said this in the context of Silver as part of Albany's "three men in a room" budget process, in which the Assembly speaker, the State Senate majority leader and the governor make most budgetary decisions.
Those familiar with statewide voting patterns and the key Jewish vote in New York City say Collins — who is exploring a run for governor next year — has committed a serious gaffe.
"He's the former shining light of the Republican Party," said Hank Sheinkopf, a Democratic consultant from Manhattan who studies ethnic and religious voting patterns.
"Never mind the anti-Semitic content," he said. "It makes him look nuts, and it doesn't add to the discussion.
"The great secret is out about his peculiar ideas about religion and Jews, and he might be an embarrassment to Western New York."
One of those attending Saturday's dinner called the statement "unbelievable."
"It was staggering," said the Republican, who asked not to be identified. "It took my breath away. You just don't say something like that."
Another Republican at the dinner said the remarks were greeted with "polite, nervous laughter."
Collins and his inner circle hunkered into damage control Monday, reminding reporters that the county executive officially supports former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani for governor. And they said Collins personally reached out to Silver on Monday to apologize, adding that one of the county executive's grandfathers was Jewish.
Aides to the county executive said he has now learned that his new statewide stature draws intensified media scrutiny and that the controversy surrounding his remarks has provided him with a teachable moment as he travels the state building support for a gubernatorial candidacy in the event Giuliani does not run.
Nevertheless, some local Republicans were lamenting the embarrassment.
"It just shows he is not ready for prime time and is undisciplined," one party figure said.
As a result, Collins adopted a clearly repentant tone.
"While we may disagree strongly on policy matters, my statement had no place in our political discourse, and I am truly sorry to both the speaker and to anyone else who I may have offended," he said.
A Silver spokesman said the speaker would have no comment.
Collins' words were uttered in a room full of major Republican donors, as well as new State Republican Chairman Edward F. Cox and former Rep. Rick Lazio of Suffolk County, a declared gubernatorial candidate.
"To slip up in front of his main challenger on his home turf is a huge, huge rookie mistake," said one GOP insider who attended the dinner.
And it was expected that the uproar over Collins' remarks would be the subject of political meetings the county executive had previously scheduled for today in Manhattan.
Democrats such as County Chairman Leonard R. Lenihan, however, were quick to pounce on a political foe who has so far proved immune to most partisan attacks. He callled it "one of the stupidest things I've ever heard an elected official say."
"It's not only arrogant and ignorant, it's bizarre," Lenihan said. "And it's embarrassing to this community when he stands up in a public space and makes such a statement."
Lenihan called on those whom Collins has "handpicked" in next week's elections to "denounce the statement and separate themselves from something so arrogant."
Key supporters such as County Republican Chairman James P. Domagalski were also emphasizing Collins' apology.
"I don't think anything changes," he said. "He misspoke; he has issued an apology, and that's the end of it. If he hadn't issued an apology, it would be different."
But the gaffe comes at a particularly bad time for Collins. He has acknowledged that much of next week's election will serve as a referendum on his first 22 months in office, with several Legislature candidates latching on to his perceived popularity during their campaigns.
One of them, Republican Kevin R. Hardwick, launched radio commercials Monday emphasizing his support for many of Collins' policies. And Collins is slated to appear as "special guest" at a major fundraiser Wednesday evening in the Embassy Suites Hotel for Republican county comptroller candidate Philip C. Kadet.
"He's now off his message one week before the election," said a Republican who asked not to be identified. "Instead of talking about taxes or all his great successes, he has to say he is not anti-Semitic."
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