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Bob Turner (New York politician)

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For other people named Robert Turner, see Robert Turner (disambiguation).
Bob Turner
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 9th district
Assumed office
September 13, 2011
Preceded byAnthony Weiner
Personal details
Born
Robert L. Turner

(1941-05-02) May 2, 1941 (age 83)[1]
New York City, New York
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Peggy Turner (1963-present); 5 children
ResidenceRockaway Point, Queens, New York City
EducationBachelor of Arts in history
Alma materSt. John's University (New York)
ProfessionMedia executive
WebsiteCongressman Bob Turner
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service1962-1965
RankFile:E-5 - SPC5.PNG SPC5 [2]

Robert L. "Bob" Turner (born May 2, 1941) is the United States Representative for New York's 9th congressional district, containing parts of Brooklyn and Queens. He is a member of the Republican Party, holding his first public office. He was elected in September 2011 to complete the term of Democrat Anthony Weiner, who had resigned amid a sexting scandal. A conservative, Turner has been described as the polar opposite of his predecessor, Weiner.

Previously, Turner was a media executive known for his success in the television talk show segment of the industry. Six years after retiring from his business career, he entered politics to run against Weiner in the November 2010 election—losing, receiving 39 percent of the vote. Less than one year later, he defeated Democratic politician David Weprin 52–47 in the special election battle for Weiner's seat—becoming the first Republican to represent the area in over eighty years.[3] After the district was eliminated through redistricting, Turner announced he would challenge Democratic incumbent U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand in the 2012 election. He will seek the Conservative and Republican party nominations.[4]


Early life and education

Turner grew up in the Woodhaven and Richmond Hill neighborhoods of Queens, the eldest of three sons.[2] His father was a taxi driver, and machinist; his mother a homemaker.[5] Turner has described his parents as "New Deal Democrats who began splitting their tickets in the post-Kennedy years."[5] He attended St. Thomas The Apostle School in Woodhaven and Richmond Hill High School. He served in the Army at the rank of SP5, then graduated from St. John's University in Hillcrest with a B.A. in history, after working his way through college.[2] As a college student, he took part in the conservative activist group Young Americans for Freedom.[6]

Business career

Turner worked in the advertising and television industries for more than four decades.[2] In 1984, he co-founded and ran Orbis Communications, a distributor of advertiser funded programming.[7][2] He then headed the North American operations of Pearson LLC, where he exported the television talk show format to Europe, launching six shows in two years.[2] In addition, Turner reorganized and redirected the successful program Baywatch and launched new versions of the game shows Family Feud and To Tell the Truth.[2][8]

Turner's most notable position was President of Multimedia Entertainment, a division of media conglomerate Multimedia, Inc., from 1991 to 1995.[2][9] He created theThe Jerry Springer Show.[10], he oversaw the production of The Phil Donahue Show and The Sally Jesse Raphael Show,[11][12] and launched the Rush Limbaugh show on TV.[13] Jerry Springer recalled that he and Turner had a friendly, businesslike relationship though their politics differed.[11] Turner shelved several Springer show episodes as inappropriate but kept the show on the air despite heavy criticism and calls from Congress to regulate the show's raunchy content.[12][14][15]

He has also been President of LBS Communications, a division of Grey Advertising, where he created a daytime "barter network" for the distribution and syndication of the series Family and Fame.[2] He served as Director of Advertising for Bristol-Myers Company, where he began the production of the Leonard Nimoy series, In Search of..., and was the first General Manager of CBS Cable.[2]

During his active business career, Turner founded and served as the president of the Association of Syndicated Television Advertisers and was on the boards of the National Association of Television Programming Executives and the Advertising Research Council. He served on the television committee of the Association of National Advertisers.[2]

While in his early 60s, Turner retired from full-time business activities but continued to manage his own investments including a hotel business in Orlando, Florida.[2] He sat on several Boards of Directors, including Readspeak Inc., Liberty Imaging Inc., the Achilles Track Club and Family Focus Adoption Services.[2]

Political career

Bob Turner recalled that he was motivated to join politics because of his opposition to the Health care bill and a perceived "radical left turn" that he felt the Obama administration was taking.[16] He first ran for Congress in November 2010 against Anthony Weiner in New York's ninth congressional district, losing in a 60-40 split.[17] During the 2010 campaign, he ran on a platform favoring minimal regulation of business and signed the Grover Norquist / Americans for Tax Reform pledge of "no new taxes under any circumstances".[18]

U.S. House of Representatives (2011-current)

Following the resignation of Anthony Weiner, Turner ran for the vacant seat in a special election held on September 13, 2011 — beating his Democratic opponent, David Weprin, by a margin of more than 3,500 votes.[19] One of Turner's campaign themes was fiscal recovery through cuts in federal spending.[20][21] He said that the federal budget needed to be cut by as much as a third,[22] that capital gains taxes should be eliminated, and corporate and individual income taxes reduced.[23] He opposed what Democrats said were Republican plans to privatize Medicare and Social Security and turn Medicaid into a block-grant program, reportedly at the request of former New York mayor Ed Koch, who supported him.[24] In endorsing Turner's opponent, The New York Times said that Turner's economic plan to reduce taxes without reducing benefits for current Medicare and Social Security recipients was unrealistic. "That would take a magician, not a businessman", said the Times.[22] One month before the election, Turner admitted that an op-ed he written for the National Review calling for a one third reduction in federal spending and "an end to government dependencies" was "blatant pandering" to "a particular audience".[20]

Turner ran ads showing images of the World Trade Center in flames and sent mailers attacking Weprin for supporting construction of Park51, a planned Islamic community center located near the World Trade Center site, claiming that Weprin wanted to commemorate the attack by building a mosque on Ground Zero.[25][26] Turner also said that Weprin would merely tow the Democratic party line if elected[20] and emphasized that Weprin had said the national debt was 4 trillion when the correct number was 14 trillion.[27]

The district has a large Russian-speaking constituency[28] and a large Jewish constituency (up to one quarter of registered voters are Jewish)[29] and Turner, who is a Roman Catholic, "aggressively courted observant Jewish voters", according to The New York Times.[30] Turner painted Weprin as a puppet of President Obama, who would not stand up for Israel.[30][29] A number of local Jewish leaders including Orthodox rabbis endorsed Turner over Weprin, who is an Orthodox Jew.[31] Other Turner endorsements came from The Jewish Voice,[32] The New York Post, the New York Daily News,[33] former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani,[34] and Republican U.S. Representative Michael Grimm.[35] Turner was also supported by New York Assemblyman Dov Hikind,[36] and former New York Mayor Ed Koch, both Democrats and Jews. Koch, a key Turner supporter, supported Turner in order to send a message to President Obama to change what Koch describes as "hostile position on the State of Israel".[37][38] Crain's New York Business opined that if Turner should win, the New York Republican Party would be more likely to push for a "super Jewish" congressional district, extending the influence of Brooklyn's Orthodox Jewish community.[39] Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani said that if Turner was elected, it could change the President's agenda in the Middle East.[40]

Turner began the campaign with a disadvantage in fundraising because the national and state Republican parties had spent heavily in previous special elections in New York state.[41] Turner turned down Tea Party support and offers to help during his special election campaign.[42] Regardless, Turner rose in the polls from an underdog to an eight-point advantage days before the election.[30] The Democratic Party contributed heavily to Weprin in the last weeks of the race, as Turner's odds of winning increased.[43] Turner's win was publicized as a large upset victory.[44] His campaign manager was later given an accolade by the American Association of Political Consultants for his role in the win.[45] The district is Democratic leaning with a Cook Partisan Voting Index (CPVI) of D+5.[17] In Salon, which called Turner's win "unremarkable", it was argued that the district had been leaning rightward, as it was one of the few districts in the nation in which Barack Obama performed one point worse than John Kerry in 2004 and 12 points worse than Al Gore in 2000.[46]

Tenure

Turner was sworn in on September 15, 2011.[47] Upon being chosen to serve on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, he stated, "I intend to forward my beliefs that it is in our national interest to defend our Middle East ally, Israel, and I will oppose further attempts by the U.N. to recognize a Palestinian state."[48] Turner is being mentored by Homeland Security Chair, Peter T. King (R-NY) in his transition to his new job.[6] He met with his former rival, Anthony Weiner, discussing open constituent files and issues facing the district, including noise pollution and eroding beaches.[6] He had a cordial and businesslike meeting with Weiner, though the two men have been described as polar opposites.[6]

Within weeks of taking office, Turner was attacked by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) for his no new tax pledge, and painted by the DCC as representing wealthy individuals and corporations rather than the average district voter.[49] Turner expressed support for hydrofracking in upstate New York, and would allow states to opt out of No Child Left Behind.[50] Remarking on the tenth anniversary of the war in Afghanistan, Turner said he would "leave our military commitment in Afghanistan up to the generals in the field," adding that, "If they believe the sacrifice of our soldiers continues to be necessary to prevent attacks on U.S. soil, then we have no choice but to let them finish the task."[51]

In November 2011, an anti-free trade protester affiliated with the Occupy Wall Street movement shouted during Turner's ceremonial swearing-in.[52][53] Turner then criticized the OWS demonstrators as socialist and praised America's capitalist system as a "beacon to the world".[53][52] Turner voted for Paul Ryan's revised budget plan in 2012,[54] despite reluctance that it would privatize Medicare and Social Security. Turner promised during his campaign to protect Social Security, and explicitly said he would vote no to the Ryan plan.[55] Turner's spokesman defended his vote for the bill, saying Turner was opposed to many of its provisions, but believed it was a good starting point for negotiations because it would not be finalized without compromise with the Democratic-controlled Senate.[56] However, Turner did suggest raising the minimum age from 65.[26][27]


During his 2011 campaign, Turner stated he came out of retirement to run for Congress "to fix what's broken and go home. End subsidies. End government dependencies. Dramatically cut the budget by 30 or 35 percent. Slash capital-gains taxes down to zero. Cut taxes across the board. The rest of America's economic healing will happen naturally as a consequence", he said.[57] In 2011 he chose not to sign "the pledge," citing the need to compromise in the critical area of reducing the debt. In his 2011 campaign he cited illegal immigration as a major cause of U.S. unemployment.[58] To resolve the U.S. debt, he proposed eliminating the U.S Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency and reducing the size of the Department of Education.[20][21]

Committee Assignments

The House Republican Steering Committee assigned Turner to three committees in the House, including Foreign Affairs, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security. Brooklyn Daily opined that the assignments would not allow Turner to make use of his business experience and offered little opportunity for him to deliver on his promises of bringing "fiscal sanity" to Washington.[59]

2012 U.S. Senate election

Main article: United States Senate election in New York, 2012

After redistricting, Turner's district was eliminated. Under the new congressional district lines, he would possibly have faced Gregory Meeks in a more African-American and heavily Democratic constituency; Turner was not optimistic about his chances, telling reporters, "That’s a district that really can’t be moved. That’s not a legitimate shot."[60] In March 2012, he announced he would challenge Democratic incumbent U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. Turner will face attorney Wendy E. Long, and Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos in a primary election to face Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. The 2012 New York State Republican convention spilt the endorsement between the three candidates, with enough support for each candidate to automatically appear on the ballot. The primary election will occur on June 26, 2012 and the general election will coincide with the presidential election on November 2, 2012.[61]

Personal life

Turner has been married to Peggy Turner, a foster care nurse for special needs children, for 48 years.[2] The couple has five adult children and 13 grandchildren and resides in Rockaway Point, Queens.[2] In August 2011, Turner revealed the couple's 1994 adoption of C.J. Holmstrom, an orphan whose parents had died from AIDS.[62] C.J.'s mother, Rosemary Holmstrom, had been on daytime talk shows in the 1980s discussing the death of her husband from AIDS, and her own HIV positive status.[62][63] The Turners helped her and C.J. from that time on, adopting C.J after her death.[62][64]

Electoral history

72197
2011 U.S. House of Representatives special election
New York's 9th District, September 13, 2011[19][65]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bob Turner 37,342 51.7
Democratic David Weprin 33,656 46.6
Republican gain from Democratic
2010 U.S. House of Representatives general election
New York's 9th District, November 2, 2010[66]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Anthony Weiner (incumbent) 67,011 61
Republican Bob Turner 43,129 39
Democratic hold

See also

References

  1. ^ "Turner, Robert L., (1941-)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "About Bob". Bob Turner for Congress. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  3. ^ Alison Fox, Pervaiz Shallwani and Aaron Rutkoff (September 14, 2011). "Behind Turner's Win: Jewish Voters Opposed to Gay Marriage". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved October 9, 2011.
  4. ^ http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/03/bob-turner-tells-republicans-he-plans-to-challenge-117261.html
  5. ^ a b Bob Turner (August 8, 2011). "A Businessman Running for Congress". The Brooklyn Politics. Retrieved October 11,2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  6. ^ a b c d Joe Anuta (October 6, 2011). "Turner taps Weiner for advice". Queens Campaigner. Retrieved October 9, 2011.
  7. ^ Cynthia Littleton (June 10, 1996). "All American buys Orbis. (All American Communications, Orbis Entertainment)(Brief Article" (Subscription required). Broadcasting & Cable.
  8. ^ Kyle Smith (August 21, 2010). "In Weiner's district, a GOP candidate stumps for the protest vote" (comment). New York Post. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  9. ^ Chris Bragg and Andrew J. Hawkins (August 31, 2011). "During Bob Turner's Tenure Running Talk Show Company, A Sharp Drop in Profits". City Hall News. New York, New York. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  10. ^ Elise Foley (September 2, 2011). "Bob Turner Put Rush Limbaugh On Television, He's Proud To Say". Huffington Post. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  11. ^ a b Andrew J. Hawkins (August 29, 2011). "Bob Turner, Jerry Springer And The Cowboy Outfit". City Hall News. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  12. ^ a b Daniel Bates (August 9, 2011). "How the man who created Jerry Springer's show may replace Anthony Weiner in Congress". Daily Mail Online. London. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  13. ^ Elise Foley (September 1, 2011). "Bob Turner Put Rush Limbaugh On Television, He's Proud To Say". Huffington Post. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  14. ^ Michael Barbaro (September 7, 2011). "TV Executive Behind 'Springer' Tries to Win House Seat for G.O.P." The New York Times. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  15. ^ Multimedia Entertainment was sold to Gannett Corporation for $2.1 billion in 1995 with Turner helping to orchestrate the sale. Gannett ended Rush Limbaugh's television show and Turner's 24-hour news talk station, the All-Talk Channel.See: Bob Turner for Congress; During Bob Turner's Tenure Running Talk Show Company; Syndie's revolving door
  16. ^ http://dailycaller.com/2010/10/18/the-man-who-brought-rush-limbaugh-to-television-looks-to-bring-down-liberal-new-york-rep-anthony-weiner/
  17. ^ a b Tomasky, Michael (June 7, 2011). "How the GOP Can Take Anthony Weiner's Seat". The Daily Beast. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
  18. ^ "Bob Turner hedges on "no new taxes" pledge". Brooklyn Politics. July 28, 2011. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  19. ^ a b "Official result, 9th District Special Election on September 13, 2011" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
  20. ^ a b c d Alex Katz and Alison Gendar (August 12, 2011). "GOP hopeful Bob Turner pushes budget cuts in race to replace Weiner, admits to 'blatant pandering'". New York Daily News. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  21. ^ a b Howard Koplowitz (August 28, 2011). "Weprin, Turner debate draws hecklers". YourNabe.com. Retrieved October 9, 2011.
  22. ^ a b Editorial (August 30, 2011). "For Congress in New York's Ninth District". The New York Times. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
  23. ^ Matt Purple (October 18, 2010)). "The man who brought Rush Limbaugh to television looks to bring down liberal New York Rep. Anthony Weiner". The Daily Caller. Retrieved 2011-09-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ "Koch Endorses Turner". The Queens Gazette. July 27, 2011. Retrieved September 22, 2011.
  25. ^ Domenick Rafter (August 18, 2011). "Turner's 9/11 Ad Painful For Some". Queens Tribune On Line. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  26. ^ a b "The Daily News endorses Bob Turner over David Weprin for Congress to replace Anthony Weiner" (Opinion). New York Daily News. September 1, 2011. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  27. ^ a b Anna Gustafson (September 1, 2011). "Juniper Civic livid after Weprin cancels debate". Queens Chronicle. Retrieved September 13, 2011.
  28. ^ http://www.wnyc.org/blogs/empire/2011/sep/19/meet-the-man-who-delivered-the-russian-vote-and-the-election-for-bob-turner/?utm_source=http%3A//www.wnyc.org/shows/bl/2011/jul/28/turner-ny-9/&utm_medium=treatment&utm_campaign=morelikethis
  29. ^ a b Alex Isenstadt (August 16, 2011). "GOP candidate Bob Turner banks on Obama disenchantment". Politico. Retrieved September 13, 2011.
  30. ^ a b c Thomas Kaplan and Kate Taylor (September 9, 2011). "Fearing loss of a house seat, Democrats make a late push". The New York Times. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  31. ^ "Community Magazine". Communitym.com. Retrieved 2011-09-09.
  32. ^ Noreen Malone (September 2, 2011). "Why the Dems Are Worried About the Race for Anthony Weiner's Seat - Daily Intel". New York Magazine. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  33. ^ Sumathi Reddy (September 2, 2011). "Missing Rep. Weiner". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  34. ^ Howard, Michael (August 16, 2011). "Giuliani Nods to Republican in Queens Bid". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved October 11, 2011. {{cite web}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  35. ^ "The Campaign Trail". Queens and Brooklyn, New York: Times Newsweekly. August 18, 2011. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  36. ^ Adam Dickter (September 7, 2011). "Hikind Endorses Republican In Special Congress Race". The Jewish Week. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  37. ^ Mark Landler (September 14, 2011). "Seeing Ripple in Jewish Vote". The New York Times.
    Kate Taylor (September 15, 2011). "Koch May Test His Political Voice on National Stage". The New York Times. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  38. ^ "The Yeshiva World Turner Offers $1,000 Reward To Decipher Weprin Palestinian Authority Remarks". Frum Jewish News. Theyeshivaworld.com. August 5, 2011. Retrieved September 9, 2011.
  39. ^ "Turner vote tests 'super Jewish' district" (subscription needed). Crain's New York Business. August 26, 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
  40. ^ Joe Anuta (September 12, 2011). "Giuliani calls Obama's job plan 'warm spit' at Turner rally". Queens Campaigner. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  41. ^ Thomas Kaplan (September 2, 2011). "David Weprin Leads Bob Turner in Fund-Raising for House Seat". The New York Times. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  42. ^ Patrick Brennan (September 5, 2011). "A Scott Brown in Queens?". National Review Online. Retrieved September 13, 2011.
  43. ^ Alex Isenstadt (September 5, 2011). "David Weprin getting late help from Dems". Politico. Retrieved September 9, 2011.
  44. ^ http://www.rollcall.com/news/bob_turner_upsets_democrat_david_weprin_new_york_special-208699-1.html
  45. ^ http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2012/04/bob-turner-touts-e-obrien-murray-street-cred
  46. ^ Steve Kornacki. "The GOP's unremarkable special election stunner". Salon. Retrieved Sep 14, 2011.
  47. ^ Thomas Kaplan (September 15, 2011). "Lawmaker takes office and learns some rules". The New York Times. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  48. ^ "Ros-Lehtinen Welcomes Congressman Bob Turner to Foreign Affairs Committee". U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs. October 04, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  49. ^ Democrats Attack Turner For Signing Tax Pledge - Bayside, NY Patch
  50. ^ For new congressman, a time for catching up - Queens Chronicle: Queenswide
  51. ^ Liz Rhoades (October 20, 2011). "No closure on 10th anniversary of war". Queens Chronicle.
  52. ^ a b Rebecca Henely (accessdate=November 17, 2011). "Protester crashes Turner inauguration". TimesLedger. Queens. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help); Missing pipe in: |date= (help)
  53. ^ a b Frank Rosario, Doug Auer and Bob Fredericks (November 14, 2011). "Ex-cop boots OWS heckler from congressman's swearing-in". New York Post.
  54. ^ http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/politics/2012/03/5586797/new-york-republicans-prepare-defend-paul-ryans-budget-plan-or-not
  55. ^ David Catanese (July 22, 2011). "Turner opposed to Ryan plan". Politico. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  56. ^ http://www.politicker.com/2012/03/29/turner-votes-for-ryan-budget/
  57. ^ Bob Turner (June 8, 2011). "The Bonfire on the Hill". The Corner - National Review Online. National Review. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
  58. ^ "Turner says message to Washington is 'loud and clear'". Legislative Affairs Gazette. September 14, 2011. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
  59. ^ http://www.brooklyndaily.com/stories/2011/41/mm_turnercommittees_2011_10_14_bd.html
  60. ^ http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/121113/turner-thats-life-in-the-big-city/
  61. ^ Reisman, Nick. "Three Challengers Of Senator Gillibrand Reach The Primary Ballot". NY1. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  62. ^ a b c Mark Morales (August 21, 2011). "Adoptive parents in high-profile AIDS case identified as Republican candidate Bob Turner and wife". New York Daily News. Retrieved September 13, 2011.
  63. ^ "For the love of C.J." New York Daily News. August 21, 2011. Retrieved September 27, 2011.
  64. ^ A movie, A Mother's Prayer, was produced in 1995 based on Rosemary's life.
  65. ^ Statement and Return Report for Certification, Representative in Congress 9th Congressional District
  66. ^ "2010 Congress Amended Election Results". New York State Board of Elections. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
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External links

Business positions
Preceded by President of Multimedia Entertainment
1991-1995 		Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 9th congressional district
2011-present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States Representatives by seniority
433rd 		Succeeded by

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