He might not have made any friends in the White House, but as the only city Democratic congressman to oppose President Obama’s health plan, Rep. Michael McMahon scored points with his Staten Island constituents.
“He did an excellent thing by voting no. I think Republicans might rally around him and back him. I definitely will,” said Anthony Fazzino, a Tottenville grocery-store owner.
But not everyone was patting McMahon on the back.
Both of his Republican challengers blasted him for not going far enough to torpedo the bill, which passed the House in a late Sunday vote 219 to 212.
“He played politics,” said Michael Allegretti, a Staten Island Republican who is running for the party nomination.
“He could’ve brought others to the common-sense side of the debate.”
Michael Grimm, another Republican vying for the seat, said, “He’s going to continue to vote with Nancy Pelosi.”