Who is Kirsten Gillibrand?

New York's unelected junior senator was recently declared by no less an authority than Harry Reid to be that august chamber's "hottest" member.  While that may be the only issue upon which this blog ever agrees with Dingy Harry, Gillibrand remains unknown to many voters.  In the American Thinker, Fred Eckert helpully summarized Kirsten's positions on key issues, formerly as a member of Congress, and currently as our appointed junior senator:

• Against gay marriage as a member of the house -- For gay marriage since the day her appointment to the Senate was announced.
• For keeping "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in place while in House -- Against as senator.
• Against gun control while in the House (100% NRA rating) -- For gun control as a senator.
• Against any form of amnesty for illegal immigrants as a member of the House -- For as a senator.
• For withholding federal funds from sanctuary cities while in House -- Against as senator.
• For making English the official language while in the House -- Against as senator.
• For empowering local police to enforce federal immigration laws while in House -- Against as senator.
• Against the McCain- and Obama-endorsed Bush $700-billion TARP bank bailout in a vote in the House, calling it "fundamentally flawed" -- For the Obama $787-billion "stimulus" bill four months later as a senator.

And then there's Gillibrand's hand in the destruction of the US economy, when she worked at HUD with current governor-in-waiting Andy Cuomo:

When that wacky wrecking crew of the Clinton administration, Chris Dodd in the Senate, Barney Frank in the House, and Andrew Cuomo as HUD Secretary were smashing the banking system by foisting destructive subprime mortgages on the banks, causing collapses, leading to massive bailouts and triggering financial pain and suffering for millions of Americans, right there in a key supporting role at Cuomo's side as HUD legal counsel was...Kirsten Gillibrand.

Gillibrand was the person whom that gang tasked with promoting "new products" for HUD, a euphemism that means forcing banks to provide subprime mortgages to millions who could not afford them. (bold added)

Eckert refers to "Bonnie & Clyde" when he reminds us:

She and her husband profited really big-time by selling short companies heavily into subprimes. This is something not very many New York voters are aware of -- but they soon will be.

Debating Republican senate candidate Joe Dioguardi, Gillibrand sidestepped the opportunity to deny the short selling charge.  In fact, she effectively confirmed it.  Click for video.