Ashe Schow writes at the Washington Examiner:
Can a single woman enter politics without her dating life being invaded? Apparently not. In a letter to the Watertown Daily Times, Michael Flynn asks Republican New York congressional candidate Elise Stefanik whether she has “a private relationship" with anyone. Flynn, who writes that he is a supporter of Stefanik’s Democratic opponent in the 21st Congressional district, Aaron Woolf, argues that candidates should disclose all personal relationships for the voters. “I don’t think this falls under the heading of prying eyes; it’s an indicator of what you are about as a person and candidate for congressional office,” Flynn wrote.
The Democratic candidate called the letter "reprehensible," but the Democratic activist claims he had been in contact with the Woolf campaign all along. Brendan Bordelon reports at the Daily Caller:
On popular northern New York political blog “Mayor Graham’s View,” Flynn — writing under the name “Middle-Class Mike” — began posting what he alleged were extensive Facebook and email conversations between himself, Woolf campaign manager Stu Rosenberg and Democratic Party field director Ryan Smith. Flynn claimed he’d been tapped by the Woolf campaign to write letters to local newspapers supporting the Democratic candidate and attacking his Republican opponent — offering as evidence an undated email exchange between himself and Smith. “These were the issues you were going to write about,” Smith wrote to Flynn, listing topics like “getting answers” and the “public’s rights to be informed.” The Democratic consultant urged Flynn to “get it out to the papers as soon as you can.” Some of Flynn’s letters apparently pleased the Woolf campaign, as evidenced by another exchange between the activist and Rosenberg. “Keep on pushing our messages. They are working,” Rosenberg said. “Just pay attention to us. You’re picking up on our themes very well and doing a great job.” “It seems the Woolf campaign wanted my help — but only if things went right,” Flynn wrote. “Did I have informal contact with Woolf Campaign — yes I did and it’s hypocritical for them to duck that point in my opinion.” [...] The Woolf campaign — which has focused heavily on women’s issues — vehemently denies it had anything to do with Flynn’s demand that Stefanik reveal her sexual history. Yianni Varonis, Woolf’s communications director, told The Daily Caller that exchanges between the Democratic campaign and Flynn “were entirely focused on our efforts to get Elise Stefanik to finally come clean on her plans to cut Social Security and Medicare benefits for North Country citizens.”