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Instantly opening a rift among New York Democrats, Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand — a little-known, pro-gun, pro gay-marriage Democrat from a rural Republican district — won appointment Friday to the Senate seat left vacant by Hillary Rodham Clinton. Gov. David Paterson announced his choice a day after presumed front-runner Caroline Kennedy — a woman with considerably more star power but less experience — mysteriously dropped out of contention in an embarrassing turn of events that touched off sniping between the governor and the Kennedy camp.

Gillibrand, at 42, will be the youngest member of the Senate and one of 17 women in the chamber. The second-term congresswoman will assume the seat once held by Kennedy's uncle Robert F. Kennedy as well as by Daniel Patrick Moynihan.

Gillibrand has a 100 percent voting record with the National Rifle Association.

Before the governor even took the podium to introduce Gillibrand, anti-gun crusader Rep. Carolyn McCarthy said she would challenge Gillibrand in the Democratic primary next year, or find someone who would. Gillibrand has a 100 percent voting record with the National Rifle Association.

McCarthy, a Long Island Democrat who ran for Congress after her husband was shot to death and her son wounded in the 1993 Long Island Rail Road massacre, said someone with such a record should not be the next senator from New York.

"The majority of New Yorkers believe in trying to reduce gun violence," she said.

Her complaint was echoed by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a Democrat-turned-Republican-turned-independent who has been one of the nation's most vocal gun control advocates. In a statement, the mayor noted his "strong disagreement with one area of her record as a member of Congress: illegal guns."

Bloomberg and McCarthy said Gillibrand co-sponsored legislation to deny information cities and police need to track illegal gun use. The legislation passed in the House but was never considered by the Senate, McCarthy said.

YAY!!!

I am pleased with the pick. Voting 100% with the NRA does not impress me though. I know they feel they must take the role of extreme advocate for gun rights, since only extremism is effective in politics anymore. Hopefully she will become a little more moderate in those regards, and probably will have to show a little more understanding towards her constituents in order to make it through her first election.

Extremism sucks, and needs to be marginalized or any talk of bi-partisanship is no more than that. I wish her luck as the youngest member of Senate.

I heard an interview with McCarthy yesterday on NPR. It almost sounded like she was saying Gillibrand supports gun violence. Hearing about the stabbing and decapitation at VT yesterday, I wonder if McCarthy is going to try and outlaw knives next? She really seemed vindictive that someone of her ilk and ideology was not chosen. Guess she'd rather have someone in there with no clue, but supports her ideas (Caroline Kennedy). I wish I could have interviewed Ms. McCarthy yesterday, it would have been fun.

Shock to me. The word I'd had was that the spot was going to Fran Drescher. LOL.