One of my two campaign managers is a feisty lil twenty-one year old Russian émigré who once lived in a refugee camp: she is tough as nails; all four feet eleven inches of her. She will be twenty-two in September. She will be graduating in May with a BA in Political Science (from Brooklyn College). She wants me to do the “semi-muzzle: and not write or say stuff without clearing it all with the campaign team. She is one tough lil Jewish cookie. She is itching for a fight with me/lol. It’s going to happen before the campaign is over/lmao.
The other female manager is as cool as cucumber, and as calm as an autumn breeze; but she will take her lil jabs at me whenever she gets an opening. She is probably unaware that I see her lil digs when she shoots them/lol. She is much older than the first, but together they agree that I should be careful of what I write and say, now that I am a candidate for the city council. And by the way, I was formally and finally registered by the Campaign Finance Board yesterday; so for all those who were doubting my seriousness about this project: chew on it.
So what’s the problem you ask; well I went out in one of my columns and made an endorsement without checking in with my campaign team. Then I went up with another column and said that I was leaning in certain directions, as it relates to endorsing players in the races for mayor, public advocate and city comptroller. I further listed a few council candidates that I was likely to endorse soon. So am I free or what? Or is this candidate thing going to stop me from being an honest blogger? Do I now lose my large fan base because of one lil run for office?
Last week I did a column about a recent political event, and in the article I appropriately scorched a few electeds and one well known political activist: no big thing; nothing new for Cousin rocky. The campaign team was pissed at me for doing it. Even Gatemouth felt that he had to hit me a parting side shot upside my head/lol. Funny thing about Gatey’s comment was that he is said “now, is not time for the truth (while I am a candidate)”.
I totally and thoroughly disagree. It is always time for the truth in politics: always.
So what’s going to happen over the next few months? I really don’t know as yet. How do I balance my blogging and my candidacy? I am still trying to muse over that one. All I know is that my managers, many of my other staffers, some of those on my campaign committee and some other supporters of mine, are telling me to play it safe with my columns. They don’t want me pissing off anyone right now. Again, I disagree; but since no man is an island I will take into considerations their views on this matter. We shall see.
So let me walk back my statements on the mayoral, public advocate and city comptroller primary. I am not leaning towards endorsing anyone in these races at the moment (at least not publicly). I may surprise everyone and endorse David Yassky for comptroller, if only because I think black electeds are wrong in the way they have treated him in the past -and the ill treatment continues today. All he did was exercise his constitutional right to run in the 11th congressional district, three years ago: ENOUGH ALREADY.
I honestly wish one of them will publicly debate me on this sordid political issue. They are wrong. Reverse-racism is no answer to past discriminatory practices. You would think that after three years they would let this thing rest, but they won’t. And that’s where John Liu comes in. He may be about to do their dirty work. There are whiffs of: “stop David Yassky in Liu’s candidacy”. I hope I am wrong on this. I really do.
Look; I have been told that many black electeds are praying that I lose my upcoming race; I am not surprised/lol. Are you? They seem to think that I am too full of myself.
Moi?
Plus they feel that I have embarrassed some of them once too often. Is that so folks? LOL.
Well; as I said when I first started writing my columns a few years ago: I will tell the truth as I see it, and then I will duck. In this regard, I am sure I have fulfilled my promise to the readers.
In the council races I wrote about recently I will not walk back anything I said. The candidates I am leaning towards I expect to endorse soon. I will say it again: Charles Barron needs to step aside and let Paul Washington run for the 42nd district. It is the right thing to do: win or lose. You cannot speak from both sides of your mouth and expect your credibility to stay in tact; not going to happen. If you think that what the council did on term-limits was wrong, then you have to be consistent: don’t run for re-election unless the voters agree in referendum.
And then, just when everyone thought it was safe for me to get back into the water again, I went and wrote another check with my mouth, that my ass will now have to cash on Sunday 29th March, 2009. I told a few media people that I am going to get 500 people to attend my luncheon fundraising event of that day. Then I printed up exactly 500 tickets and told my committee that I will personally move 260 of them once they move the remaining 240. In three days I moved 100 tickets. It is getting harder to move them with each passing day. I am now thinking of making the event a kinda family reunion of sorts. That way many relatives will purchase tickets and fly in form various states; call me “tricky Rocky”/lol.
Now, we all know how hard it is to get black people to contribute monies to politicians; it’s like pulling teeth to get them pay to attend a political event -even though they always have a few choice words for politicians. So why would I do this? Well; it’s because I am setting standards for myself, my candidacy and my team. I cannot recall a local political fundraiser where 500 people attended unless it was the county dinner. So I need you fans out there to help me out with this one. Do cousin Rocky a solid. I am sending out an “SOS” (save our souls). Well, I should really say: an “SMA” (save my ass). Or maybe, I do need to shut up sometimes/lmao?
For whatever its worth I am optimistic. I am not one of those people to give up on things easily. I intend to spend the next two weeks plugging away at achieving my goal of 500 attendees. I am inviting the media to come see me pull this off. Some folks are now saying that if I achieved half of my target/goal it would still be a victory: I disagree. It’s all or nothing at all in this one.
Where are all those folks out there who promised me that when I run again for public office they would catch my back? Where are all those who said they will contribute to my campaign if I were to do this council race? Where are all my fans who have flattered me with your comments at political events, about how much you enjoy my columns and hope that I will run again; and all who said they will be supportive when that time came; and will send checks, and come with bodies to get things done: like door knocking, phone banking and lit dropping, etc.? Don’t tell me all this was ‘fools gold’? I refuse to believe that. I felt that folks were genuine in their remarks. I sensed it. I am banking on it.
I am going to hold out hope that my faith in you will be rewarded like Barack Obama’s faith in the belief that Americans wanted change. I am going to hold out hope, that there is a lil army of supporters (I am calling you “Rock’s Army”) out there in blog land, who are going to come through for me during this campaign. Don’t let me down folks; I am counting on you.
Let me hip you in advance to what’s coming down the pike. When the filing for March 16th is released by CFB, you will find that I only raised $1,270. I have spent one hundred dollars so far. It has taken 36 days. I have gotten more promises than a reluctant lover resisting an eager paramour. People may just be using the economy as an excuse to resist my overtures for funds; but then the economy is in a mess: so it could be all genuine.
Look; I do sympathize with all the folks going through economic hardship. I can relate. I have only had part time work for ages. And recently my hours -on the after school program in which I now work- were cut in half. So trust me when I say that I do understand.
Look, we are going to have a grand time on the 29th. There will be speeches, singing, dancing, steel bands, a house DJ, and good food (not just Caribbean-American). And the drinks are on me: once you spend some cash. You must RSVP since we have to get the caterers a sense of how many will show up for the event.
I am going to attach a flyer for the upcoming event that I hope some of you can call in to attend. As you will see we are trying to stage something that you will enjoy on many levels. If you want to see me bust out a move on the dance floor, then do show up folks.
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO A FUNDRAISING LUNCHEON
ARRANGED BY “THE FRIENDS OF ROCK HACKSHAW”.
Date: Sunday 29th March, 2009.
Time: 12:00 Noon until 5:00 p.m.
VENUE: CAFÉ OMAR.
ADDRESS: 1744 NOSTRAND AVENUE, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.
(between Cortelyou and Clarendon Rds.)
COST: Twenty-five dollars per ticket ($25) in advance.
Thirty-five dollars per ticket ($35) at the door.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: (1) MR. KENNETH S. EVANS, Esq.
Title: The major health issues and concerns in Brooklyn, N. Y. (confirmed)
and
(2) MR. MAURICE GUMBS, BA; MA.
Title: Examining the ongoing fight for political reform in Brooklyn. (conditional)
—- Also on the program —–
(1) JAZZ SINGER: MS. AZADEH HADIM
(2) LIVE STEEL BAND MUSIC (THE MARTIN DOUGLAS GROUP)
(3) R&B SINGER: MS. TEKEYA PRESCOD
(4) HOUSE DJ
————-LUNCH WILL BE SERVED AT 1:00 P.M. SHARP (CASH BAR) ———
———— SPEAKERS START AT 2:00 P.M. SHARP—————————————
———— PERFORMERS START AT 3:00 P.M SHARP. ———————————
————-DANCING PERMITTED IN THE LAST TWO HOURS ———————
————-DRESS: SEMI-FORMAL.
Do walk with your check books or fill out a pledge card at the event. Mr. Rock Hermon Hackshaw (Democrat) is a candidate for the New York City Council, in the primary election to be held on Tuesday 15th September, 2009.
Make checks or money orders payable to:
“THE FRIENDS OF ROCK HACKSHAW”;
P.O. Box 250638,
James E. Davis Station, Empire Blvd.,
Brooklyn, New York, 11225.
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E-MAIL:friendsofrockhackshaw@gmail.com.(Note: Website is under construction).
TELEPHONE(s): 347-475-0356 or 347-431-5734 or 646-239-3951 or 1-718-284-1023.
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VOTE FOR ROCK.
STAY TUNED-IN FOLKS: WE ARE HEADING FOR THE POST.
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