So I know that politics isn’t a game: it is serious stuff; very serious stuff. When I call it a game, I am just talking figuratively that’s all. And when I call it “the only game in town”, it’s because I know that if the “politics” of any state or country isn’t right, then society can deteriorate into chaos, confusion, anarchy, civil-war, revolution, hardships and/or strife. Societies go (break down) as “politics” go. Diplomacy is politics without war, and war is surely politics without diplomacy.
It is known that the United States of America has had its share of the growing pains that accompany political development. Examples abound: The Revolutionary War; the Civil War of 1861 thru 1865; the Great Depression; and also the days of Jim Crow. If those were games then they weren’t enjoyable for many. But people do play games, it’s human nature. And we play games every night and every day. “We never mean what we say and we seldom say what we mean”. And also, some who do say what they mean (and try to mean what they say), hardly ever seem to think of what the fuck they are really saying. And that’s why I hate “poli-tricks” sometimes.
I have tried to keep my readers abreast of my deliberations leading up to my run for public office once again, and I have tried (for the most part) to ignore the nabobs of negativism who spewed their crap on the threads of my blogs. No matter how much I proceeded to move my campaign forward there were always those who seem to be “doubting Thomases”. Last weekend, one elected official even suggested that I might be running for name recognition. What the………..?
But at least he told me to my face that he didn’t think I could win; that’s a slight improvement on what normally happens in Brooklyn with most of these phony black politicians and I.
After I explicated some hard raw numbers to him, he seemed only slightly moved. Fine. He is entitled to his superficial analysis. It seems to be the common wisdom in my upcoming race. If I were to win it is ostensible that many people will be upset (pun intended). It has become an incentive: I love to piss off those I consider fools.
On Sunday 16th march, 2009, I officially kicked off my campaign with two very public stops. The first was to the annual awards breakfast of the Council of Jewish Organizations (COJO) in Midwood, Brooklyn. The second was by attending a church service in the district, where the Bishop prayed for me and five other members of my team. It was a very emotional prayer service. I was even moved to a few tears in that public space. Yep!
I know many of you are surprised at this revelation; but that’s a long long story and I will save it for another day. As I have said before, I am a reluctant candidate; but have no doubt that I intend to finish this job. I intend to win this race. I intend to take common sense to higher places. I intend to work with those who are serious about change in reforming the city council -and in turn the city of New York.
What has been a little painful is my becoming aware that many of those who told me to go for it (run again) are now either on the fence, or hiding out like Osama bin Laden. During the summer of last year I told one elected of my plans to run for this seat, and I was told that it was “a great idea” (amongst other encouraging things). A few weeks ago when I asked for the promised endorsement to be made public, I was told: “why do you want to put me in this spot?”
Another elected told me that they would stand with me to publicly make the endorsement; now that person is running away like Doctor Richard Kimble. And district leaders are no different. Those I have helped and supported over the years are now suddenly entrenched in county’s tacit rule of not going up against a member of the clan; even Jesse Hamilton is running running running (away from me that is/lol). And if you don’t get this one, then go to my archives and read the column entitled: “Run Jesse Run” (2006).
Two political candidates I can count on are Wellington Sharpe and Kenneth Evans. I also expect support from the relatives of James Davis (deceased). Geoffrey (his brother) and Thelma (his mother) are still working hard to fulfill his vision of stopping the violence amongst inner-city youth. They have been building the James E. Davis foundation in Crown Heights with faith and patience.
I expect at least two district leaders to come out for me soon. They are both very decent in terms of their loyalty. They also tell me that I am the best candidate in the race; if they are honest about this then I expect them to do the right thing and endorse me publicly. I met with one young leader recently, and I asked that the person reconsider the ramifications of their endorsing someone as controversial me before going public (it was practically a done deal). The person was surprised no end. I still hope to have it finalized soon. I think it was the decent thing for me to do anyway.
Democrat District Leader and City Council member Dr. Kendall Stewart is not with me this time around and I am not going to be supporting him either; and yet he is humane enough to let me have his place (Café Omar) for a fundraising luncheon on Sunday 29th March at 12 noon; at maybe a discount rate even. I will say it again: Kendall’s a decent human being. Sure he has some flaws, but not one of us is perfect.
I hope to see many of you at my fundraising luncheon on Sunday. Do come, it will be a ‘cool’ event. I even had a poetry reading added to the program yesterday. It will be held at 1744 Nostrand Avenue in East Flatbush.
I am going to endorse Attorney Terry Hinds in that race (45th council district). The field is large. It is also a high quality field. Sam Tate, Jumanee Williams, Dr. McKenzie, Rudy Daly, Michael Russell, Vaughn Toney, and others, are all deserving. I am serious when I say this. Any of these will make a fine council member. They have all paid their dues in this district.
I am supporting Terry Hinds for many reasons. He is a serious young man and we need to invest in our young black men. We couldn’t groom one single black male for the replacement opportunity that Hilary Clinton presented in the senate and I found that rather disturbing. We send too many old men to City Hall, Albany and Washington. This is no longer a domain only for old men. We have to balance the scales. One tip Terry: smile a little more.
But back to the COJO event: my buddy Congressman Ed Towns saw me while I was coming into the COJO breakfast (he was making an early exit); he hugged my manager but he didn’t hug me/lol. And we have been friends for years.
In my estimation my assembly rep Rhoda Jacobs was a little cold towards me; imagine if I had asked her for an endorsement? Congressman Jerrold Nadler said (again) that he is a fan of Room Eight New York Politics (www.r8ny.com). Bill DiBlasio wants to meet for lunch; he must be serious since it’s only about the fifth time he has asked for the meeting in about six months. David Yassky hardly has time to read my column anymore. Shameful!
Yvette Clarke looked fabulous. In fact she looked stunning. She said she is well rested. Okay; I will buy that. I almost asked her on a date: then images of her mother Una Clarke with a shotgun, flashed across my mind and I changed plans. Many people don’t know this, but I have always liked Yvette. She may have messed up in college but she is a bright girl. Like Terry, she too needs to laugh and smile more often.
Bill Thompson is getting the royal treatment these days: he must be the mayoral frontrunner of the Democratic Party. Judge Loren Bailey-Schiffman is a lovely lady; so too is my good friend Lori Knipel. Lori’s husband needs to put on some weight though. I need to take him out to dinner at a Caribbean-American restaurant: to a place where people eat with both hands, and where the food sticks to your ribs.
My friend Lew Fidler sat at one table and didn’t move. People were shuttling over there to pay respects like he was Tony Soprano/lol. My opponent Mathieu Eugene got an award (for what: I am still trying to figure). He gave an astonishing speech that no one heard; they were all talking while he delivered it. Watching him at a podium is painful enough, trying to understand what he said was like having root canal done cold turkey. You do need some anesthesia to listen to this big guy.
Senator Eric Adams made a good speech. Eric just keeps getting better and better. Eric must be one of the bravest elected officials out there. He goes any and every where to speak, and is not afraid to tackle controversial issues. How about an endorsement for me Eric? LOL.
I keep telling my team that there will be very few endorsements for me but they doubt what I am saying. I have rubbed too many people the wrong way over the years. And I will probably rub a few more over the coming months. What can I tell you: it isn’t easy being me; that’s all.
So let me tell you what else has been pissing me off recently. There is obviously an attempt to discredit me in the district -as it relates to my roots there and my connections. Some people have been reaching my supporters with all sorts of stories about me not being grounded here. Despite the fact that I have been involved in at least a score of organizations here since 1973. Shameful! Desperation will make you do all types of desperate things. They all know the residency rules. They all know the laws on residency for city council elections. No matter what the projections are, many are concerned about my chances of winning this race: some are just “fronting” as the kids say nowadays.
Many of those prominent community activists in this district are now coy with their support (especially the white ones); I wonder why? Don’t they know that I haven’t been a Charles Barron advisor since 2005/lol? My pockets of support are strong however. I will do well in this race.
I have encountered some despicable reverse-racism lately. It’s appalling. It seems that my white manager is a bit of a problem for me. And yet she has more job security than Governor David Patterson. I have complete faith in her ability to get the job done. We were together at an event in Bed-Stuy when two people separately asked me why I couldn’t get a black manager. It was troubling to say the least. I refused to grace one with an answer, and to the other I pointed out the racism of the remark (much to their chagrin).
Then at a tenant’s meeting in the district, another black woman -that I have known for years through politics- asked me: “why all successful black men end up sleeping with white women”? She was alluding to my manager as some kind of secret lover or something. It was a truly dumb question. I had to straighten her out to the fact that my manager was over thirty years younger than I, and was not some lover or concubine. I also had to inform her that I have never ever slept with any woman I have met in/or through politics. I can proudly say this after a lifetime of political involvement. I may flirt and tease but I am very very selective in terms of who I end up being intimate with. All this is true, despite my “Big Love” tendencies/lol.
I have heard one or two lil rumblings about my manager’s race (Caucasian) and religion (Jewish) but I have ignored them for the most part. I must say that it is disturbing. She will be with me to the end of this race. In fact I have now elevated her to being the only manager of this campaign. I will surround her with at least two deputies at some point, but my lil “napoleon” is in for the long haul. So for all those who see this as some issue: get used to it. Get over it. I am an equal opportunity employer and I do try to practice what I preach: humanity towards my fellow man/woman and equality.
Stay tuned in: please. And strap in too.