A couple years ago I wrote about certain forces (and interests) in this city that had placed a bull’s-eye on Congresswoman Yvette Clarke’s back. I got the usual suspects to call in (and e-mail) saying I am too focused on the political gossip of Brooklyn. I wasn’t kidding. In fact I have written a few times now that that Yvette Clarke was in some people’s gunfights. I even elaborated on some of the speculative reasons why this was happening.
I went further to say that Councilmember Darlene Mealy was one of the possible (female) challengers to Yvette in 2012. I also speculated (to many) that David Yassky would re-emerge to challenge Yvette after the lines were redrawn. After all, the district had to pick up some new voters (mainly white), and he did do well in his 2006 challenge -coming in second in a field of four.
Then I recently wrote about Yvette’s challenge from Sylvia Kinard-Thompson. I am told that there are those in the Kinard camp who are pissed at me for writing that column: so what’s friggin new? Go see the column in my archives. What I didn’t write was that my solid sources were telling me the campaign itself was in shambles. And that it was “amateur hour” on display. I did a semi-critique and I left it there. I could have been brutal; but being the nice guy I am, I chose to be dainty- relative to my usual journalistic standards.
My suspicions have always been that there will be a black candidate to siphon off votes from Yvette Clarke, thus paving the way for a late entry by some white (preferably Jewish) third-candidate. Well here we go: word on the street is that Marty Markowitz will be running for the congressional seat now occupied by Yvette Clarke.
How many times haven’t I told you I am the Rodney Dangerfield of NYC political writers?
Stay tuned-in folks.