A few thoughts.
So surely, another fully grown adult, who joined the GOP at the height of Newt Gingrich’s contract against America (and Bill Clinton) and explained it by declaring “"Believe it or not, it's a continuation of 'no justice, no peace…I believe that there are a large number of closet black Republicans in the city, and if you take a close look at some of the concepts of the Republican Party, you'll see that many of them are our values," would face similar heat for seeking office after backflipping into the Democrats without explaining his 360 degree evolution at an age where he was about to begin collecting a pension.
Right?
In Williamsburg/Brooklyn Heights right now, a local pol is doing a push poll attacking a local elected official for the crime of not calling for the resignation of Vito Lopez, a man whom, whatever his flaws, has been accused of no crime.
So surely, if another pol had first attacked the Police Department for trying to humiliate an elected official under investigation for cutting his girlfriend’s face with a piece of glass, and then, after that elected had been indicted, and a video had been released of the accused abusing his girlfriend, sat everyday at the accused’s assault trial in cheering him on in his rooting section, and then after the accused had been convicted of misdemeanor assault, had opposed the convicted criminal’s expulsion from office, one would think that the same people who were revolted by silence about the alleged sex harasser would be outraged at the open support of the convicted criminal.
Right?
And, at a time when the State Senate Democrats had just dumped a leader at least partially because of the embarrassment that leader had caused by his involvement in the “Racetrack Empire” scandal, one would think that others implicated in that scandal would be dead in the water when seeking political advancement.
Right?
And at a time when many professional liberals (and others across the ideological spectrum) still feign populist outrage at Christine Quinn and others for temporarily repealing term limits for their own benefit, even over four years after the fact, one would think the last plausible candidate for higher office would be someone who one year after his first election and while double dipping from a huge public pension of his own, took to the floor of the legislature to scream about his long overdue pay raise, shouting out “show me the money” as if her were Cuba Gooding, Jr.
Right?
And, in the aftermath of Vito’s Lopez’s purge attempt against Nydia Velazquez, one would assume the last candidate Velazquez supporters would rally around for higher office would be someone who endorsed her chief opponent for Congress.
Right?
And surely, with Democrats incensed at the IDC deal with Dean Skelos, it would be unthinkable for outraged party loyalists to support for higher office someone who just accepted a committee chairmanship from Skelos.
Right?
But apparently, I just don’t understand Brooklyn politics.
So, today, Adams basically had the field cleared for him and is now running virtually unopposed.
Manhattan has a small army running for Beep. Queens, a place known for its all powerful machine, has a large battalion of contenders.
I understand the romance of the black political class for Adams, and marvel at the discipline it took to close ranks behind him.
I understand the County Organization’s acquiescence as well. Adams has proven politically flexible and he appears a prohibitive frontrunner. A white candidate has not won a countywide primary in Brooklyn since 2005. The once vote rich old southern Brooklyn Jewish belt, to the extent it still exists, is now heavy with Orthodox and Russian Jews who often are not even enrolled Democrats, or, if they are, find participation in Democratic primaries less exciting than voting for Republicans in the fall.
Much of the strong white voting areas are now blocs of Brownstone liberals as likely, or more likely, to back a minority candidate than a southern Brooklyn white (especially when it is a minority candidate, who, like Adams, has represented some Brownstone areas).
And the southern Brooklyn white contender until today, Councilman Dominic Recchia, although smart and with a record of some accomplishment, looks to Brownstone whites like something out of Saturday Night Fever; perhaps a candidate for a one night stand, but not for higher office.
To put the cherry on top, despite Adams’ position as a member of the pathetic Sen Dems, and Recchia’s position as Chair of the City Council Finance Committee, it was Adams who raised more money.
I guess this situation should be no surprise. Those who consider the Council Finance Chairmanship a stepping stone for higher office should perhaps consult our last two City Comptrollers, Herb Berman and David Weprin.
So, the County Organization is clearly making the smart move going with Adams.
None of that surprises me.
What surprises me is that between his enrolling Republican during the 90s and swearing fealty to Newt Gingrich, and then switching back when a seat opened, imitating Cuba Gooding in an effort to raise his pay (while already getting a Police Captain’s pension), sitting in Monserrate’s rooting section at Hiram’s assault trial, “Racetrack Empire,” playing footsie with Skelos, endorsing Nydia Velazquez’s opponent and stupid legislation, the "progressive" romance for Eric Adams has always been unfathomable to me.
Meanwhile, Recchia is now talking about running for Congress in a district where 74.18% of the votes come from Staten Island, a Borough notorious for territoriality over their turf.
As daunting as would be the campaign against Adams, it would be a day at the beach compared to what a Brooklynite will face in such a race for Congress.
But as delusional as Recchia may be, it would be hard for him to beat the army of Brooklyn “progressives” excited over the coronation of Eric Adams.
Congrats Eric; you are clearly some sort of miracle worker, and I guess I should take a second look to see what it is that everyone else sees which I am missing (but I'm not looking forward to it).