Let's look at some of the more ridiculous proferred reasons. First we have the logic of Stuart Applebaum as a newly-minted Democratic strategist for the state. Apparently it's more important for RWDSU to help balance the ticket then endorse the best candidate for working New Yorkers.
Stuart Appelbaum, president of union RWDSU, said Democrats need attorney general candidate Kaltheen Rice on the statewide ticket this fall to offer geographical and gender balance. Also, it's "useful" having a candidate who doesn't come from the legislature, said the union leader.
"Her presence on the ticket will be helpful to Democratic candidates running throughout the state and that has to be an important consideration too," said Appelbaum.
...
"I think it's important to show that we have a candidate that does not come from the legislature at this time. I think a lot of people feel that one of the issues that the next attorney general will have to deal with is the legislature in Albany. And I think it is useful to have a candidate who does not come from that world running for attorney general. I also believe the Democratic Party is a diverse party and that we need all elements of the party represented: urban and suburban. We need men and we need women. I think we should make our ticket as diverse as possible, and I think Kathleen does that."
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Well it's clearly a mix of gender and region considering that Eric Dinallo has more bona-fide progressive credentials and happens to represent a more suburban/upstate interest. But how does this make sense when you look at a guy like Eric Schneiderman, who has been one of the most persistent and vocal voices for reform inside the State Senate? Is the theory here that Schneiderman will be so tainted by the State Senate that he's a toxic candidate?
The fact is that Kathleen Rice is probably the worst candidate in the Democratic field. Take a look at her waffling on what should be a homerun subject, the issue of Wal-Mart attempting to locate a store in the five boroughs.
"As Stuart Appelbaum pointed out, as DA I had an opportunity to change the way that Wal-Mart does business from a safety perspective, and we actually, through that agreement, set the gold standard for how retailers like Wal-Mart, the responsibility that they owe not only to the consumers who walk into their store but for their employes. I believe in working families. I believe in the benefits that people deserve. I believe in a living wage. And I will support all those retailers who serve these working families in that capacity."
....
"Let me also say that this is something that the next attorney general will very likely have to deal with a legal capacity, but make no mistake about it I stand on the side of working families, of a living wage, of everyone to be able to achieve the American Dream. You do that by ensuring that everyone standing here today can earn a living...And so I stand very strongly with Stuart Appelbaum, with everyone here, on the side of working families."
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Apparently she stands with working families! And living wages! And working families!
That's right folks. Kathleen Rice is going to single-handedly whip Wal-Mart into shape and fix their notorious employment practices. Forget the fact that there's a national campaign to do just that over the past few years with few tangible results. Forget the fact that the power of the Attorney General to actually force Wal-Mart into a variety of voluntary compliance is questionable (and likely more in the hands of City Council and the Mayor).
All of this comes after a lot of talk after the DRC of Jay Jacobs twisting arms to garner up support for Rice from a less than natural constituency. And Jacobs' support is seen by some as a proxy for Cuomo himself, who is rumored to support Rice for similar reasons as Stuart Applebaum. It is extremely disconcerting that in New York State, with a race filled with progressive reformers, there is a push from the top to pick a former Republican focused on things like drunk driving and traffic safety as the Attorney General candidate on the Cuomo ticket.
This is going to be a difficult primary with all sorts of qualified and progressive candidates. Those of us on this blog will probably have different preferred candidates. But I think there's one thing we can all agree on; Anyone But Kathleen Rice. |
