| I've always tried to be honest and direct with my blogging. That usually encompasses writing down what I believe and explaining why I believe it. But I also think that honest blogging means admitting when you're wrong, and at this point it's fair to say that I was wrong. Some time back I posted on TAP that I wasn't concerned about David Weprin and I was sick of the lefty bashing from Gatemouth on the subject of the Weprin race. After all, I figured that Weprin was a credible, solid candidate running against a loony teabagger who only pulled 40% against a flaming liberal in the wave of all wave years. Where was Bob Turner's margin for victory? I didn't see it.
But as Gatemouth rightly called me on today, I've been proven wrong. Weprin's campaign is floundering, Bob Turner has surged, and we're all holding our breath at this point to hold on to this seat. And I also agree with Gatemouth's albeit rude assertion about the results of this race. Anyone who thinks that a Turner win will push Obama to the left isn't paying attention. This is a lose-lose situation for us. President Obama's advisors will interpret a Turner victory as a clarion call for more moving to the middle. So there's nothing to be gained from a Turner victory.
My point at the time clearly assumed a Weprin victory. And in light of a Weprin victory and the likely demise of the district, it absolutely makes more sense to focus on other races. I used judges and district leaders as a somewhat facetious example of other things to do. The top priority was Jesus Gonzalez, which is still a worthy race. I think Dan Quart is a worthy race as well, though I doubt Gatemouth much cares about the idea of a Republican being elected in the Upper East Side after a few years of shutting them out in the center of bourgeois America. And Cheryl Gonzalez is certainly more noteworthy than Gatey give her credit for (and I'm sure I'll be hearing why she's as bad as everyone else soon enough from the constant curmudgeon).
But in the end Gatemouth is right; winning an Assembly seat is not as important as preventing a massive right wing PR victory in our own backyard. Even though I despise the idea of Vito Lopez winning another one. I'm not in Queens so I can't say if it was always going to be this way or if Weprin has run a poor campaign (although I'm not going to adopt the Martha Coakley theory like I've seen others do).
We have arrived at the point where all hands must be on deck. If you have time, calls must be made and doors must be knocked. We simply can't abide a lose of a Congressional seat in this environment in our state. Go on Facebook, go to the campaign website, or talk to your friends. There are canvasses and phonebanks all over the place. If you can swing the time, please help.
P.S.: Gatemouth's analysis of the Manhattan District Leader race skips over Paul Newell's running mate for co-leader, Jenifer Rajkumar. I've met Jenifer on several occasions and she is incredibly bright, articulate, thoughtful, and committed. Her heart is in the right place and she would be a great community leader in the Lower East Side. Check her out if you live down there in Part C of the 64th. |
