When we talk about the fifty state strategy and put a specific location under the microscope and start looking at running qualified Democrats in every race from school board up, we can not over look our bluest regions and expect progressive democratic ideals to be victorious. You don't have to look any further than New York City to see how evident that is. New York City, is a city where democratic primaries essentially crown our public officials and general elections only happen as civic lessons. A city so blue, that Democrats switch parties just to get an easier road to election day, case and point
- Bloomberg, a lifelong Democrat, ran for mayor as a Republican, reportedly to avoid the crowded field in the Democratic primary.
- Assemblyman Steve Kaufman (D), who ran for 34th State Senatorial District seat and lost as a Republican against Jeff Klein and is now back as a democrat challenging for the District 13 City Council seat.
The point is we like our politicians and elected officials blue regardless of the party affiliation next to their name. Remember we vote for the Democratic Senate candidate regardless of if they live in our state. But why bring this up when there are races across the country with candidates coming down clearly on opposite sides of many devisive issues? Because New York, like every other 'safe state' must keep its Democratic benches full and deep or else we end up with Republicans like Bloomberg or Guiliani in the national spotlight. Imagine Guiliani never was mayor of New York City in 2001, or Bloomberg never asked the RNC to come to town. There would be no home grown Republicans to trample the memories of the city to promote ill conceived notions of homeland security fear. There would be no mass arrests and civil liberty violations in what may essentially be the democratic capital of the world. There would be no analysis of Hillary vs. Rudy in 2008, but instead talk of Hillary or Elliot Spitzer a discussion on which shade of blue you prefer. While New York City may be too liberal to ever develop a serious Presidential candidate, there should be no excuse as to why the other side is able to do so.
In 2004 Kerry carried the state 59-41, but it wasn't even that close. He won by over 1.3 million votes. Compare that to the fact that Bush only had a 3 million vote lead in the popular vote and you get an idea of how much of a premium this environment could be if we wanted to develop real Democratic voices and real progressive leaders. I would turn to the upcoming Mayoral election in November as an example of our candidate farm team system, but to me it is just a sign of how little we have thought about the long term development of Democrats. Instead look at the number two office in New York City; the Public Advocate. [silence] Yeah I had no idea what it was either, and apparently that is how the rest of the city feels with over 50% of the respondents in a Marist poll undecided on who they will vote for on September 13. For those of you who want to play along at home, there is a Democratic incumbent, Betsy Gotbaum polling at just 20%.
Gotham Gazette sums it up nicely;
On a recent summer afternoon, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum stood at the front of the lunchroom of the Jackie Robinson Senior Center waiting to be introduced to two dozen elderly Harlem residents. But before Gotbaum took the microphone, a member of the audience - who had apparently shown up for the dollar lunch and not to listen to a politician's speech - called out. "Who is she?"
There are two candidates of interest in my opinion, neither being the incumbant who is so lacking of excitement that there is once again talk of eliminating the position, instead of the correct approach of removing her from that role. Norman Siegel, a civil liberties lawyer and Andrew Rasiej a businessman with a technology understanding that could change some political landscapes. This situation reminds me of Chris's analysis of the CA-48th congressional race for Rep. Cox's seat. There are two viable candidates who need to take on the person at the top and not each other to ensure a progressive voice makes it through. With the NY primary on September 13th, a candidate for Public Advocate would need to win 40% of the vote to prevent a run-off. The Marist poll shows Betsy polling at just 20% and Norman in second with 13%, and Andrew in sixth with 2%, there is a lot of room for netroot support.
If you are at all interested in establishing a true progressive voice, then this is one of the best places to invest in a farm team. When national politics seems to reiterate centrist ideas, the experiment in NYC is how left can we swing and without true Republican opposition a strong liberal voice can become a long standing beacon in this sea of blue.
Gotham Gazette once again explains;
In 1993, Mark Green, who had run unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate and then served as the consumer affairs commissioner, was elected as the first public advocate. Green, who had made his political career as a lawyer, author, and speechwriter, says he used the post as a bully pulpit to fight injustices in the Giuliani administration, including suing the police department over racial profiling.
Imagine what the office could once again become. I am going to continue this with a part II later this evening hopefully, but in the mean time I would ask that you check out the candidates websites and if you have friends or family in NYC encourage them to get involved. With NYC public matching funds program candidates can receive 4-1 matching funds for each resident of NYC up to $250.
In the next edition:
Campaign finance reports
Press release Betsy, why she is ineffective
and dreaming of a national Public Advcoate