I am a long time lurker around here. I have rode a couple buses to philly, mocked a couple debates, and freaked out over a couple primaries but I wouldn't be a classic example of a two way participant. Usually, if I have a clever idea i have read it here first or Atrios posted it two weeks ago. Tonight, I went to a community conversation at the 14th street Y held by NYC 14th district congressional primary challenger Reshma Saujani. This is my reflection.
I grew up in the east village and moved back here ten years ago after grad school. Between my neighborhood and my folks, I think it would have been hard to lose my way, although at that time I did look like Alex P Keaton.
When I was in high school my father got into a lively discussion with my elective history teacher (I took a class called prejudice and persecution) during a parent teacher conference. The next day, when i asked my teacher about the conversation, he said they discussed (inappropriately) how liberal i was -- my teacher tried to reassure my dad, but my dad appeared to him unconvinced. My teacher's impression was that short of organizing the homeless in tompkins square park, or threatening to go to the catskills and start a commune, my dad would be left unconvinced of my politics. Twenty years later, I am pretty far left but i dont wear che t-shirts.
Carolyn Maloney our representative for 18 years hasn't really had to campaign. She holds a solid democratic voting record, in a very safe district, but she isn't a democratic superstar. Given the demographics of this district you really should be a superstar. Being a kossack, i admire people who challenge incumbents, but being a kossack i also want somebody who I think will be better from both a policy and a performance perspective. (Of course at this point, I have given up the whole judging the character of the candidate after that whole John Edwards fiasco).
Going into this town hall style meeting I was inclined to think Saujani isnt the right candidate for NY-14. I saw some equivocation on tv about being to hard on financial industry. There was also a bunch of news article about her very middle of political spectrum support. Either way i wanted to give it a chance.
It is very impressive meeting a candidate (there were maybe 50 in attendance) even if, like me, you have misgivings. She is very articulate and gives a good impression. It was a ten minute speech and then a Q & A period lasting an hour.
Subjects included a discussion about maloney not debating her, maloney taking pac money, general special interests control of washington, general ethics reform in washington, greater transparency in washington, silence of maloney on the ground zero mosque, silence of maloney on immigration reform. All these things confirm to me that, like me she is socially liberal, my major concern was how she was on an economic policies.
In terms of jobs and the economy she mentioned some of the plans in her campaign literature; increasing the employer tax credit from $5000 to $1000, eliminating capital gains taxes on investments in micro-enterprises to empower entrepeneurs with innovative business ideas, doubling the money awarded to entrepeneurs through the small business innovation research programs. Now, unlike my dad, I dont hate these ideas, they just aren't the economic priorities I see of someone representing this district.
A major point in her speech was about how the biggest problem with the economy was the dysfunction in D.C. and the correlation that things will not get better until washington is fixed. ~ Now, I would consider myself a pessimist regarding the state of the economy but if I believed I had to wait for washington to be fixed before the economy turns around is I might become downright apocalyptical.
She supports a comprehensive immigration reform bill. Even when questioned by an unemployed constituent she reaffirmed her support of a "pathway" to citizenship (admitting aloud that noone likes the term amnesty). A mid 30's caucasion male asked about NAFTA and Saujani said she supports free trade. He followed up with a question about how fair the free trade was with all the subsidies countries provide. He gave an example agricultural products in america destroying the mexican farming industry.
I actually asked the last question, I dont know if I timed it right (I came after a heated exchange with a fellow who questioned her campaign financing), but here is what i said"
I grew up in this neighborhood and I am all for a changing of the guard, but I haven't heard how you would have changed the legislation that was passed in a more progressive manner. In terms of healthcare legislation, I wanted single payer, in terms of financial regulation i wanted a volker rule with teeth. I am sure you are a good democrat but i dont know if you are my type of democrat.
A response followed about how she wants to change things in washington and how she is in this race to help people, not to make money. She said she was for single payer and that we probably have alot in common. It was a really nice response and it made me feel good to hear it. No matter what happens in this race I am pretty sure she is going to go far in politics.
As I was leaving, A man in his 60's came up to me and asked me if I knew the candidate before and what was my impression of her. I said no I didnt know her and, in fact, going into the townhall I was sort of inclined against her from the stuff i had read. I had a discussion with him in the hallway where I went on about the things which i believe in, societal problems caused by income inequality, reinstating the "death" tax, increasing the capital gains tax rate. All these things which i didnt have the guts to say in my question to the candidate, i was unloading on this guy. At some point i said you know i just dont want someone representing this district who thinks the banks are being treated to tough. The rich in this country are not the ones who should be pitied. He replied,
"I am not really into political events or politics. I have been in this neighborhood a long time. My kids grew up here. You don't really take notice until things really start to fall apart around you. That is what happened to me. That is why I am here." He said he had a good impression of Saujani.
A carribean woman who used to work at beth israel came into our conversation and added "I am going to support her because I like the young people." She mentioned that she was empathetic to my over loud hallway comments," thirty years ago i realized that the rich have been taking it all, and I realized that i was going to have to work extra hard to take care of me and my family."