Initially and very briefly, I thought Carl Paladino might give Andrew Cuomo a run for his money. I figured his genuine anger, candor and his outsider status would be seen as refreshing by many New York voters. But that "Mr. Smith goes to Albany" Paladino was a figment of my imagination. The real Paladino was also mean, anti-gay, lacking in policy, and a bit of an ass-clown.
So where is the angry New Yorker supposed to park their vote? Maybe with Cuomo, but he's as close to an establishment candidate as there exists in the New York governor's race. Enter candidate Jimmy McMillian of the Rent is Too Damn High Party. This was him at the debate last night:
Yes, and yes! This is the candidate who tells it like it is, and is appealing. Sure, maybe he's appealing in the same way Oran "Juice" Jones was appealing in the way he talked smack to his girlfriend, but someone has to be passionate in this race! So, who is this future Governor?
According to the Rent is Too Damn High party website:
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Err, never mind. According to a five-year-old Gothamist post:
We went to James McMillan's profile, and his answers (to the three questions posed to all candidates) were extremely on point. We're reprinting them here exactly as they appear in the Voter Guide:
1. WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE IN THE CITY YOU WOULD ADDRESS IF ELECTED? RENT Is Too Damn High there is nothing else to talk about. All poor people are being ran out of New York.
2. WHAT OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES WOULD YOU ADDRESS IF ELECTED? RENT is Too Damn High there is nothing else to talk about.
3. WHAT MAKES YOU THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR THIS OFFICE? I am a Rent Activist with real solutions to the High Rent Crisis that is driving out of this City. That is what makes me the best candidate for this job.
This is a candidate who is focused on a legitimately important issue, and if elected, would no doubt work to lower rents for the struggling working class, poor, and middle class in New York State. Surely, this is anger we can get behind.
And, of course, his libertarian on gay marriage (or footwear marriage, if you please) is preferable to Paladino's.