Jonathan Tasini emailed supporters to formally announce his candidacy for the congressional seat currently held by Rep. Charlie Rangel, whom Tasini says will cost Democrats seats across the nation.

Tasini:

But, on a number of issues, my vision will be different from the incumbent’s vision. I would oppose real estate developers and Columbia University, while the incumbent supported the Columbia expansion at the expense of Central Harlem residents. I have been a long-time opponent of so-called “Free trade”, while the incumbent  has supported many bad trade agreements including George W. Bush trade deals. And, frankly, sadly, if Charles Rangel is on the ballot in November as the 15th Congressional District’s nominee, he will cost the Democratic Party seats across the nation because his long list of ethical problems will be a highlight of Republican attack ads targeting the “Washington culture of corruption”.

Here’s the email:

I remain entirely energized about the mission to change our country and build a movement based on a vision of economic justice and a sharing of the great wealth of the nation.

But, at the urging of a wide circle of people, two days ago I decided to seek election to the House seat in a district I’ve lived in for 23 years: the 15th Congressional District. 

The dysfunction of our political system has caused the greatest robbery of our lifetime of the wealth of the country. There is an incredible rumbling across among voters who are fed up. They have a right to feel that way.

Throughout the 15th Congressional district, whether you live in my neighborhood of Washington Heights, or you live in Harlem or the Upper West Side, people have been robbed—of their jobs, retirement, health care and the simple notion that you can expect a fair deal. We have the greatest divide between rich and poor in 100 years. One in four children are on food stamps—in the nation with the greatest wealth in human history.

The response of the political system has been astonishing.  Every day voters can read something that makes one’s head shake: executives get away with destroying jobs and wealth—and get hired for government jobs. Politicians vote to pour tens of billions of dollars into immoral wars—money that should be spent at home—and then demand that the workers (public employees, for example) pay with their jobs for the foolishness that bankrupts our nation. Insurance companies that preyed on millions of people who sought decent, affordable health care will get billions of dollars in new windfall profits because our political system chose cowardice over the peoples’ right to have real health care. Immigrants are targeted—even though they are economic refugees, forced off their land by the same “free trade” and globalization strategy that has hurt workers everywhere.

And my own party, the Democratic Party, has been part of the dysfunction, kowtowing to an economic system that has been a stupendous, monumental failure.

Part of the dysfunction of that system means that legalized corruption—meaning, campaign contributions—becomes more important than values and ideas. Sadly, that is true in our state as well: my now former opponent lacks any principles other than how to win an election, witness her willingness to sell the U.S. Senate seat to the highest bidder, whether the campaign cash has come from anti-union companies or Goldman Sachs or other special interests that have hurt our state and country.

Despite believing, back when I started campaigning, that I could raise enough money to be heard statewide in the campaign for U.S. Senate, I could not. I am still hopeful that a candidate of principles will get into the U.S. Senate race and become the Democratic nominee so we can have a qualified, visionary individual who we know will have core values we can rely on.

I am excited about the possibility of campaigning to represent such a great, diverse district. Let me be 100 percent clear: every issue that I campaigned on to date will be precisely the message I bring to the House race. I believe that my vision for the district will be shared by people in every community.

I will use every opportunity to acknowledge my opponent’s positive contributions to our state and country. I salute his opposition to the Iraq War. I supported his attempt to re-institute a military draft because he was right: if this country was to go into an immoral, illegal war, the sacrifice should be shared throughout society, not just carried on the backs of the poor and communities of color.

But, on a number of issues, my vision will be different from the incumbent’s vision. I would oppose real estate developers and Columbia University, while the incumbent supported the Columbia expansion at the expense of Central Harlem residents. I have been a long-time opponent of so-called “Free trade”, while the incumbent  has supported many bad trade agreements including George W. Bush trade deals. And, frankly, sadly, if Charles Rangel is on the ballot in November as the 15th Congressional District’s nominee, he will cost the Democratic Party seats across the nation because his long list of ethical problems will be a highlight of Republican attack ads targeting the “Washington culture of corruption”.

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