Brooklyn's 10th
A correspondent with labor ties offers this take on a potential challenge to Brooklyn Congressman Edolphus Towns:
There's a lot of personal affection for Charles Barron among the unions that would like to punish Ed Towns for voting for the Central America Free Trade Agreement and being absent on important, close budget votes. But there's not a lot of confidence at the moment that Charles can win. Unions continue to search for a candidate with greater fundraising strength and greater electoral appeal in Brooklyn Heights, Fort Greene and Williamsburg, and hope that Charles might reconsider running if he sees a stronger candidate emerge (as he, gracefully, for example, did to support Virginia Fields).Between organized labor and online groups*, there's a significant amount of money available for a viable challenger against Towns (who really is viewed as a sellout). Defeating Towns would send a message of discipline that would be heard throughout the House Democratic caucus.
But Charles has a chicken-and-egg problem. He can't win without *at least* $500k, but he probably can't raise $500k unless there is confidence he can win.
On the other hand, even an under-funded Barron effort would give Towns a scare and force him to work hard for re-election - and keep him from straying from a progressive, pro-labor agenda. And that would be no small accomplishment.
*You've probably seen that the netroots have raised $130k for Henry Cuellar's Democratic primary challenger: http://www.actblue.com/list/CiroforCongress
Let's run Towns out of town. Let's stop talking the same old nonsense and help this progressive brother raise the money he needs to defeat this absentee, corrupt Democratic clubhouse cronie, CAFTA-voting, out-of-touch, no-legislation, same ol', same ol' BS politician who has been pimping too many far too long.
IT'S TIME FOR TOWNS TO GO.
IN FACT IT'S OVERTIME.
In fact, Towns isn't in the clubhouse. He's alienated even them.
Can't Mugabe contact other tyrants to raise $ for Charles?
Aside from the Mugabe invitation, which, while an aesthetic blunder does not reflect one way or another on his work representing his district, why not support Barron? And if not Barron, who else?
Labor does not need to beat Towns to win this race; all they need to do is prove that anyone who defies them buys themselves a well-financed primary opponent. Most members are risk adverse and will draw the obvious conclusion. But, if that opponent is not well financed they will have hurt themseleves.
On the other hand, if they succeed in electing Charles Barron to Congress, they will be hurting the Democratic party worse than anything Towns ever did (or did not do). Barron's every outrageous, racist statement will be a millstone hung around the neck of Democrats everywhere while his picture will be featured in every Republican fundraising request. He is a big Christmas gift to the RNC.
Ed Towns is the political equivalent of indigestion; Charles Barron is a heart attack.
Bring back Barry Ford!
I am sure Giff would love that.
4:34:
Agreed; although in his heart of hearts, Ford is a Harvard Yuppie who probably dislikes protectionism (not that would stop him from dancing to labor's music). Also, he was found guilty without a trial by Giff Miller and fired (although today that might get him sixty volunteers)
Calling support for a mudering, racist homophobic tyrant "an aesthetic blunder" is priceless. What "work" peformed by Barron mitigates this?
Yoda: Mugabe makes the trains run on time. If you were a Zimbabwan Straphanger that would mean alot to you.
ed towns was smart for endorsing charles hynes. he has more indictable skeletons in his closet that it makes clarence norman look like a choir boy. that is rev.towns for you. in a head up race with barron, towns takes 60% of the vote if barron is even smart enough to make it onto the ballot.
ed towns was smart for endorsing charles hynes. he has more indictable skeletons in his closet that it makes clarence norman look like a choir boy. that is rev.towns for you. in a head up race with barron, towns takes 60% of the vote if barron is even smart enough to make it onto the ballot.
People - Charles Barron is not the only candidate in the race, and there is NO WAY he will raise $500k. Who in their right mind would write him a big check? None of the buppies living in his district would EVER consider giving him a dime. I know I wouldn't. And he cannot win without people with money. Period.
Barron is a racist and possibly a homophobe. He culd be the only canidate to make Towns look attractive. He delivers nothing to his district expect his big mouth. There is no clearer example of double standards in politics than Barron. He should have been run out of town on a rail for his slapping white people comment, but it was barely notices. If some white pol had brought a dictatorial genocidal leader to the Council, they would have been censured and removed. Barron's reward should be Congress? The only winners in that would be his Council colleagues who would no longer have to put up with his racist BS.
Woody: I don't remember you backing SONDA beofre Clarence beat you in '82.
Anyway; there is a case that Roger Green also makes Ed Towns look attractive. As rj's post demonstrates, plenty of people THINK Ed Towns is a crook, but we KNOW that Roger is. But, I'm sure you'd agree with me that even Roger is preferable to Barron.
Seems a shame though, after all his multiple offenses, some of which I've documented at length, that Towns could get tossed from office for reading Thomas Friedman.
Gate, I doubt that it is really Woodie Lewis commenting. Just like it's not the original Beadie Markowitz.
When Barron wins I hope he makes all you rednecks kiss his ring.
You guys have no pulse on the black community.
Barron is the most popular black politican in New York City. Case closed.
IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE THIS ASK ANY ONE WHO WENT TO ALBANY LAST WEEKEND.
Woody states: "If some white pol had brought a dictatorial genocidal leader to the Council, they would have been censured and removed." Obviously, that is not the case, I personally witnessed genocidal war criminal Henry Kissinger leaving City Hall recently following a hug fest with Bloomberg. Need I say more?
Jerry: you mean like Sam Plotkin, Lila Yagerman, Harry Maze, John Rooney, Peter Mirto, Sam Berman, Steingut, Fred Meyerson, Jack Kranis and company? Gee, I hadn't noticed.
Baron is probably one of the most progressive black politicians in New York. You all seem to live very disconnected comfortable lives, in which you probably avoid the kinds of areas that he represents. So I don't expect you to have any kind of practical understanding of the plight of lower-income blacks in the 10th district. You are more concerned with what Barron's militancy means for the Democratic Party, than what his candidacy could mean for his constituents. You purse-hugging liberals (you know, the kind that say they have black friends) just don't get it and never will.
I am shocked anyone could vote for Barron. He is a flat out racist. Funny the black community seems ok with racism as long as its working in their favor
I am shocked anyone could vote for Barron. He is a flat out racist. Funny the black community seems ok with racism as long as its working in their favor
I am shocked anyone could vote for Barron. He is a flat out racist. Funny the black community seems ok with racism as long as its working in their favor
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Barron will win. Forget it. He's way too popular in NY. Green shouldn't even be running with his embarassing career. Barron took out Powell single-handedly. It's funny watching whites compare their history with blacks. Our militant leaders will always stay on the right side, as long as change needs to come. thank God for Barron
Barron will win. Forget it. He's way too popular in NY. Green shouldn't even be running with his embarassing career. Barron took out Powell single-handedly. It's funny watching whites compare their history with blacks. Our militant leaders will always stay on the right side, as long as change needs to come. thank God for Barron
Barron will win. Forget it. He's way too popular in NY. Green shouldn't even be running with his embarassing career. Barron took out Powell single-handedly. It's funny watching whites compare their history with blacks. Our militant leaders will always stay on the right side, as long as change needs to come. thank God for Barron
"Our militant leaders will always stay on the right side..."
Yeah, like supporting dictators in Africa and lunatic policies at home. "Free the Land" indeed. Free it from the lunatic fringe that supports Barron.
whats all this barron bashing , thats the problem with you guys you are republicats, besides who cares what the rnc is doing . frankly has it not been for charles barron i would not be voting at all the democratic party needs to9 get back to its baseand stop being republicrats