Landmarks Preservation Commission Clears Way for Ground Zero Mosque, New York's Elected Officials Uncharacteristically Silent

In atypical fashion, many of New York's national elected officials have kept mum on the decision by New York City's Landmarks Preservation Commission to not grant 45-47 Park Place landmark status, clearing the way for what has been dubbed the "Ground Zero Mosque." In reality, the Cordoba House will be a multi-functional building with a mosque in it. Additionally, Muslim prayer groups have been meeting at the current building since last year with no trouble at all. Nate and I have already talked about our feelings on the mosque.

Really Harold Ford?

Let me start this post off by saying that both Senator Gillibrand and Harold Ford are, in my mind, less-than-ideal candidates. Forced to choose, however, I would have gone with Ford. Despite his socially conservative voting record when he was a Tennessee congressman, his about-face in terms of gay marriage and abortion, even if insincere, would be something he would have had to stay true to if he wanted a second term because of the attention it garnered. I see Gillibrand as a rookie thrown into the major leagues before being fully prepared, essentially following Chuck Schumer around like a lost puppy trying to find her bearings. I was looking forward to a primary in which Gillibrand's lackluster and un-noteworthy performance in the Senate was challenged.

Obviously that will not be happening because Ford has, surprisingly in my opinion, dropped out of the race for the Democratic primary before even entering it. Despite his tough talk about taking on party bosses and the change rhetoric, Ford has, in the end, turned out to be just like any other politician, hedging his bets while trying to come out on top. Essentially, it all comes down to money, as there is no way he would be able to catch up to Gillibrand's coffers, even with all of his rich friends.

But what I found most disingenuous about the way Ford handled this whole thing is the way he's leaving it. He states that he left because he does not want to damage the party in a rough-and-tumble primary, stating, "I refuse to do anything that would help Republicans win a Senate seat in New York, and give the Senate majority to the Republicans."

His actions, however, speak differently. In phone calls with supporters and those who had urged him to run, he said that while he would have won the primary, he's not going to try. The same way I could beat Lebron James 1-on-1, but I feel I don't have to prove it.

Ford also has allowed advisers of his to trash Gillibrand, stating that privately several upstate mayors question her ability, and he even stated himself that voters cannot "name a single positive outcome from her." This is not really talk that weakens the yet-unnamed Republican opponent.

Ford would have faced a tough primary with Gillibrand, and he knows it, hence why he is not running. If he truly felt he could win, you think he'd be sitting on the sidelines? He just does not want to go into it and come out a loser. So he thinks talking trash from the stands is a better move for his image.

So Gillibrand seems to be in smooth waters for the Democratic nomination (New York is not exactly breeding winners at the moment). So unless she kicks back and allows some Republican hunk with a cool jacket and a pickup truck from a failed car company to out-campaign her, it looks like Gillibrand will become an elected senator.

Photo - Harold Ford looking pensive (MediaBistro)

Why Must Every New York Democrat Meet with Al Sharpton?

In newly minted junior senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand's first visit to the Big Apple since Governor Paterson's announcement that she will take over Madame Secretary of State Clinton's vacant Senate seat, her first stop was Al Sharpton's National Action Network. I understand the new senator's desire to win over black New Yorkers (her district upstate is only 2.7% black), but why Sharpton? Sure, a lot of people think he is a good leader for the black community, but has he won any political office?

Sharpton brings a lot of issues to the public's eye - issues that need to be discussed. But Sharpton as a messenger is not always seen as beneficial. One particular incident, and I've discussed this in the past, has completely illegitimized Sharpton as a public figure and he would better serve his community if he allowed someone else to be the face of NAN and he mentored this person behind the scenes. I do not see this happening because Sharpton (in my humble opinion) likes being the center of attention. That one particular incident I was referring to above is the Tawana Brawley fiasco. Sharpton's refusal to admit that he got took and his further refusal to apologize to those whose lives he put in turmoil shows his disregard for common sense and the rare, but necessary, human characteristic of knowing when you're wrong and admitting it. Sharpton is human and he makes mistakes, but his denial of them shows his dangerous hubris.

So given Sharpton's hard-headedness, why must every New York Democrat sit down with this guy? When Caroline Kennedy appeared to be the frontrunner (at least in the media's eyes) for Clinton's seat, she had to sit down with Sharpton at Sylvia's. Yeah, because eating at a soul food restaurant with a black reverend shows that you have credibility with black folks. Is this just bossism in the 21st century? You want black votes/support, you go to Harlem for an afternoon and sit down with their Tweed? I refuse to believe that a) the ability to sit down with Sharpton for a meal in Harlem gives you an epiphanic look into the lives of black people or that b) said black people buy into the fact that sitting down with Sharpton makes a politician credible in the black community.


So again, I pose this question: why must every New York Democrat meet with Al Sharpton? He is not the Moses of the black community, nor is he even an elected official. Gillibrand met with elected Queens officials post-Sharpton, and I'm not griping about that because these are folks who have been elected by constituents and who are colleagues of Gillibrand's because of their public servant status. Sharpton would have so much more credibility if he had not made the Brawley blunder. So while some of what Sharpton does these days is good, it is all overshadowed by his overbearing pride and refusal to admit mistakes. Peace.

Photos - Al Sharpton (Wikipedia)