Michael Benjamin had an interesting column in this (Friday) morning’s New York Post about how Malcolm Smith would be the wrong candidate for the Republicans to put up for New York City mayor.
A former state legislator turned NY Post editorial board member, thought-leader, public affairs consultant and commentator, columnist and blogger. Michael has appeared on Al Jazeera America Tonight, NY1/Inside City Hall, FoxNews.com LIVE, YNN/Capital Tonight, The Brian Lehrer Show, The Fred Dicker Show, The Capitol Press Room, and The Daily Show. His op-eds have appeared in the NY Post, City and State, The Legislative Gazette, Bronx Times, The Troy Record, Buffalo News, and the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
To schedule speaking engagements, email MBenjamin9@optimum.net.
Michael, I prefer my kool-ade grape with lots of sugar, how do you like yours? I ask because your calculation of the demographics of a “fusion” candidate and the viability of one is absurd, so it must a be cult thing. In New York City, a fusion candidate is endorsed by multiple parties, like Mayor John Lindsey’s Republican/Liberal alliance. In later years, Guiliani, a Republican, purchased the Liberal Party slate from Ray Harding who was rewarded with campaign money and a job for his corrupted pedophile son and others. Bloomberg, same formula, except in his bogus third term run he barely won after spending $100 million and one of the lowest turnouts in history, about 22 percent. He also suppressed the black “conservative” church vote by buying them off with donations to their development corporations, thus Rev. Calvin Butts and Rev. Floyd Flake, for example, refused to endorse the very qualified black candidate who just happened to be the city’s Comptroller, Bill Thompson. Malcolm’s effort was doomed from the start since he apparently did not solidify the Republicans, they destroyed his plan from the outset. The religious coalition of “evangelical Christians” and orthodox Jews is such a stretch, I cannot fathom how you believe they will work together to attract NYers without their first throwing up at their sanctimony and subjective “moral purity” which is anathema to most NYers who do not live even a barely observant church going lifestyle. I believe you over-estimate the electoral strength of these constituencies, and what appeals to them in a Mayor. For the most part, they want what every other player wants, money for their not-for-profits to service their members and become rich and powerful financed by the tax payers. Having worked in enough NYC campaigns and listened to their “demands” not once did social issues like abortion and school prayer come up, it was all about the money. At the risk of being “blasphemous”, I respectfully offer that when meeting with these leaders, spare them the hymns and just hum “C.R.E.A.M (Cash Rules Everything Around Me)”. And yes, I will take cream with my kool-ade.
Conservative Black Chick
Run mike run
Sent from my iPad
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For what? My life? 🙂
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Michael, I prefer my kool-ade grape with lots of sugar, how do you like yours? I ask because your calculation of the demographics of a “fusion” candidate and the viability of one is absurd, so it must a be cult thing. In New York City, a fusion candidate is endorsed by multiple parties, like Mayor John Lindsey’s Republican/Liberal alliance. In later years, Guiliani, a Republican, purchased the Liberal Party slate from Ray Harding who was rewarded with campaign money and a job for his corrupted pedophile son and others. Bloomberg, same formula, except in his bogus third term run he barely won after spending $100 million and one of the lowest turnouts in history, about 22 percent. He also suppressed the black “conservative” church vote by buying them off with donations to their development corporations, thus Rev. Calvin Butts and Rev. Floyd Flake, for example, refused to endorse the very qualified black candidate who just happened to be the city’s Comptroller, Bill Thompson. Malcolm’s effort was doomed from the start since he apparently did not solidify the Republicans, they destroyed his plan from the outset. The religious coalition of “evangelical Christians” and orthodox Jews is such a stretch, I cannot fathom how you believe they will work together to attract NYers without their first throwing up at their sanctimony and subjective “moral purity” which is anathema to most NYers who do not live even a barely observant church going lifestyle. I believe you over-estimate the electoral strength of these constituencies, and what appeals to them in a Mayor. For the most part, they want what every other player wants, money for their not-for-profits to service their members and become rich and powerful financed by the tax payers. Having worked in enough NYC campaigns and listened to their “demands” not once did social issues like abortion and school prayer come up, it was all about the money. At the risk of being “blasphemous”, I respectfully offer that when meeting with these leaders, spare them the hymns and just hum “C.R.E.A.M (Cash Rules Everything Around Me)”. And yes, I will take cream with my kool-ade.
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I live in Bloomberg’s NYC. No sugar allowed. Make mine Jack Daniels neat. But I don’t think I’m bleary-eyed, officer.
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