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November 5, 2007
The Beep Bunch: Let the Mudslinging Begin
Looks like we’re in for two long years of sniping. Although the race for Brooklyn’s next borough president is in its infancy, the two politicians who’ve announced their candidacy to replace Marty Markowitz in ’09—councilmembers Charles Barron and Bill de Blasio—are already trading barbs, and the vituperative Barron has also slammed another possible candidate, Markowitz deputy Yvonne Graham. Unsurprisingly, Barron’s using the race card against both de Blasio and Graham, saying the former has sided “with the white power structure at City Hall” by voting against naming a street after Sonny Carson, and that Graham has been put into the race to divide the black vote. A de Blasio rep responded to Barron’s comment by saying that "voters will realize that Bill is the only candidate who can unite all of Brooklyn and represent everybody." Meanwhile, a number of other politicians are also considering joining the fray, including Chris Owens, Sen. Carl Kruger, Assemblyman Nick Perry, City Councilman Michael Nelson, and Sen. Velmanette Montgomery.
Eight Politicians Weigh Run to be New Brooklyn President [NY Daily News]
Barron as Boro Prez: The Implications for Brooklyn? [Brownstoner]
De Blasio Announces Run For Borough Prez [Brownstoner]
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Comments
Just because someone brings up the issue of race doesn't mean they are "playing the race card" which implies they are simply trying to inflame racist feelings. Certainly there is racism in this city and racial inequality and it is important for these not to be ignored. That is not to say I think Charles Barron is right on every question, but rather than just dismiss any statement about racism from a black person as playing the race card, it would be much more useful to actually discuss and analyze the issues at hand.
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 9:36 AM
Barron in my opinion is a race baiting incompetent. Everything is a racial issue to him and his moronic record speaks for itself. The people who vote for him are in the same boat as the idiots who re-elected Marion Barry in DC and the other idiot mayor in New Orleans. These communities consistently get screwed over by these person but they still vote for them. Go ahead now say Im a racist. The black communites need to vote for people who really care, not those who pretend too.
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 9:51 AM
Go Chris!
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 9:54 AM
Barron is a racist.
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 10:09 AM
Barron has beautiful blue eyes.
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 10:12 AM
Just WHEN will we be able to put the race issue to bed, permanently?
Posted by: BrooklynCouch at November 5, 2007 11:18 AM
When we all of the racists die Brooklyn Couch.
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 11:38 AM
Couch:
If I might quote Tupac:
"We can't have peace til the niggaz get a piece too."
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 12:51 PM
Oh please, politicians like Barron are using the race card merely to get votes, and therefore USING the people of their own race. Only to never deliver on any promises. Race-baiting shows Barron is merely a whore for attention. Oh and like his attitude and actions are REALLY going to actually work, to get the communities he says he represents, what they want and need. Right. The Mayor's office is going to be super impressed with all the insults flung at them.
Try using logic not emotion once in a while.
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 1:20 PM
Why does Chris Owens bother? Crazy Barron stands a better chance of winning than he does.
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 1:36 PM
It will be a very fun race indeed.
Barron promising to whip the White Devil into shape and DiBlasio parading his mixed children around to prove he is a unifier.
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 2:10 PM
All three are quite marginal, at best, which is quite fitting since the borough president's office is largely ceremonial.
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 2:12 PM
Its a dead office anyway, really means nothing
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 2:31 PM
10:12, you wrote:
"Barron has beautiful blue eyes."
Now THAT is a racist statement!!
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 4:41 PM
Barron is a long-term supporter of teaching Ebonics in the public school system.
This man knows whereof he speaks.
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 4:43 PM
Barron is a racist, plain and simple. If he was white and said these things he would have been forced to resign right away. But of course our society is to politically correct or afraid to confront black racists like him.
P.S. All people have the capacity to be racists not just whites.
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 9:21 PM
Barron is a race-baiting political hack. He has done nothing to improve my neighborhood, that he represents. Although the post is ceremonial, Brooklyn deserves better than a second rate piece of useless trash like Barron.
4:41: Mentioning someone's eye color does not make them racist. Nor does it make them a Nazi, so don't go there either.
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 10:18 PM
Barron is a racist, plain and simple. If he was white and said these things he would have been forced to resign right away. But of course our society is to politically correct or afraid to confront black racists like him.
P.S. All people have the capacity to be racists not just whites.
Posted by: guest at November 5, 2007 9:21 PM
Since when were we politically correct?
Posted by: guest at November 7, 2007 5:38 PM
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