My Wife Responds to the NY Times
My wife predicted many months ago that the NY Times would endorse Yassky. But she was still pissed when it happened. So, she wrote the Times a lengthy letter. Since it didn't get published by the Times I will post it here. Mind you, my wife has had letters published in the Times at least six or seven times, more often than anyone else I personally know. Here's her response to the NY Times:
Although I fully expected it, I am disheartened to see that the Times has endorsed David Yassky's bid for Congress in the 11th District.
I live in Mr. Yassky's council district, and I disagree that his record in the Council has been as great as you say. "Job creation" and "affordable housing" are just buzzwords meaning "I support Atlantic Yards and take money from Ratner." Mr. Yassky has fallen flat on other issues that are important to the district, such as voting machine technology. Despite the fact that the question of which machines New York City will choose is directly before the Council, at a CD 11 candidate's form earlier this year, Mr. Yassky said "I don't care" when asked his position on the issue.
Moreover, Mr. Yassky is not free of the taint of the Brooklyn machine, as indicated by his endorsement of Sampson for Brooklyn DA last year. Sampson was the machine candidate running for the sole purpose of dropping Joe Hynes' case against former County Committee Chair Clarence Norman. I personally asked Mr. Yassky about this endorsement and he was unable to give a reason for it other than he didn't want to support Joe Hynes. If that was the case, and his endorsement was purely for protest reasons, why didn't he endorse Mark Peters? Perhaps he was trying to curry favor with the machine.
I also take issue with your statement that Chris Owens lacks passion and a political base. I am a member of the executive committe of Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats, the club primarily representing the 44th and 57th Assembly Districts, as well as parts of neighboring districts. CBID endorsed Chris in the race for the 11th CD, which in my opinion, constitutes a political base. Moreover, Independent Neighborhood Democrats, in the heart of Yassky's district, endorsed him by such a narrow margin that it took three separate ballots for Mr. Yassky to receive a majority of the votes. Further, IND is so divided that a number of its board members have resigned for the duration of the campaign season so that they can campaign for Chris Owens. Hardly a ringing endorsement of Mr. Yassky!
As for passion, Chris Owens is the only candidate who really understands that Democrats need to change the relationship between citizenry and government - that government should serve the people, not the other way around. Mr. Yassky takes it as a given that special interests run government, and is unable to even perceive that this is not the way government should be run. I have spoken extensively with both candidates, and it is my opinion that Chris is the only one who has the vision and passion necessary to help put our country back on the path to becoming the America of our cherished ideals. Mr. Yassky has lost that vision, if he ever had it.
I will note that although it is true that some IND board members resigned to work for Chris (something that IND, unlike many clubs) allows its board members to do, this was ultimately made moot by the fact that many MORE board members had to resign to work for Spitzer. The endorsement of Yassky was more vocally divisive, but in the end the endorsement of Suozzi was tougher on the club's efforts.
Bookmark/Search this post with:
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
| 
2006 Elections | New York Times | Politics | Brooklyn | CD-11 | Chris Owens | David Yassky | Democratic Party
My wife never thinks they will be published
Submitted by mole333 on 1 September 2006 - 6:25pm.
My wife has written several letters to the NYT and never thinks they will get published. I'd say nearly 50% of them do get in.
Kudos
Submitted by Bouldin on 1 September 2006 - 7:24pm.
Totally on point. I can't imagine how many of these letters - and enraged phone calls - the Times must be getting.
Suing The New York Times for Election-Rigging
Submitted by Elena Ruth Sassower (not verified) on 2 September 2006 - 3:51am.
The New York Times' knowingly false and misleading editorializing and reporting are the subject of a first-of-its kind public interest lawsuit against it for journalistic fraud.
As the media have entirely suppressed coverage of this politically-explosive landmark case, check out the details for yourself on the website of the non-partisan, non-profit citizens' organization, Center for Judicial Accountability, Inc. -- wwww.judgewatch.org. See the sidebar panel, "Suing The New York Times".
Elena Ruth Sassower, Director
Cener for Judicial Accountability, Inc. (CJA)
Tel: 914-421-1200
Direct E-mail: judgewatchers@aol.com
Perhaps...
Submitted by mole333 on 2 September 2006 - 9:24am.
Well, I agree that the NY Times has to a large extent abdicated it's journalistic responsibility in recent years. However, I question your choice of places to start. The NY Times has been an example of mediocre journalism. However, the company most responsible for out right lies and misleading editorializing is Fox News. Shouldn't you be starting with the absolute most absurd examples of lies and partisanship rather than merely mediocre journalism.
I also think you would get a far more enthusiastic response if your lawsuit were aimed at Fox News.
great letter
Submitted by Queen Bee (not verified) on 2 September 2006 - 1:50pm.
Great letter to the Times. However, the Times endorsent was not a surprise. What is a surprise is the endorsement of the Brooklyn Papers which has maintained a very criticle eye towards the Atlantic Yards project. They endorsed Yassky over Chris Owens claiming that Chris is a starry-eyed idealism. Hunh?
Does that mean he has values and integrity?
http://www.brooklynpapers.com/html/issues/_vol29/29_34/29_34nets6.html
Despite the fact of the below criticism of the ever flip-flopping David, the BP still chose Yassky as their pick for the 11th. They failed to mention that Yassky was responsible for the delandmarking of a historic building in Williamsburg.
"We’re not pleased by the strong support he receives from developers who fill his campaign war chest. Or with the fact that he moved to New York City from Washington, D.C. after the imposition of term-limits created open seats on the Council — or that he again moved so that he would reside within the 11th District before running for the seat.
But while Yassky has been supportive of development, he has also listened to the critics of the Atlantic Yards project. Yes, he supports Bruce Ratner building at that site, but at last week’s state public hearing he reiterated his position that the development must be halted if it is not scaled back."
Atlantic Yards
Submitted by rwallnerny on 2 September 2006 - 2:26pm.
The Atlantic Yards project is a local issue, it will not directly concern anyone in congress. Therefore it is not an issue that should dictate who to vote for in the 11th CD race. Whoever gets the seat won't have the power to do anything about that project. It should be a paramount consideration in voting for who to send for city hall or albany however, because that is where those decisions will be made.
I am much more concerned about Yassky's equivocating on the Iraq war and the middle east. He is more likely to be another Joe Lieberman than another Major Owens. Will Yassky be too moderate on other issues?
I also think that the Times and the Brooklyn Papers may have had the same issue in not knowing Chris Owens personally and not having something concrete, like a voting record, to go by in defining him. The Times could not convince themselves that Chris wouldn't be part of the Kings County party machine, because his dad has been party of it in recent years. We can take Chris's word for it, and our own gut instincts because we know him, but these media outlets making endorsements-- if they are being responsible-- are, and should be, looking for more substantial proof. If the Times had spent a lot of time with Chris, as opposed to one editorial board meeting, maybe they'd have endorsed him. I guess we'll never know..
Other endorsements
Submitted by rwallnerny on 2 September 2006 - 2:31pm.
Other endorsements can be as crucial as newspaper endorsements. Such as Yassky just getting endorsed by the Crown Heights Political Action Committee - the political arm of the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council. An endorsement Carl Andrews badly wanted. If this is pushed in the synagogues and temples this saturday and next, you can safely predict a heavy turnout in the hasidic communities for Yassky on primary day, which in an otherwise low turnout election, could be an important factor.
Great letter. Sigh.
Please convey my appreciation to your wife for a really outstanding and authoritative letter. Of course it will never get printed, since they only print letters of 150+ words if they're from God's second cousin, but I do hope someone other than the email screener got to see it.
I always shoot for publication when I write them, since I assume that anything they decide not to publish gets read by maybe 2 people, neither of them being Gail Collins.