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WFP goes with De Blasio
The consolidation continues; WFP announced late today that it would endorse Councilman Bill De Blasio for Public Advocate.
The Working Families Party announced today the endorsement of Councilmember Bill de Blasio for New York City Public Advocate, noting his career-long leadership on the issues that matter to working people. Brad Lander was also endorsed in the race for de Blasio’s Brooklyn Council seat.
“Bill has spent his life taking on and winning the tough fights,” said Bob Master, Working Families Party Co-Chair. “Whether it is making sure our schools get their fair share of funding, workers have the right to join a union, or big developers build affordable housing, Bill de Blasio has always been there for working families when it counts.”
Master continued: “There are a lot of great candidates in this race, but Bill de Blasio is a cut above when it comes to sticking up for regular New Yorkers – and that’s what the Public Advocate job is all about.”
“In this city, there’s no more consistent voice for the middle-class and no bigger grassroots force than the Working Families Party, and I’m incredibly proud to have their support,” said Bill de Blasio. “Together, we can make sure that even in America’s biggest city the voice of the public is heard in the halls of power.”
The endorsement of de Blasio came after a two-thirds majority vote by the WFP’s New York City Coordinating Council.
Yeah
With Norm Siegel and Mark Green in this race, WFP is basically showing they ONLY care about money. Period. This is why I have no respect for WFP. I mean I like Tish James and I donated to WFP several years ago, but way too often I completely disagree with them because all they care about is who has the money. I like Bill. Personally I like him a lot. But there is no way in hell I think he should be PA. I think Bill for PA is completely wrong. And I have heard some rumors about possible WFP endorsements in other races this very year where the main consideration seems to be money, money, money.
So, just what the hell does WFP care about other than money? Over the years I have been unconvinced that they care about anything else. Which is why I stopped donating to them.
try not to overreact
The WFP and DeBlasio go way back. Sometimes groups endorse the person they know the best and have a relationship with. Try not to overreact when it happens.
Re: try not to overreact
Yeah, maybe. But honestly, more often than not I am disappointed in WFP.
Re: Yeah
Who do you think, then, is better suited for the job of Public Advocate?
Re: WFP goes with De Blasio
I must agree with mole. They've made too many of these endorsements in the past for me to expect anything different. And their endorsement of Lander proves that they're consistent, if nothing else.
Re: WFP goes with De Blasio
WFP is an issues-oriented party that, unsurprisingly, prefers winning to losing. Are Green and Siegel and Skaller better on WFP issues than de Blasio and Lander? Do they have more of what it takes to win? Are they better equipped to engineer success once in office?
Re: WFP goes with De Blasio
In how many races has WFP been the margin of victory? Where have they made a difference?
Scott Stringer got a lot of help in 2005 (about $300,000 worth, if the CFB report is accurate), and maybe -- maybe -- WFP made a difference, but probably not, since he won by over seven points (26.8% to 17.5% for Moscowitz).
In 2008, Dan Squadron would have won without them. So would Joe Addabbo and Brian Foley. Meanwhile, they lost several other races upstate, some of which were close before WFP got involved, and close-but-no-cigar afterward.
WFP campaigned in several Council districts against extending term limits; did they win any votes? Perhaps they did get one, but I can't tell you where.
Democracy for NYC (Full disclosure: I am an Organizer with DFNYC) has been ridiculed for backing losers and not making a difference. But WFP has a lot more money, gets a lot more press -- and has a track record that is ... what? Irrelevant? (For the record, DFNYC volunteers helped get John Hall elected in 2006.)
So WFP announces some endorsements. Seriously, what difference does it make?
Re: WFP goes with De Blasio
Raising the statewide minimum wage. Living wage laws in several counties. The first Rockefeller Drug Law reform. Beating back the property tax cap. Now, putting fair share tax reform in play and drumming for the repeal of vacancy decontrol. That, I believe, is the WFP record.