Re: Harlem Politics

Okay, not so golden, then.

So what should we call it, Joe? Bronze? Brass? Whatever the metal in their currency, these were names who will go down in history for the fact that they succeeded in opening doors to power that had always been closed before to blacks. And that’s why I think it is so depressing to see it come to this.

Related Topics: basil paterson, charlie rangel, david dinkins, david paterson, harlem, joe klein, new york politics, Uncategorized
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  • 53_3

    It’s sad to see that old-time Chicago-style politics play such a large part in Black American affairs.
    .
    It gives the crackhead right yet another excuse to bloviate their constantly derogatory message about the Black community as a whole. I can just hear Limbaugh, O’Reilly, Hannity, et al, literally basking in the opportunity to dogwhistle their not-so-subtle messages.
    .
    One point might be, however, that this might be a legacy issue, as many of these are holdovers from the newly emergent Black political cadre that had less options available to them insofar as just how to play the game.
    .
    Growing pains????

  • davetoomey

    I guess the point is that it was great that Blacks finally got some of the opportunities that Whites took for granted, but unfortunate that many then committed the same abuses with them.

  • 53_3

    Shorter than my comments, and more to the point, for sure. In the ’60s and ’70s, that was how politics was played.

  • destor23

    There’s some context lacking in this discussion of Harlem and New York politics from the 70s-the early 90s… I mean, it’s not as if the white politicians who were often arrayed against these guys and the communities they represented played fair, is it? There was a lot of other corruption, some directed at Dinkins, Rangel, et al that at least needs to be mentioned. This discussion makes it sound like these leaders had a fair and equal shot at power and blew it all on graft. Not so. Not so at all.

  • 53_3

    I don’t know much about New York and “Harlem” politics, but I’m sure that they were stuck in the same situation all of us are in today, which is to play the game by the rules that existed at the time.
    .
    Let’s hope that the new blood that comes in will not be inured in the past…

  • spob

    KT, I think the point is that you romanticized these guys, and you got called out on it. Dinkins was not only a horrible mayor, he acted in ways that, to say the least, cannot be called racially-neutral, and someone paid with his life for that–his name was Yankel Rosenbaum. And if you want to take a look at real, unadulterated and raw racism–look at the crime of Lemrick Nelson and his acquittal. Dinkins appointed horrible people to various posts around the city, and real people suffered.
    .
    As for Rangel, the guy is a tax cheat. ‘Nuff said.
    .
    But hey, it was the “golden age”.

  • Ivy_B

    Speaking of Rangel and his living arrangements, Rachel had an interesting piece on Bart Stupak and his living arrangements. I would like to find a room in a townhouse blocks from the capitol with meals and maid service for $600 per month. Don’t think Rangel’s rent controlled deal was quite that good. The housing bit is about half way through.

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/35718576#35718090

  • freeinpa

    So what should we call it, Joe? Bronze? Brass?

    Brass but not the metallic kind. As expected the left defense is the old favorites flash the race card or look see what that Repub is doing. Somehow that is supposed to be the equivalent of decades of corruption.

    Pity poor Charley. He will be left with nothing but a million dollar plus tax payer funded pension.

  • lcky9

    Here’s the problem.. blacks seem to vote for people because of color.. not because of their values.. I was just in the city visiting and a friend of mine who is black is SO discussed with ALL politicians of all races.. As she points out as does do many others corruption, greed and low moral standards are NOT confined to ones color but ones beliefs and conduct.. Obama who she voted for she points out is NOT putting things in perspective. he is OBSESSED with health care when JOBS are the issue..and when it comes to jobs he’s OBSESSED with only creating GREEN jobs and NOT revisiting NAFTA as he promised in his campaigning. She also points out that black elected officials are just following OBAMA like a bunch of sheep.. Such as our senator Burris who doesn’t care about anything but his legacy and is hoping that following Obama will improve it. As for black leaders who are suppose to represent the black people she points out we have the legacy of Jessie Jackson and Rev Wright neither of which represents the working blacks in morals or beliefs.

  • http://hoboparty.com hoboduke

    It is not unusual to spend $500,000 of another guy’s money on vacation. I just want to get the Costa Rica adress to vacation at Charlie’s place. I will owe him $500,000, and we can pass it along.

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