The Iraq War As A Distraction . . . From The Battle Of Brooklyn

Perhaps I dismissed too hastily the power of Jack Murtha’s endorsement. I had no idea that the main issue for voters in the 11th Congressional District is the war in Iraq*. And the candidates are now tripping over themselves to prove that they’re more antiwar than the competition:

For the four Democrats running for Congress in central Brooklyn, there may be differing views on a host of subjects. But on one topic there is strong agreement: They all contend that the United States’ military involvement in Iraq is a bad thing and that the troops should be pulled out as soon as possible.

All the candidates contend that the war is an issue that could energize voters to support them. But with their unanimous opposition to the war, the candidates find themselves trying to outdo each other in fashioning themselves as the antiwar candidate in what has become the city’s most fiercely contested, unpredictable primary battle.

One candidate, Chris Owens, has recorded an antiwar song that he is trying to get radio stations to play. Another, City Councilwoman Yvette D. Clarke, trotted out an icon of the antiwar movement, Representative John P. Murtha, to appeal for votes in brownstone Brooklyn yesterday.

The 11th Congressional District includes neighborhoods like Park Slope and Prospect Heights, hotbeds of antagonism toward the Bush administration. And the candidates say these are areas where voter turnout is expected to be higher than in the rest of the district, and where the issue of Iraq looms large.

So each of the candidates has been looking for attention-worthy methods of playing the Iraq card. Those methods range from the traditional to the highly unconventional.

. . .

For his part, the younger Mr. Owens is not content to confine his outspoken opposition to the war to position papers on the Internet or mailings to voters. The song he composed and recorded, “Love Is the Way,” was originally written as a protest tune during the administration of President Ronald Reagan. But Mr. Owens has refashioned the tune in a fusion of Middle Eastern and reggae styles with lyrics demanding that President Bush withdraw the troops from Iraq.

Mr. Owens said that he was trying to get the song played “in stations that focus on young people,” adding that it could motivate younger voters to go to the polls for the Sept. 12 Democratic primary (the song opens with Mr. Owens, the lead vocalist on the recording, identifying himself).

. . .

For Mr. Yassky, the issue has been the centerpiece of three of his many mailings to voters. One piece states: “The best way to honor our troops is to bring them home.” “I have strong feeling about this war,” Mr. Yassky said yesterday. “But I must say, I haven’t recorded a song yet.”

You can download Chris Owens’ “Love Is The Way” by visiting his website.

*By the way, is there anyone in the country who wants more war in Iraq? And wouldn’t this have been a more substantive issue in, say, 2002?

Everything So Unexpected — The Way You Right And Left It*

Bloomberg acknowledges that he has nothing to gain by endorsing candidates this election cycle. But then he had to go and do this:

Mayor Bloomberg has made his feelings known about a top musical race, but he is staying out of the state races for governor and Senate, saying that his neutrality is what’s best for the city.

“I think because I’m the mayor, and I will have to work with whoever is elected,” Mr. Bloomberg told reporters yesterday, “it would be in the city’s interest if I just stay neutral.”

The mayor did make one major endorsement yesterday, throwing his considerable musical muscle behind Shakira in her bid for Video of the Year at tomorrow’s MTV Video Music Awards, which are being held at Radio City Music Hall. The Colombian pop star is up for the award for her hit single, “Hips Don’t Lie.” The other nominees are Madonna, Panic! At the Disco, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Christina Aguilera.

“I think I’m going to have to go with Shakira — those hips don’t lie,” Mr. Bloomberg said in a taped segment that aired yesterday on MTV’s popular video countdown show, “Total Request Live.”

. . .

Mr. Bloomberg is a registered Republican, but he has distanced himself from the party during his mayoralty, and Mr. Faso and the GOP candidates for Senate, John Spencer and Kathleen Troia “K.T.” McFarland, are well behind Mr. Spitzer and Mrs. Clinton in the polls. The mayor is seen as being close to Mr. Spitzer, the gubernatorial frontrunner.

Mr. Bloomberg’s flirtation with a presidential run also may have factored into his calculation, an Albany political analyst, Alan Chartock, said. “Clearly, he has a good relationship with Eliot Spitzer, but if he endorses him, he potentially damages his bona fides with Republicans, which he may need in case he runs for president on the Republican ticket,” Mr. Chartock said

*At least I refrained from the real cheap shot: “She Makes A Man Want To Speak Spanish.”

Clarke Wraps Up All-Important Murtha Endorsement

Your latest 11th Congressional District news . . . controversial Congressman Jack Murtha — who is on the right side of the Iraq War for a, er, primary in the 11th Congressional District but the wrong side of basically every other issue CD11 voters care about has endorsed (!) Yvette Clarke:

City Councilwoman Yvette Clarke (D-Flatbush), one of four Democratic hopefuls for the 11th congressional seat, announced a high-profile endorsement by Pennsylvania Rep. Jack Murtha, trumpeting him as a leading figure against the war in Iraq.

But Clarke’s opponents quickly pointed to Murtha’s anti-abortion stance and opposition to gun control.

. . .

Murtha earned an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association in 2004 for his votes against gun control — while most city reps got an “F.”

Murtha also earned a 0 out of 5 on a 2005 scorecard by the pro-choice group NARAL, compared to the 5s given to most city politicians.

“We’ll take the support of [Attorney General] Eliot Spitzer, [former Mayor] David Dinkins and Brooklyn’s teachers over a pro-gun, anti-choice, out-of-state congressman any day,” said state Sen. Carl Andrews’ spokeswoman Melissa DeRosa, referring to Andrews’ own endorsements in the race.

Clarke defended Murtha’s endorsement and said her own views on social issues are more important than Murtha’s.

“The voters know where I stand, and they’ll be voting for me on [Sept. 12].”

Opposition research . . . complete!

Meanwhile, David Yassky works hard to distance himself from one of the more controversial developers in Brooklyn (outside that one guy , of course):

Meanwhile, City Councilman David Yassky (D-Brooklyn Heights) came under fire for nearly allowing controversial Brooklyn architect Robert Scarano to host a fund-raiser for him that was slated for last night.

The event, to be held at Scarano’s DUMBO offices, was abruptly canceled yesterday following calls by the Daily News.

. . .

A Yassky campaign spokesman would not discuss why the Scarano fund-raising event was canceled except to say, “The campaign didn’t think it was appropriate.”

Yassky has come under fire in the past for taking money from developers, while Scarano has sparked criticism in some neighborhoods for building condos that critics say are too big.

Scarano also was investigated by the Buildings Department for allegedly unsafe practices following worker injuries. He settled with the city last month and agreed to forfeit signing off on his own building plans.

Is it that hard to run a campaign, people? Come on!

It’s Good To Be King

At least he doesn’t “always” use it to park illegally:

Former City Council Speaker Peter Vallone, who left public office more than 41/2 years ago, regularly uses an NYPD placard to park in illegal spots outside his private law office, the Daily News has found.

Last Wednesday, in the morning and the afternoon, The News spotted Vallone’s Cadillac DeVille parked in an illegal zone near his Astoria, Queens, office.

The sign read “No Parking 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday,” but an NYPD parking placard — a perk granted to Vallone by the city — protected him from getting a ticket.

“I try to use it [the placard] with discretion, but there possibly are times when I don’t,” said Vallone, who served as the Council’s speaker for more than a decade before term limits forced him from office in 2001.

“I don’t always park illegally,” he added. “I assure you of that.”

Vallone, 71, said he currently serves as an informal adviser to the mayor and the Council, but he acknowledged that he uses the placard for private reasons when parking outside his law office.

When told about complaints from people in the neighborhood who vehemently object to Vallone getting the special placard, the former speaker said, “I can understand that.”

“I do make make mistakes and I’ll try to correct it. I’m sorry,” he said.

But this is actually a time-honored tradition — sort of the way former Presidents get office space and a secret service detail:

Paul Browne, the NYPD’s top spokesman, said it’s the department’s “longstanding practice” to provide special parking placards to former mayors, former police commissioners and former City Council chiefs.

Browne said the placards expire annually, but he said these former officials are entitled to the special perk for life.

“It’s been the custom followed for many years,” he said, adding, “I don’t know the precise history.”

The Post Oppo Research Machine Chugs Along

After revealing yesterday that Yvette Clarke sort of overlooked not actually receiving her degree, the Post Oppo Research machine makes Chris Owens prove he didn’t put up fliers calling David Yassky a rat:

A black Brooklyn congressional candidate denied having anything to do with putting up fliers calling his Jewish opponent a rat.

During a debate last night, Chris Owens — the son of Rep. Major Owens, who is vacating the seat in the 11th District — was asked if he was connected to fliers addressed to “Nasty Yassky.”

The posters refer to City Councilman David Yassky, who has been accused of moving into the district to run among a crowded field of blacks and take advantage of a split vote. “We don’t need any more rats or roaches in the neighborhood,” they read.

The fliers were next to campaign posters for Owens, who said he hadn’t seen them. Councilwoman Yvette Clarke called Yassky an opportunist, while State Sen. Carl Andrews said he “has the right to run.”

Just two and-a-half weeks to go until the September 12 primary . . .