Jimmy McMillan, the New York man who is perhaps best known for declaring “the rent is too damn high” during a 2010 gubernatorial debate, is endorsing Anthony Weiner in the city’s Democratic primary.
In an email sent to the Huffington Post’s Michael McLaughlin and other reporters late Monday night, McMillan accused other mayoral candidates of being too focused on Weiner’s sexting scandal and suggested that, although Weiner “clearly has some personal issues he needs to address right now … he’s more focused on the issues.”
“I said it once and I’ll say it again: We’re all freaky, Mr. McLaughlin, and Weiner just exposed his freaky-ism in the wrong way,” McMillan wrote. “The Democratic and Republican candidates have chosen to waste their energy condemning Weiner for his personal problems, and in doing so have managed to draw attention away from what’s really at stake: the issues of the people and the problems affecting ordinary citizens of New York City.”
McMillan specifically criticized the other candidates and city officials for not doing enough about the CBS blackout on Time Warner Cable.
“I’m not here to prioritize Carlos Danger over issues like soaring rent prices, and I seriously question the integrity of any candidate who would,” McMillan wrote. “How come our elected officials aren’t standing up to say ‘enough is enough.’ Under no circumstances is it acceptable for petty disputes between monopolistic media giants to continue at the expense of ordinary citizens.”
McMillan, who is something of a perennial candidate, has said he is running for mayor on his own “Rent Is Too Damn High” party line and could end up on the ballot against the winner of next month’s Democratic primary in November’s general election.
After McMillan initially expressed support for Weiner earlier this month, RNN-TV reporter Dominic Carter asked Weiner for a reaction to the endorsement. Weiner seemed less than enthused.
“Are you being serious?” Weiner asked. “My reaction to Jimmy McMillan’s quote? I don’t have one.”
Read McMillan’s full Weiner endorsement email below:
From: James McMillan
Date: August 5, 2013 10:37:20 PM EDT
To: [Redacted]
Subject: Why I Would Endorse Weiner
I said it once and I’ll say it again: We’re all freaky, Mr.
McLaughlin, and Weiner just exposed his freaky-ism in the wrong way.
My endorsement of Weiner in the Democratic Primaries for New York City
mayor is a simple matter. The Democratic and Republican candidates
have chosen to waste their energy condemning Weiner for his personal
problems, and in doing so have managed to draw attention away from
what’s really at stake: the issues of the people and the problems
affecting ordinary citizens of New York City. Again, the Democratic
and Republican candidates are not focusing on the issues; they’re
wasting time and money focusing on Anthony Weiner’s personal life.
They’re busy using any means necessary to destroy him when they ought
to be addressing the people directly; they ought to be listening to
the people’s concerns. I’m here as an independent candidate trying to
do just that.
Now, Weiner’s obviously not completely focused on the issues either –
he clearly has some personal issues he needs to address right now. But
I imagine he’s more focused on the issues, just in trying to minimize
the “scandal,” than any of the other candidates trying to use Weiner’s
personal mistakes to sway voters.
I’m tired of the manipulation that has gone on between candidates
–they’re playing the silly game. It’s politics as usual and it’s got
to stop.
As Teddy might say, the people want and need someone who’s “straight
and honest.” I’m not here to prioritize Carlos Danger over issues like
soaring rent prices, and I seriously question the integrity of any
candidate who would.
It’s nonsense. Someone needs to advocate for the people of New York
because our elected officials, who have had four years in office,
certainly aren’t. What are they doing about this?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sandy-goodman/time-warner-cbs_b_3708281.html
New York State, or if not New York State then New York City, as a
center of media, has an opportunity here to show independence and
leadership and to set an example for the rest of the nation. The
greed-driven disputes exist at the expense of the people and it’s
unacceptable. How come our elected officials aren’t standing up to say
“enough is enough.” Under no circumstances is it acceptable for petty
disputes between monopolistic media giants to continue at the expense
of ordinary citizens, some of whom have been left not just without TV
but phone and Internet access, too. New York State ought to have the
courage to take a stand on behalf of its people. Elected officials are
standing aside and watching. Clean up your backyard before you clean
up someone else’s. That’s all I’ve got to say.
And, as for Anthony Weiner, my fellow mayoral candidates ought to
remember two things: there are matters of greater concern in the
mayoral race than Weiner’s weenie and his pathological sexting – let
his psychiatrist deal with that because this election is farcical
enough. They were calling me New York’s Aristotle just last week, so
hear me: let he who is without sin cast the first stones.
I hope that answers your question.
