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"The
Independence Charade"
New York Times editorial
Nov. 5, 2005
Perhaps we should start at the bottom line. Don't vote for any
candidates on the Independence Party row in Tuesday's elections.
The Independence Party in New York City is not about independence.
Just the opposite. It is about dependence on one man, Fred Newman,
a former Marxist who is now a psychotherapist, and who has manipulated
politicians, workers and voters in thinking that they are participating
in a genuine political party.
As an investigative series on NY1 News reminded viewers this
week, Dr. Newman's operation has a lot of the earmarks of a cult.
Frank MacKay, the party’s state chairman, has little say
over the local operations, and he has complained that city members
never seem to challenge Dr. Newman’s views on politics “or
anything else.” This is also the group that tolerated Lenora
Fulani as a leader even after she refused to step back from her
statement that Jews had to “function as mass murderers
of people of color.” The state organization finally ousted
Dr. Fulani from its executive committee in the face of boycott
threats by state politicians. The Independence Party is one of
the New York third parties that exist by endorsing candidates
from other parties who like the idea of another spot on the ballot.
In the city, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a Republican, is the most
prominent candidate on the Independence Party line in Tuesday's
election, and this is certainly not something he should be proud
of. Nor should Democratic City Council members like John Liu
of Queens, Erik Martin Dilan of Brooklyn or Maria del Carmen
Arroyo in the Bronx.
The candidates and Dr. Newman are hoping that this extra line
will confuse enough voters into thinking that one does not have
to be a Democrat or a Republican on Election Day, but can somehow
vote as an independent. No so. In New York City, the Independence
Party simply isn't independent. |
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