If you haven’t heard, Newark, N.J.,
Mayor Cory Booker (one of my favorite U.S. mayors) courageously took on the
Obama campaign on national TV Sunday for essentially trying to appeal to left-wing elements in the Democratic Party rather than sticking to the big
issues.
Mayor Cory Booker (one of my favorite U.S. mayors) courageously took on the
Obama campaign on national TV Sunday for essentially trying to appeal to left-wing elements in the Democratic Party rather than sticking to the big
issues.
In particular, Booker, a periodic
surrogate for Obama, said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that some of the criticism
aimed at Mitt Romney for his time at the Bain Capital private equity firm is “nauseating.”
surrogate for Obama, said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that some of the criticism
aimed at Mitt Romney for his time at the Bain Capital private equity firm is “nauseating.”
“As far as that stuff, I have to say from a
very personal level, I’m not about to sit here and indict private equity,”
Booker said. “It’s just, to me, we’re getting to a ridiculous point in America.
Especially, I know — I live in a state where pension funds, unions and other
people are investing in companies like Bain Capital. If you look at the
totality of the record of Bain Capital, they’ve done a lot to support
businesses, to grow businesses. This, to me, I’m very uncomfortable with.”
very personal level, I’m not about to sit here and indict private equity,”
Booker said. “It’s just, to me, we’re getting to a ridiculous point in America.
Especially, I know — I live in a state where pension funds, unions and other
people are investing in companies like Bain Capital. If you look at the
totality of the record of Bain Capital, they’ve done a lot to support
businesses, to grow businesses. This, to me, I’m very uncomfortable with.”
After the broadcast, some pundits called Booker’s comments a gaffe. A Sunday night video message on YouTube, apparently arranged by the Obama campaign,
showed Booker attempting to soften his earlier remarks.
The mayor said on MTP that the White House
typically urges him to talk about jobs and Obama tax cuts and efforts to help
small businesses and veterans. But on
the issue of Romney’s business background, much like the Republican super PAC
that considered another round of attacks on Obama’s links to the Rev. Jeremiah
Wright, Booker said it’s time for the two campaigns to get serious.
typically urges him to talk about jobs and Obama tax cuts and efforts to help
small businesses and veterans. But on
the issue of Romney’s business background, much like the Republican super PAC
that considered another round of attacks on Obama’s links to the Rev. Jeremiah
Wright, Booker said it’s time for the two campaigns to get serious.
“The last point I’ll make is, this kind of
stuff is nauseating to me on both sides. It’s nauseating to the American
public. Enough is enough. Stop attacking private equity. Stop attacking
Jeremiah Wright. This stuff has got to stop because what it does is it
undermines, to me, what this country should be focused on. It’s a distraction
from the real issues. It’s going to be a small campaign about this crap, or a
big campaign, in my opinion, about the issues the American public cares about.”
stuff is nauseating to me on both sides. It’s nauseating to the American
public. Enough is enough. Stop attacking private equity. Stop attacking
Jeremiah Wright. This stuff has got to stop because what it does is it
undermines, to me, what this country should be focused on. It’s a distraction
from the real issues. It’s going to be a small campaign about this crap, or a
big campaign, in my opinion, about the issues the American public cares about.”
Well done, Mr. Mayor.
