The 11th district encompasses a vast area running from Cobble Hill on the west to East New York on the east. In between are diverse neighborhoods such as Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights, Prospect Park Southwest and Windsor Terrace. Chris has hit hard against the war in Iraq and the proposed mega-development known as Atlantic Yards at Flatbush and Atlantic Avenues.
Large sections of this district are known for their liberal and activist voters. So it's no wonder that the three other candidates have, of late, become born-again peace advocates and fighters for "affordable housing" by meekly criticizing the size of Ratner's skyscraper city (while still supporting it). It wasn't always so.
The latest incarnation of these newly self-proclaimed fighters for peace came in a "Stand Against The War In Iraq" rally, featuring Congressman John Murtha and called by Congressman Anthony Weiner and Councilwoman Yvette Clarke. Weiner recently annointed Clark with his endorsement in what is widely viewed as a quid-pro-quo for his expected run for Mayor in 2009.
Now don't get me wrong. It's a good thing that politicians are calling meetings on behalf of peace. It shows that people are fed up with the war and that political leaders are feeling the pressure and the need to respond. In fact, that's what we've been workng so hard for: to push the Hillarys of this world to move away from their pro-war positions; to move them to oppose the war and call for a speedy return of U.S. troops.
Weiner has had a mixed record on the Iraq war. He initially supported it and voted funds for it. This year, however, he has voted against Bush's request for more money, joining most of the Brooklyn Congressional delegation in opposing any more spending on the debacle in the Mideast. He also signed on to the Murtha resolution which would rapidly "redeploy" U.S. troops out of Iraq. Good for him! Clark, too, has opposed the war but has never been known as a vocal advocate (in the City Council) or shown leadership on the question of peace.
So action on peace is good and very important and Murtha was welcomed, by those on all sides, to speak out against the war. But I'd be wrong not to also take note of what I believe to be quite a cynical maneuver -- that in the very last weeks of this campaign for Congress, Weiner and Clarke, who, to my knowledge, have never, ever participated in an organized peace event, decide that now is the time to call a peace rally! By the way, you might ask, did they then call to invite the participation of any local peace activists? Did they reach out to any of the leaders of the very strong peace movement in downtown Brooklyn? Um, no. It was as if a peace movement in this district was non-existent. I'm compelled to make the observation, therefore, that this was more a campaign rally for Yvette Clarke, in search of liberal votes, than a rally to genuinely advance the cause of peace.
People did turn out: the meeting, at the Park Slope Methodist Church, was packed with people eager to hear what Murtha had to say. By the way, this church is in Representative Major Owens' district, not Weiner's - a not-so-subtle snub of a Congressman who is, indeed, a long-standing ally of the peace movement and an uncompromising foe of Bush's war. Major insisted on attending the meeting. After all, he is the bona fide Congressman of the district. To her credit (or because she felt compelled to), Clarke introduced Major Owens who, in turn, introduced Murtha.
Chris Owens also attended the meeting. So did dozens of his supporters - who stood outside, calmly and with dignity, with their signs, flyers and buttons. They were there to support the cause of peace but they also insisted on letting residents know just who the real peace candidate is in this race; the candidate who has genuine peace credentials built from many years of participation in the fight against war and militarism; the candidate who is a member of his local peace organization; who has marched in peace marches; who has spoken at peace rallies; who takes his stand on the issue, not as just another point on a flyer that can attract liberal voters, but as the very kernel of his race for Congress.
Here's the flyer, distributed last night, at the Murtha Rally. Click on the image for a legible, pdf view of it.
Chris greets supporters and residents ouside the Park Slope Methodist Church.
Interviewed by the press, after the Murtha speech.
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