NY-11: A Plea to Yvette Clarke to Endorse Obama!

Yvette Clarke is the Democratic Representative for New York's 11th CD, an expanse of Brooklyn that includes a lot of downtown as well as some up-and-coming neighborhoods like Cobble Hill.

Yvette is a freshman trying to fill the big shoes of the legendary Major Owens. Despite having been burned by Hillary Clinton's arrogance in the past, Yvette made the decision last fall to endorse Hillary Clinton, the then-frunt runner.

What was she going to do? It's no small thing when the junior Senator from your state's delegation is running for President.

But then a funny thing happened on Super Tuesday. Yvette's district voted for Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton, yes, the same Hillary Clinton who tried to run over you in 2006.

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Hillary Clinton really threw her weight around when she moved to New York. She's continued her 'my way or the highway' style in New York politics for years now. I'm sure Yvette Clarke hasn't forgotten about Howard Wolfson's attentions in 2006. From back in the day:

The reason is Hillary’s not-so-subtle support for Councilman David Yassky in the contentious primary [against Yvette Clarke] — support that took the form of Howard Wolfson (a current and past senior Clinton campaign advisor) working for Yassky.

In early 2006, then-senator Carl Andrews, who was widely considered the front-runner in the race, tried to hire Wolfson’s company, the Glover Park Group, for campaign help, and was told the organization, like Hillary, was going to stay neutral in the race.

But a few weeks later, Glover Park was with Yassky; Daily Politics blogged it here.
The move creating grumbling in Brooklyn black political circles that Hillary was trying to have it both ways, staying neutral in a local primary but giving a smile and a wink to one of her top operatives to get Yassky elected. And now, it seems, Clarke is signaling that such slights have not been forgotten.

Yvette held off until until the fall to endorse Hillary Clinton. She was the last NY Democrat Congressperson to do so.

Yvette Clarke knows precisely what we here talk about when we refer to the "Clinton Machine". A lot of New York politicians have learned the hard way these last eight years.  The Clintons will try to run you over one day and they'll be back a year later asking you to do them a favor. And you'll end up doing it!

Yvette claimed that Hillary had more experience because of her time in the Senate and as First Lady. But I hope that Yvette can see by now that her foreign and domestic policy experience has been a charade. At least, Yvette must have identified the great experience and accomplishments of Barack Obama's career.

Yvette Clarke knows in her heart-of-hearts that the Clinton "big state" argument falls flat. She saw firsthand the excitement for Obama in her own district and around the state.

I sure hope that Yvette Clarke can make a Stand for Change!

New Yorkers are itching like mad for aggressive progressive leadership in Congress. If Yvette Clarke endorses Barack Obama for President, it will send shockwaves through New York. Let's remember that Hillary Clinton is not from New York, is not a New Yorker, never even did anything for upstate New York and she certainly can't tell the New York delegation how to compose themselves.

What's more is that her announcement would also have a national impact. If  Yvette Clarke endorses Barack Obama for President, she will also serve as an example to candidates who, like herself, thought endorsing Hillary was the prudent decision and are afraid of appearing as though they are going back on their word.

Yvette Clarke has served New York's Eleventh as well as a freshman can. I trust she will do great things in her tenure. But every once in a while, an opportunity comes along for you to demonstrate what you're really made of - how far you can truly lead people.

Yvette! Make your stamp NOW on the political landscape. New York's Eleventh District voted for Barack Obama. It is your duty to join us.

The progressive movement will not be successful without charming and tough folks like Yvette Clarke keeping the movement alive in our cities. I am asking Yvette to stand with US!

Yvette, if you are reading this: Don't be a Clinton Democrat. Be a Democrat of the Roosevelt-Kennedy tradition.

-fink

(PS - I discovered that others felt the same way in early March and in late February too.)