Mamdani campaigns on racism and antisemitism

While the Democrat candidate for mayor of New York City almost always wins, this may not be the case this year – unless you consider incumbent Mayor Eric Adams as a Democrat running as an independent.

It may be that for an odd set of circumstances, the Democrat voters of the Big Apple picked a loser.   It may be due to the fact that many of those who cast ballots for him are now learning more about his policies and his beliefs than they did when they entered the polling booth.  There appears to be a bit of buyer’s remorse.

And why not?  Mamdani is arguably the most extreme candidate ever to hold the Democrat nomination for Mayor.  He makes New York’s former progressive mayor, Bill de Blasio, look MAGA by comparison.

Mamdani’s proposals are not just extreme, they are insane.  While I covered some of them in a previous commentary, the fuller list is worth a repeat.  In the past, he has proposed abolishing the prison system, defunding police, ordering police to not cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), prohibit hospitals from suing for debts, universal free healthcare, ban all guns in the city, legalize prostitution, end cash bail, legalized recreational drugs, government-run grocery stores, freeze rents, free (taxpayer paid) bus service, childcare from 6 weeks to 5 years, $30 minimum wage, declaring New York a sanctuary city for the LGBTQIA+ community.  Mamdani has also expressed a belief that there should be no billionaires. One must assume that means a confiscatory tax.

Of course, there is no way he could fulfill his ridiculous platform. However, the fact that he recommends such crazy crap – and would try to enact as much as possible — is disturbing.  Even more disturbing is his obvious racism and antisemitism.

Many of his proposals smack of racism.  Nothing, however, reveals his racism more than his proposal to increase property taxes on White people in White neighborhoods.  That screams racism – and there can be no pulling back.

To alter his racist image, Mamdani appeared at a meeting of the National Action Network — Al Sharpton’s money machine – to get the blessing of “The Rev.”  He got it, but it may not mean all that much.  There has been a longstanding schism between New York’s Black community and the Arab community.  In the Democratic primary, Blacks favored former Governor Andrew Cuomo over Mamdani by 51 to 31 percent – a 20-point margin.

Mamdani’s antisemitism is seen in many of his positions and statements.  “Intifada” is widely accepted as a call for exterminating Jews.  “Globalization of intifada” is regarded as a call to spread violence against Jews throughout the world – akin to the “death to Israel” and the “death to Jews” chants.  Mamdani has likened the slogan to the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in 1944 when Jews rose up against Nazi terror. Critics, including the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, have called this comparison “offensive to survivors” – saying that the slogan is used to justify violence against Jews.  You cannot get more antisemitic than that.

Appearing on FOX News, Mamdani was repeatedly asked why he would not condemn “Globalization of intifada.”   He also resisted calls from New York Democrat Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, MSNBC contributor Donny Deutsch and others to condemn the slogan. Mamdani sees the slogan merely as a “desperate desire for quality” by the Muslim community – and he did not wish to get involved in issues of free speech.  Deutsch says that it is not how HE sees it, but how every Jew sees it.  I might also add that it is more important how the Islamic terrorists — who use the slogan as a mantra – see it.  Gillibrand said that the phrase is widely perceived as a call to “destroy Israel and kill all the Jews.”

Mamdani routinely accuses Israel of genocide and apartheid – statements that fuel violent antisemitism.  He has said that, as mayor, he would arrest Prime Minister Netanyahu should he come to New York.  He affirms Israel’s right to exist, but not as a Jewish state.  Conversely, he has participated in rallies that call for the destruction of Israel “from the river to the sea.” 

Mamdoni is a supporter of the BDS Movement to boycott, disinvest and sanction Israel.  He has joined college and other protests that have targeted Jewish students and expressed support for Hamas.

Mamdani’s history of anti-Jewish rhetoric, actions and proposals goes beyond disagreement over Israel’s national policies.  His past criticisms and accusations are underpinned by an apparent animosity toward Jewish people.  Try as he might to moderate or walk back his more fiery antisemitic rhetoric, the record is there for all to see.  It can be fairly argued that only a hardened antisemite would refuse to condemn the rhetoric of Islamic terrorists.  The meaning of “globalized intifada” is very clear to everyone … except Mamdani.  Or even worse, if it is clear to him.

There are two questions going forward.  Can Mamdani move into Gracie Mansion next November?  And what would be the impact of his election on the Democratic Party overall?

For sure, Mamdani’s extremely radical and insane platform will help incumbent Mayor Eric Adams.  How much?  Have to wait and see.  Some polling between now and then will offer some hints.

There is no doubt, however, that Mamdani winning the primary will hurt the Democratic Party in general.  That is the stated opinion of a number of party leaders.  It has already created more cracks in an already splintered party.  It gives credence to Republican claims that the Democratic Party has shifted too far to the left – and gives the donkey party one more ass to deal with.

So, there ‘tis.

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