Is Zohran Mamdani the New Face or the New Mask of the Left?

As the Democratic Party wanders in the wilderness after losing the November elections, it is seeking new ideas and faces to present to the public. It now exists as a rabid, rudderless and resentful opposition party with little to offer. It is desperate for some kind of vision that will fire up voters.

Thus, when an obscure state legislator named Zohran Mamdani ran in the New York City mayoral primary, people took notice. He represents something different. He is young, stylish, brash and loud. He calls himself something different, a democratic socialist. When he won the primary over old-school candidate Andrew Cuomo, the media did not hesitate to call him the party’s new face and path to victory.

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Others are more cautious since they fear the terms “democrat” and “socialist” do not go well together in most parts of the country. As Democratic strategist James Carville noted, “the Democratic Party of New York City is not a microcosm of the nation.”

Definitely a New Face

Today, politics is more about image than substance. From this perspective, the bearded Mr. Mamdani does represent a new face. Like all postmodern politicians, he draws from a mixture of diverse narratives. He is Ugandan-born, Muslim by religion, and raised by Indian parents. His father is an academic, and his mother is a filmmaker. Thus, this socialist and populist son of millionaires shows all the polish and sophistication of one who frequented the best elite schools. He is articulate, energized and social media savvy. As a multi-cultural candidate, he can adapt himself to any cause and claim to represent any underdog.

He knows how to read the angst of countless New Yorkers who find the city unaffordable. He knows how to hand out political candy in the form of free stuff that appeals to any electorate.

For a party desperate to show some sign of new life, it can’t get any better than this. Mr. Mamdani checks all the right boxes, and even some items without boxes.

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These are some of the reasons why there is a lot of excitement around Zohran and his anti-establishment vibes. His smiling new face is much more refreshing than the dour expressions of the aging Bernie Sanders, who endorsed him.

Taking Off the Socialist Wrapping

However, the newness stops once all this wrapping comes off.

Mr. Mamdani could not have chosen a more worn-out brand than the Socialism he unabashedly professes. It is as if he thinks Socialism acquires newness when presented with intensity. Yet, this Socialism is the same old boilerplate label that dominated the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or the National Socialism of Germany’s Nazi Party. The term socialist carries too much stigma. Americans don’t like it. It is best left on the rubbish heap of history and not dusted off for another round of trying to make it work.

Socialists idealize the role of government and suppress individual rights and private property. They adopt a liberal morality that gives free rein to the unbridled passions, and God’s law is never recognized.

Same Old Socialism

Thus, Mr. Mamdani’s platform reads like an old socialist textbook outlining ways to attract the masses. There are more free benefits, rent control and yet higher taxes on the rich. He changes the branding slightly by insisting he is a democratic socialist and not the original toxic variety.

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However, there is nothing new about working to defund and eventually abolish the New York Police Department, empty and dismantle prisons and ban all guns. There is nothing moral about the government paying for sex-change mutilations, legalizing prostitution and establishing safe injection sites for decriminalized drug use. There is nothing affordable in bankrupting the medical system by abolishing private health insurance, forcing the city to provide free bus rides or establishing government-run grocery stores that put hard-working private grocers out of business.

All these things are the same old toxic proposals that never benefit the poor, provide security for citizens or promote the practice of virtue so needed for the common good.

Thus, the Mamdani program does not represent a new face for the Democratic Party or the left in general. He wears yet another new mask among so many that will lead to the ruin of the city, the destruction of private property and rampant immorality. Nothing’s really changed.

Photo Credit: © Karamccurdy, CC BY-SA 4.0

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