In New York City, registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by 5-1. In national elections, New Yorkers vote overwhelmingly for Democratic candidates. The city has been a Democratic stronghold since the days of Andrew Jackson.
And yet we are about to witness an election which will extend Republican rule over City Hall to 16 uninterupted years. And a cavalcade of leading "Democrats" are helping to make it happen.
When Democratic leaders endorse Republicans they make a mockery of our efforts. They betray the blood, sweat, and tears - not to mention money - that party activists contribute every day. There's no indication that the party will benefit in any way from this Vichy-style "bipartisanship." On the contrary, it makes us look weak, undermines our field operations, demoralizes volunteers, and contributes to giving the GOP its next high-profile national victory (winning the NYC mayoral race is a national prize). And we head for 16 straight years of Republican mayoralties.
These so-called Democrats weren't satisfied with staying silent, but have decided to actively endorse and campaign for a Republican. In so doing they forfeit their claim to any support from party activists in the future. If they want to undermine the party, fine - but that means that the party - by which I mean US - should not support them in any way either.
A list of prominent Democrats who have endorsed Bloomberg is below. Some of these people - like Brian Ellner and Margarita Lopez - like to call themselves "progressives." I call them people who will never get another dime of my money or minute of my volunteer time. People who I look forward to working against.
I am a loyal Democrat because I know that America - and New York City - needs a strong and progressive Democratic Party if we are to have any hope of a brighter future. I give of myself to help build this future. I won't have these turncoats make a mockery of that.
The Roll of the Disloyal:
Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz
Peter Vallone
Councilman Peter Vallone, Jr.
Councilman James Sanders
Councilwomman Margarita Lopez
Councilwomman Eva Moskowitz
Councilwomman Madeline Provenzano
Assemblyman Domenic Recchia
Assemblyman Dov Hikind
Assemblywoman Adele Cohen
Assemblywoman Barbara Clark
former Councilwoman Priscilla Wooten
Senator Malcolm Smith
former Borough President Claire Shulman
former Governor Hugh Carey
former Mayor Ed Koch
former Congressman Floyd Flake
Rev. Calvin Butts
Roger Altman
Felix Rohatyn
Brian Ellner