With Friends Like David Duke, Charles Barron Doesn’t Need Enemies
After former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke released a video this week saying “if I lived in New York City I would certainly vote for Charles Barron,” the Brooklyn congressional candidate is refusing to say much about what he called “the endorsement of a fool.”
“I’m not going to let you turn this into a circus,” said Barron when I called him Thursday afternoon. “People in the neighborhood are not talking about this foolishness. You’re calling me about the endorsement of a fool when there are so many more important issues.”
Apparently drawn into the race because a WNYC blog headline (based on a quote from Councilman David Greenfield) called Barron “the David Duke of New York City,” the former Louisiana state representative said “In a race for Congress between an anti-Zionist black activist and a black activist who is a bought and paid for Zionist Uncle Tom, I’ll take the anti-Zionist any day.”
In the eight-and-a-half minute video, which I will not link here, Duke details points on which he agrees and disagrees with Barron, but the bottom line is Barron’s animus toward Israel overrides such issues as affirmative action.
“I certainly agree with Barron that Israel is the worst rogue terrorist state on Earth. It’s not Iran. Barron is certainly right about Zionist control over the media and our government, and the treason that’s existed in our Congress and he’s right about the fact that Zionist wars have caused the death or harming of hundreds of thousands of Americans and cost you trillions of your tax dollars. Barron’s opponent, on the other hand, is a complete Zionist sellout of both the black people and all the people of America.”
Barron faces Hakeem Jeffries in next week’s Democrat primary to succeed Rep. Edolphus Towns. Jeffries has called Barron divisive and other Democrats have denounced his history of blaming Israel for Middle East strife. Social service and economic issues may play a bigger role in the election than Israel in these troubled times, but the very idea that Duke finds common ground with Barron can't be helpful.
“Hakeem Jeffries should send David Duke flowers,” said political consultant Hank SHeinkopf, who is not involved in the race. “What David Duke has done here is to give Hakeem the issue that ultimately closes the deal.”