NY Latino leader calls Dems 'racist'

'That Bronx Guy' Espada Accuses Fellow Dems Of Racism
NY Daily News, June 18, 2009

Sen. Pedro Espada emerged from bipartisan talks with fellow Stalemate State leaders without a power-sharing deal (negotiations are continuing, according to both sides) but something else with which to torture deadlock-weary Capitol reporters:

An alleged apology from his erstwhile Democratic colleagues for what he called their "sophomoric" and "irresponsible" playing of the "Latino race card."

"I have a problem with my Democratic colleagues, the so-called self-proclaimed 'progressives', playing the Latino race card out there," Espada said, referring to the robocalls sent into GOP districts by the DSCC over the past two days.


"There’s no question that when you try to target Sen. (Marty) Golden’s district and indicate to them, in so many words, that what he’s doing is supporting a criminal, someone under indictment, - totally false - but moreover, labeling it 'the Bronx guy,' and we all know what that translates to regrettably."

"I think it’s inappropriate from anyone’s lips, and that’s the point. It’s divisive. But for my own party, for my own party to engage in that, I think is despicable."

"It’s always been their attack line on Republicans, so there’s no need to start borrowing from the gutter to kind of win this kind of contest. It’s sophomoric, it’s irresponsible and the people in that room apologized for it."

Espada noted that last week's coup vote purportedly made him the highest-ranked Latino elected official in New York - an historic event for a community that "has no voice."

He said he holds all the leaders of the party responsible for the calls - he specifically cited Sens. John Sampson and Malcolm Smith, but included all "my New York City Democratic senators" - and also insisted that he had received assurances that they would cease immediately.

The senator also insisted that a Democratic senator who had attended the meeting was "ready" to join him on the GOP side of the aisle. He refused to name this person, saying that would "not help these negotiations."

For what it's worth, the Democrats who attended the meeting included: Sampson, Smith, Liz Carl Kruger, Martin Dilan, Jeff Klein, Hiram Monserrate and Darrel Aubertine.

I highly doubt Espada was referring to Monserrate. If he flipped back at this point, he'd be a dead man.

The speculation at the moment centers on Aubertine, who is not only closer from an ideological standpoint to the Republicans, but also is the first Democrat to represent his GOP-dominated district (the 48th SD) since 1935.

It's no secret that Aubertine has been on the Senate Republicans' pre-coup hit list as they prepared to mount a last-ditch effort to take back the majority in 2010.

It's also no secret that the upstate Democratic dairy farmer has been torn between sticking with his colleagues in Albany and taking what might be a once-in-a-lifetime shot at the soon-to-open House seat that will be vacated by Rep. John McHugh.

Meanwhile, the Senate bells are still ringing.

UPDATE: Apparently, according to Sen. Dean Skelos, Aubertine asked the coalition government to put his Power for Jobs extender onto the agenda for today, which might be what sparked the speculation about him.

According to Aubertine spokesman Drew Mangione, however, the senator "has no plans on joining a sham coalition headed by Pedro Espada."

..which doesn't rule out his joining the other side entirely, but since the GOP appears to be sticking with Espada - Skelos today said: "The election (was) 32-0. He was president pro tem and I’m the majority leader. So we just want to make that clear.