The New York Times’ endorsement of Cory Booker in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate was a marvel in fact-free praise and proof that even the Times is not immune from political hype. Consider its rationale: Booker is best because he is unconventional. He’s best because he wants to battle obesity and guns (which puts him on the same page as his three opponents). He’s best because, well, he just is.
The Times posits a huge change in the city’s fortunes over the last six years: “anyone who remembers Newark before Mr. Booker became mayor in 2006 knows what a difference he has made to that benighted city.”
He has lived in some of the roughest neighborhoods as he tried to improve the quality of life. He rode on night patrol with police as he was trying to bring down crime. He is a deeply unconventional politician, once rushing into a burning house before the fire department arrived — saving a woman and traumatizing his security detail.
As mayor, he has lured big money to Newark’s schools — notably a matching grant of $100 million from Mark Zuckerberg, a co-founder of Facebook. And he has worked well with Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, on areas of agreement in crime, development and education. That ability to work with the political opposition could be an asset for Mr. Booker if the ice age of a divided Congress ever ends.
None of this has altered the Newark landscape. The schools are still troubled. The crime rate remains virtually what it was in 2005 and there are real questions as to whether Booker’s allegiance is to the city or to the capital interests with whom he seems so cozy (remember his TV appearances criticizing Barack Obama for being critical of the hedge-fund industry?).
Is Booker the best option among the four Democrats? He’s far from the most progressive — that would be Rush Holt, with Frank Pallone a relatively close second — but that does not mean he wouldn’t make a fine senator. My criticism here is not of Booker (well, not only of Booker), but of a Times’ endorsement that seems to value name recognition above all else.
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Hank Kalet 