NEW YORK—No, there hasn’t been a printing error. And no, there’s no need to get your eyes checked. On July 29, Brooklyn had an unusual open house: a gathering of democrats in favor of this year’s Republican presidential candidate.
Peter Feldman, McCain’s regional communications director for New York and New Jersey, claimed that these democrats came together “organically.” They were frustrated with their own party’s candidate and feared that he had too little experience. According to Feldman, “to be effective in New York and New Jersey, McCain must reach out to democrats and independents.”
Environmentally-conscious Brooklyn democrat Roberta Weisbrod hosted the event. Edward Cox, son-in-law of the late President Richard Nixon, and attorney and novelist Bartle Bull spoke.
Bull quit his job in 1968 to work on Robert F. Kennedy’s campaign. He was also a leading campaigner for Jimmy Carter.
Bull said his support for McCain was based on “policy and character.” He said there is a “striking contrast” between the candidates. Bull compared McCain’s character to that of the late Robert Kennedy, staying that the election of 2008 “reminds me of ’68.”
Ed Cox said, today it is most important for the Commander-in-Chief to “protect and defend the people of this country from enemies abroad.” Thus, he plans on electing a president with a strong military background and a bipartisan voting history. In his opinion, these qualities would serve the country best at this time.
No one at the event doubted that the battle against Obama would be difficult. Weisbrod “would like to see those of us who are committed to take the next step.” This would include handing out leaflets at busy subway stations in an activity that Bull dubbed “lit-blitzing:” a literature blitzkrieg. A small percentage of Democrats plan to vote Republican this year; Bull encouraged each member of the crowd to “become a rabbit and multiply” in order to raise support for the person he believes is the better-qualified candidate. The effort is “not just for McCain, but for our country.”
Zoy Balaskas, and her sister, Lila, were once supporters of Hillary Clinton’s candidacy. Lila said she wants to see McCain and Obama have a debate in the near future.
“That way,” she said, “people can see [the difference] between the diamond and the cubic zirconium.”
