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Ed Koch Will Endorse Bob Turner For Weiner's Seat To Spite Obama


By

Christopher Robbins

Published Jul 23, 2011

Modified Jul 23, 2011


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Bob Turner at his best, courtesy of his website

 


By

Christopher Robbins

Published Jul 23, 2011

Modified Jul 23, 2011


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It's no secret that former NYC mayor and structure that helps people get from Manhattan to Queens Ed Koch is angry at President Obama for suggesting that Israel and Palestine begin negotiations at the 1967 borders. Koch has strongly hinted that he'll endorse GOP candidate Bob Turner over Democrat David Weprin for Anthony Weiner's empty seat in the 9th District to exact a Scott Brownian revenge on Barry. It appears that Koch will do just that: the Daily News reports that Koch will make "an announcement" to the press at 11 a.m. on Monday. "I'll be endorsing [Turner], but you'll have to come to get the reason," Koch told the paper. Et tu, Eddie?

What makes Koch's endorsement seem especially spiteful is that Assemblyman Weprin, an Orthodox Jew, has family living in Israel, and that he's been to the country nine times. Apparently even Sheldon Silver is powerless to stop Koch's Grudge Machine. While Turner, a former TV exec, fought a good fight against Weiner in 2010, Democrats aren't expected to lose the 9th District anytime soon. Wonder what 2011 Koch would say to the author of this particular email to him after he endorsed Obama in 2008? Koch's reply is in italics.

“You have chosen political correctness over the preservation of Israel and this country and this greatly saddens me.”

Reread your note. Don’t you think it is arrogant? Isn’t it possible that my judgment is more informed than yours? Can’t we simply agree to disagree, without you accusing me of political correctness?

Tagged

9th district

anthony weiner

barack obama

ed koch

israel

queens


Christopher Robbins

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Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.

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