Khader El-Yateem’s Bitterness & The Lost Endorsement
This week, Justin Brannan received an endorsement from Public Advocate, Leticia James and Khader El-Yateem became bitter.
In an article in the Gothamist, Reverend Khader El-Yateem lashed out at the “exclusive club of white men.” Yet, El-Yateem was silent about Pam Harris withdrawing her endorsement for him.
Was race or gender involved with Assemblywoman Pam Harris’ endorsement withdrawal or was the endorsement never made? I first saw the Assemblywoman’s endorsement mentioned on El-Yateem’s website, but that has since been removed. In an interview to the New Kings Democrats, El-Yateem mentioned the Assemblywoman’s endorsement in question #18 In September 2016, the Muslim Democratic Club endorsed Pam Harris and I bet they thought she would return the favor when they had a candidate this time! Soon after El-Yateem said Harris endorsed him, she came out and said she didn’t endorse a candidate, but planned to endorse Nancy Tong because she was a woman (see Tong’s endorsement here).
Further, at the end of June this year, Assemblywoman Harris honored twenty men in the community with awards and Khader El-Yateem was not one of her picks. See here Other Arab-American men in the area were honored, so El-Yateem can’t say that’s the reason she didn’t choose him.
As far as “the club of white men” El-Yateem mentioned, I am guessing El-Yateem is naming the man who brought him into Community Board 10, Vincent Gentile. The only way a person can become part of the team of 50 people who serve on the Community Board are if they are appointed by Gentile. Gentile is very well liked because he is an excellent counsilman. I’ve seen Gentile include Khader El-Yateem in other events as well so there is no reason for El-Yateem to be bitter.
El-Yateem’s quote at the end of the article shows that he wants to make the election about race. His failure to cinch Tish James’ endorsement and El-Yateem’s silence over losing Pam Harris’ endorsement (or never receiving it as the case may be) is no reason to go after “white men.” Say the truth: El-Yateem is pushing his own agenda in this election and not a lot of people support that. El-Yateem supports BDS and the United States supports Israel because it is our ally. Most people don’t want their politicians using our resources for other countries as we have our own problems here. Yet, El-Yateem’s family lives in Palestine so he believes America should help Palestine.
El-Yateem thinks it is alright to run his agenda in City Council because he sees Carlos Menchaca doing it. Menchaca’s community in Sunset Park has suffered because of this! Join the Sunset Park Community on Facebook and you will see how unhappy the community is with Menchaca.
Hugs,
marlene
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