Minita Sanghvi Announces on Facebook that She Will Not Be Running For Office In 2027
On The Theme of “What Was He Thinking?”, We Have Allen Caruso’s Campaign For the Assembly Against Carrie Woerner
According to the website Politico:
“Allen Caruso, a Republican running to represent an upstate assembly district, describes himself as a “business owner who has created jobs and met payroll.”
But a turbulent history of legal troubles — including evictions, arrests, traffic violations and hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt — suggest otherwise.
Caruso and his businesses have been defendants in at least 15 lawsuits, at least eight of which resulted in still-unpaid judgments against him and his companies. He’s delinquent on at least 13 traffic tickets, tax liens, court judgments and bills totaling more than $350,000.”
Before he announced his campaign for the Assembly, I had never heard of Mr. Caruso, but now, when I see his name, and if I ever meet him, he will forever be defined by this unflattering article. When he decided to run for office, did he not think that the media and his opponent might research his past and expose his problematic history?
Joe Suhrada Resigns As Chair of Saratoga County Republican Party
Apparently, for unknown reasons to this blogger, months ago, Assembly candidate Allen Caruso recorded remarks by Joe Suhrada, who serves both as chair of the Saratoga County Republican Party and as the Saratoga Republican Commissioner of Elections, that included racist and homophobic references. Senator James Tedisco, Assembly Members Mary Beth Walsh and Matt Simpson issued a joint letter condemning Suhrada’s remarks and calling for him to step aside.
Suhrada resigned as Saratoga County Republican Chair but declined to resign as Board of Elections Commissioner. Election Commissioners are appointed by the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors, but according to the Board Chair, Phil Barrett, disciplinary action against Election Commissioners can only be taken by the Governor.
I contacted Mr. Suhrada, who offered the following.
I was quoting the “Cobb” film, in private not using the term in my own voice or expressing any personal belief [JK: Suhara is referring to the 1994 bio pick “Ty Cobb.” Cobb was a notorious racist and bigot and the film is an unflinching portrait starring Tommy Lee Jones]. It is not a word I use or that is part of my natural vocabulary. I wouldn’t weaponize either hateful term or call a person either. I certainly didn’t or wouldn’t direct it at anyone. At the time I wondered at the absurdity of the character as that sort of early-times hillbilly racism is antiquated and to be mocked and parodied. The filmmaker tackled it in this manner.
But I no longer watch sports of any sort. I also think “practically” that political fundraisers should be broadly general so that more people can partake instead of subcultural themes. I’ve seen bourbon and cigar events, horse racing events, and black tie soirées – none of which would interest me. I digress.
My context was that not everyone likes basketball fundraisers (sports doesn’t appeal to everyone) and I relayed the quote of the movie and I mockingly explained the movie as Cobb was this character who loved only baseball and hates all other sports. (Perhaps his hate of that sport was rooted in racism or maybe it wasn’t. I suspect he just didn’t like other sports and justified it as racially upsetting to anger people.) The filmmaker makes one think. Cobb was an absurd caricature and emblematic somewhat of that era.
I regret the reference to the nineteenth century character and he film which fell into obscurity. It certainly isn’t “The Godfather” which has organized crime, gratuitous violence, murder and gangland thematics which seem to be widely loved and accepted as a cultural norm to recite. Not to mention it portrayed Italian people in a very dark light which played on Mobster stereotypes. But it’s the number one quoted movie of all times. So for that I apologize to anyone who think I would hurt them using words. “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer!”
But when you repeat a line from cinema and slip into a film, poetic or lyrical quote one can get into trouble, obviously. John Lennon also comes to mind with a song he released around 1972 that I can’t even mention the title of. Who can cover the song today? There are thousands of hurtful things in art but I’m loath to censor artists in private settings. Put them into a contextual framework and discuss them if you want to grow. I have generally tended to give testimony to a script or work of poetry or prose in authentic form. The words are there to shock and upset you.
Try reading the poetry of Jim Morrison in public if you will- Not acceptable anymore and I’m aware of that. I have never believed in censoring artists but this is now a different era (I’ve always been explained I’m a theoretical 1950’s liberal in some respects.) But- There is no latitude to not do so.
So in retrospect when I was talking I assume now he [Caruso] was trying to get a snippet of me speaking off-color or seemingly distastefully to use at a later time…I should obviously learn not to quote them all verbatim in private. Lesson learned. He repeatedly asked for higher levels of support from me as the months progressed and I could not oblige and it made him upset.
Last thing I say: if is he truly interpreted my recitation of this character as me being some racist and homophobe then why did he laugh? And why would I even endorse a gay man if I’m a homophobic bigot? Why continue to associate with me and why didn’t he denounce me in March instead of waiting until he decided to launch a takedown/takeover of the GOP with consultants? Because he knew that wasn’t true.
So he captured my private recitation of the film out of context to be used at a later date. And that’s what politics has become now, unfortunately for all of us.
