Malcolm Smith Makes His Pitch to Orthodox Voters for His Mayoral Campaign
Democratic State Senator Malcolm Smith, who is floating
his name as a potential Republican mayoral candidate in 2013, says he’s
reaching out to all communities to gather support for his mayoral campaign. And
in an interview with Yossi Gestetner, he explained why he might have some
particular appeal in the Orthodox Jewish community.
“I always boast about Yeshiva Darchei Torah, which is in
the district that I represent,” Mr. Smith said of his support from Orthodox
voters, mentioning the Jewish school in Far Rockaway. “More importantly, it’s
the same values and interests that we share in the Orthodox community, and that
is the job that I would have as mayor, … trying to help everybody and trying to
help individuals who are in need and have a better life for them and their
family.”
“I’m just another person from the neighborhood, I’m the
guy you can talk to, knowing you will be able to talk to and touch,” he
continued. “Doesn’t matter whether I was mayor of the City of the New York or
majority leader, I pride myself in not changing and being the same person. I’m
no better than the guy on the street that’s homeless. I look at myself the same
way. And so therefore it’s important for me to be able to relate to people as
an everyday person and I think that is what makes the difference.”
Mr. Smith also weighed in on a hot button policy issue in
the Orthodox community — Mayor Bloomberg’s proposed ban their ritual
circumcision practices.
“You know, Gestetner, I have been brought up and raised
in such a way that I always respect the belief of particular individuals,” he
said when asked about it. “It’s a 3,000 year old tradition. I understand the
importance of public safety and everybody wants that, I’ve always learned to
respect the beliefs and followings and customs of individual groupings and I
think that would be the best position that anybody should take.”
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