“At twenty-one or twenty-two, so many things appear solid, permanent, and terrible, which forty sees as nothing but disappearing miasma. Forty can't tell twenty about this. Twenty can find out only by getting to be forty”

--Joseph Cotten in “The Magnificent Ambersons”, speaking the words of Booth Tarkington as adapted for the screen by Orson Welles, who was pretty close to twenty at the time (maybe if he were forty, he wouldn’t have taken off for Mexico and points beyond, leaving the studio powers that be the opportunity to lop  over a half hour off his masterwork).

I recently came to conclusion that I’d done the Kevin Powell thing to death, and that nothing good, and something bad (diminished readership) could come of wading in those muddy waters again. I was about to promise to refrain from posting any further Powell pieces, with one caveat--Powell would have to agree to do nothing stupid for the balance of his campaign. Given the campaign trajectory so far--even the left-centric “ Daily Gotham” is treating Powell as a joke, this was a hula hoop sized loophole. But hell, I was glad to cut Powell a break, especially after he promised to have Richard Pryor perform at his next fundraising event.

And then it came.

“Hi Gatemouth,“ went the email, “I'm Michael Spitzer-Rubenstein, the Internet Director for Kevin Powell's campaign for Congress, and after reading your recent post on Room 8, I had to wonder--have you actually met Kevin before? He's a very charming guy in person, and not nearly the egomanic you depict him as

Sincerely,

Michael Spitzer-Rubenstein

Michael Spitzer-Rubenstein
Internet Director, Kevin Powell for Congress

A common refrain whenever I deal with outraged disciples of the latest new age political messiah is the question of whether I’ve met the man and actually talked with him. My response is usually to ask if this is some form of torture for those who deviate from the party line.

But, talking to me probably wouldn’t help.

Truth, be told, when I read some religious nonsense which assaults my intellect, and I then hear someone say "if only you could meet Rabbi X (or Reverend Y), you would understand", I think I already understand everything I need to know all too well.

“Mike,” I replied, “I'm not the one who depicted Kevin as an egomaniac--that person would be Kevin, who controls what is put on his site. The most damning part of “A Mighty Wind” was straight quotes from Kevin's website. The rest of my piece was mere garnish.”

Then I upped the ante.

“I also think Kevin’s statement about [the] Durban [Conference] is extremely disturbing (extremely disDURBAN)--no amount of charm can change that, but a clarification might

why not have Kevin post a clarification of what he really meant on my Durban piece…

…Finally, I am not interested in a meeting--but, if you insist, you can set me up for a joint interview when you grant one to Hackshaw--LOL”

As you may be aware, my colleague and Denver roomie, Rock Hackshaw, had crashed Powell’s public therapy press event, where Powell’d complained about the press focusing on his history as a celebrity thug , which was the only reason they’d been paying attention in the first place. There Powell expressed the same shock his friend Sister Souljah (and Powell himself) displayed when white politicians expressed displeasure that the fine young lady considered black on white crime a more palatable alternative to one of black America’s leading ailments. You’d think by now, after having had to leave one Congressional race after public exposure of his pathologies, Powell might have learned that politics was a business for guys who could take a punch as well as throw one.

Rock, who doubles as a paid consultant to Powell’s opponent Ed Towns, had complained that Powell had not only refused to set a date for an interview with him, but had also ditched and dissed him in the middle of their argument to speak to some white peace advocates.

Frankly, I'm with Powell on that one. While it may well behoove Powell to be polite to Rock, Powell’s time is important to him, and talking to some white peacefreaks, or anyone else of any color who may somehow benefit his campaign, instead of arguing with a paid employee of his opponent, is a perfectly reasonable cost-benefit analysis which he is entitled, and, in fact, compelled, to make.

The idea that Rock, I, or any other blogger can compartmentalize is preposterous. The best we can do is disclose (which, to Rock’s credit, he had). Rock’s opinions on Powell may indeed be valid (I think they are) regardless of his income stream, and he may be (and in fact is) capable of thoughtful and semi-detached analysis, but campaigns have the right to regard him as a paid partisan in those instances when he’s become one, and to treat him accordingly, especially since some of Rock’s recent pieces on the race have reeked of being pure campaign commercials for Ed Towns; not that there's anything wrong with that, but publishing such stuff under one’s own name tends to tarnish the brand.

I think I’ve been far harsher than Rock has on the matter of Powell, and though I’ve refused to puff Ed Towns, I think it can be argued that ET has put the wrong Room 8 blogger on his campaign payroll. Nonetheless, the fact I’m not receiving remuneration has obviously convinced one Powell staffer and true-believer that I am a Sodomite worthy of at least a few more attempts at redemption before I am rendered into a melanin-deprived pillar of salt. Hence, the follow-up email:

“If you look at at the transcript of Kevin's comments (http://www.daveyd.com/kevincharliewarpt1.html), you will find that, rather than saying that the Durban Conference was some great event--it was, quite clearly, not--Kevin was noting the Durban Conference was not covered by the media. In fact, he was responding to a comment of Charlie Braxton that ‘People need to understand that the world is not like it is portrayed on TV....[Americans] weren't interested in trying to understand the religion of Islam, nor were they trying to understand the politics of the Middle East.’

While the comment may have been inartfully worded, if you read the entire conversation, the gist was that we need to pay attention to world events, and educate ourselves about our place in the world. As he puts it earlier in the discussion: ‘I have been struck by the number of people who did not know, prior to September 11th, even where Afghanistan was, what Islam is, what America's relationship has been to South Central Asia and the Middle East.’ These aren't the ravings of an anti-semite, but of a true patriot who cares about his country and fears for its future. Indeed, that's why he's running for Congress, because America can be better and Kevin Powell can work to make it better.

Sincerely,
Michael Spitzer-Rubenstein

--
Michael Spitzer-Rubenstein
Internet Director, Kevin Powell for Congress
www.kevinpowellforcongress.org”

I responded, “You are entitled to your interpretation, and I suggest you post it, but I'd still like to hear from Mr.. Powell, in his words, exactly how he feels about Durban.”

I expected that that would close the discussion like a casket, but I was proven wrong.

“I have your response, straight from Kevin.

‘Regarding the Durban conference, I don't support any statements that make unfair accusations of any people. My position is that we've got to bring peace between Israelis and Palestinians once and for all.’

Hope that helps.

Michael

--
Michael Spitzer-Rubenstein
Internet Director, Kevin Powell for Congress
www.kevinpowellforcongress.org”

“Well, Mike,” said I, “it really does not, but thanks for trying. Kevin says he doesn’t support any statements that make unfair accusations of any people, but he doesn’t say that he found any of the Durban Conference’s statements unfair, and if so, which ones. And he hasn’t clarified his “inartfully worded” statement “that the American delegation walked out of the country when the thorny issue of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was brought up, from the perspective of people of color”, a statement which implies, however inartfully, that Powell sympathizes with unfair accusations against Israelis. He still hasn’t said what he meant by that, though I will admit that his response to my question was, for a change, worded very artfully.

Moreover, while it is gratifying that Kevin seeks a final solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, it really would be nice if he could manage a little bit more than half a platitude about war and peace, especially given his tendency to write “War and Peace” sized prose poems complaining about his unhappy childhood or his opponent bringing up his history of violence.”

On matters of foriegn and defense policy, a visit to Kevin's  website begs the question of whether he believes we should have one at all (with the possible exception of aid to Africa).  

I trust that Mike will keep on earnestly plowing away, trying to breakdown Gate’s wall of resistance, perhaps seeing an opening in my love for rhythm and blues.

But why bother?

Perhaps because, up to this spring, Michael Spitzer-Rubenstein had been a student at Beverly Hills High School, who’d spent every spare minute of his life rallying support for Barack Obama through his own group, PicObama, (Michael Spitzer-Rubenstein, PicObama Coordinator) hawking T-shirts, bumper stickers and buttons for the Illinois senator, and supervising the high school volunteers he oversaw as the campaign’s L.A. teen director.

Could a career in politics be the next step?

It could.

Post from Michael Spitzer-Rubenstein's Blog:

“I'm Going to Be the Internet Director for Kevin Powell

He's a noted writer and activist, and is a stunning contrast to the current officeholder, Edolphus Towns. While Kevin Powell was at Netroots Nation, meeting activists and seeing some of the real issues we face, Edolphus Towns, who claims to be a Democrat, was holding a fundraiser in Washington D.C. with Republican lobbyist and former Congressman J.C. Watts. Towns has received several thousand dollars from Republican congressmen, and even more from lobbyists, and it's time to turn the page and turn out Edolphus Towns.

Michael Spitzer-Rubenstein, PicObama Coordinator”

So Michael Spitzer-Rubenstein, young idealist ideologue has joined the campaign of a man whose central issue is that his opponent did not support Barack Obama. But while Spitzer-Rubenstein sees this as proof of tired cynicism, Powell is clearly marketing the same as proof of “race treason“--talk about tired cynicism. And never mind that when one is trying to pass legislation designed to save Starrett City, it might help to get along with one’s US Senators. But there I go again thinking like a cynical old man.

Plus, Michael got the money thing wrong. The crime isn't taking money from Republicans. The crime is giving money to Republicans. When you're in the majority, or close enough to it to count, former right ideologue (and former left ideologue--till Tom Delay cleaned them out of K Street) lobbyist-sleazeballs give you suitcases of bundled checks--if you spend them to elect other Dems, that's a good thing, not a bad thing. Charlie Rangel is the champ at it--thank G-d!.

As long as one limits them to access, and doesn't fully sell out the agenda, it is not a crime to take such money--until the system is fundamentally reformed, better it should go to us than the Republicans. It is nice when one can forswear it, but it is by no means necessary, especially since the Republicans will take every cent they can get.

As Michael's fellow Californian (and fellow Bobby Kennedy fan) Speaker Jesse "Big Daddy" Unrah used to say, "Money is the mother's milk of politics" and "If you can't take their money, drink their liquor, fuck their women, and then come in here the next day and vote against them, you don't belong here."

The question remains, does Watts' money cause Towns to sell out? That would be a good question to answer. Taking the money may be evidence that there is fire where there's smoke, but until you find the fire, smoke is what you're blowing. Go find the fire, and draw the line! Then you'll really have something (and I'm not sure tobacco counts, ET is a Carolina kid, and to him it's a crop that keeps a lot of people like the ones he grew up with in food, clothing and shelter.)

Incidentally, there is one Brooklyn elected official who instead of taking money from that evil bastard Watts, gave Watts money to help keep him in Congress as a Republican. That official, State Senator Eric Adams also supported Obama; does that absolve him of this guilt? Or does Adams’ subsequent support for Towns render him once again into a reactionary? Such are the complicated issues in the adult world where the cowboys seldom wear hats of black and white.

Meanwhile, Michael Spitzer-Rubenstein (not verified) says:

“I would say that awful is the right word for what Ed Towns has done. He has helped ship thousands of jobs out of Brooklyn and to other countries with his support of NAFTA, CAFTA, and other free trade agreements. He has weakened our public schools by voting to pass the No Child Left Behind Act which has been an unmitigated failure. And in spite of his long service in Congress, Ed Towns has done little for Brooklyn.

Moreover, as the Internet Director for Kevin Powell's campaign, I can assure you that we are raising money and will have enough money to win the race. However, if you have any doubts about our viability, I encourage you to help out by giving to the campaign: https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/kevinpowell. We could use all the help we can get, and would be very grateful for your support.

Sincerely,
Michael Spitzer-Rubenstein
Internet Director, Kevin Powell for Congress.”

Notwithstanding the fact that Towns supported CAFTA, but never supported NAFTA (something I made great sport of), and that No Child Left Behind was one of those damned if you do/don’t issues (co-sponsored by Obama-supporter Ted Kennedy), one has to give Michael, and his slightly older frat-brother wunderkind, Obama and Powell fundraiser Arthur Leopold, credit for their dedication, idealism and sense of civic responsibility. They really are making America a better place, even if some of their actions, such as supporting Powell, sometimes make it a little worse. Well, “two steps forward, one step back” still gets one ahead in the end. Hopefully, they will not end up like Gatemouth, whose idealism eventually rendered him into a bitter middle and jaded middle aged man of possibly reactionary tendencies (read the link Michael, you need to).

After all, if Orson Welles had earlier assimilated the lessons of forty, he may have had a happier career, but would probably have never attempted “Ambersons”, instead following the path of the man who butchered “Ambersons” for the studio, Robert Wise, whose great cinematic achievement was “The Sound of Music”

Still, it may be useful for Mike and Arthur to remember that in “Ambersons” it was the twenty year old who was the reactionary elitist, and the forty year old the thoughtful visionary:

“I'm not sure George is wrong about automobiles. With all their speed forward, they may be a step backward in civilization. It may be that they won't add to the beauty of the world or the life of men's souls. I'm not sure. But automobiles have come. And almost all outward things are going to be different because of what they bring. They're going to alter war and they're going to alter peace. And I think men's minds are going to be changed in subtle ways because of automobiles. And it may be that George is right. It may be that in ten or twenty years from now, if we can see the inward change in men by that time, I shouldn't be able to defend the gasoline engine but would have to agree with George: that automobiles had no business to be invented.”---Joseph Cotton in “The Magnificent Ambersons”.

On the other hand, it could be that George, rather than being a reactionary elitist, but instead was a visionary who had just glimpsed “An Inconvenient Truth” a century too early.

Good luck, Michael. Remember, in politics, winning is better than losing, but losing is better than not being in the game. I myself once parlayed three straight defeats into a very nice job with no heavy lifting, and I'm a "settler"; the summer I graduated from high school, the job I attained as a result of my political work was on the Bergen County New Jersey Department of Public Works Tree Crew (one afternoon, stoned out of our minds, my crew accidently dumped a $250 power saw in the sanitary landfill at Lyndhurst).  You are not a "settler". A "striver" like you is capable of far greater achievements; I hope you accomplish them.

Just consider the ass-kicking I'm helping to give Kevin as my friendly pat on your back on your way up the ladder.