It's been some time since last I posted, due to turmoil in the markets and a need for me to focus on my non-blog life.  But as the Democratic Primary is over, I thought I'd offer a final word.

Kevin Powell, lately contender to be Brooklyn's Congressman in the 10th, officially lost his bid to unseat 13-time incumbent, Edolphus"Ed" Towns, by a whopping 67% to 33%.

Now, Kevin Powell has let us know what he thinks.  He's posted a "Post-Election Statement" to the voters on his website here: http://www.kevinpowellforcongress.com/

I'll cut-and-paste the full text below, but how about some "highlights," or rather, "low-lights" from a "low-life."

"I acknowledge that Congressman Edolphus “Ed” Towns won the race this time around."

Correction, Kevin.  The voters of Brooklyn chose Ed Towns over you by a 2-1 margin.  This is not Ed Towns beating you in a 100-yard dash by cheating.  You couldn't convince the voters - the voters didn't believe your game - so there's no need to spit a concession out.  And, not even a congratulatory comment to your competition?

Not even a, "My congratulations go out to Ed Towns on a race well run.  And although I was not successful, I hope Congressman Towns will join me in hoping we can work together to improve the lives of the folks of Brooklyn?"  Nope.  Nothing.  Talk about a piss-poor sport.

"But I also acknowledge that the good people of Brooklyn lost for another two years."

Wow.  Tall comment.  "Hey, you 67% who voted for Towns?  You are a bunch of losers, and you've consigned Brooklyn to 2 years of losing, losers."  Well done, Kevin, well done.  Nice way to take a smelly shit on the will of the people.  So much for vox populi.

"If Mr. Towns has done little to nothing for the district during his 26 years in office, we seriously doubt that he is suddenly going to change now."

And yet, 67% of the voters (a much higher proportion than even during the last primary challenge) felt he was a better man for the job than you.  A 2-1 majority of voters felt the man you think is Ed "Do Nothin'" Towns would do more than you.  Question for your Kevin: exactly what does it feel like being less-than-zero?

I won't go through all the individual comments (read the full text at your leisure for a good laugh). BUT - I do have an overarching comment to make.

Throughout this campaign, Kevin Powell was continually dogged by an impression that he is an arrogant, self-centered egomaniac.  Well, this final post serves as a deafening, resounding response to his defenders and critics alike.

Kevin Powell *ABSOLUTELY IS* an arrogant, self-centered egomaniac.

And I look forward to his continued electoral losses in 2010, 2012, and in every election cycle thereafter.

 

*****

I want to thank every single person who supported, donated, and believed in my run for Congress here in Brooklyn, NY’s 10th Congressional district. I acknowledge that Congressman Edolphus “Ed” Towns won the race this time around. But I also acknowledge that the good people of Brooklyn lost for another two years. If Mr. Towns has done little to nothing for the district during his 26 years in office, we seriously doubt that he is suddenly going to change now. We know the people of neighborhoods like East New York, Bed-Stuy, Fort Greene, Midwood, and Williamsburg deserve representation that is accessible, visible, and reliable on a consistent basis. Mr. Towns has a history of only helping selected areas and groups in the district, the people he knows are most likely to vote on primary day every two years because he caters to them only.

We also know all residents deserve representation that will speak loudly on their behalf around matters like affordable housing, education, healthcare, jobs, and ending the war in Iraq. And we know these residents deserve representation that does not campaign for just the last few days of a campaign cycle. And we know that all the voter intimidation, manipulation, and suddenly broken voter machines were not mere coincidence. Nor were the attacks on my character that appeared in certain newspapers and websites. Nor is it a coincidence that Mr. Towns refused to debate one single time, in spite of repeated calls for a public hearing about the issues. Elected officials like Congressman Ed Towns do not believe in democracy. They believe in maintaining their power and privilege, at the expense of the American people, by any means necessary. So we will never know, for sure, what the real vote count was, because this was never a fair campaign from the very beginning.

That is why I am proud to say I will be a candidate for Congress again in 2010. The campaign has already begun because of you.

It has begun because of all the outpouring of love and encouragement I have received from you, the people, here in Brooklyn, in other parts of New York City, and from across the country. All the phone calls, emails, text messages, and snail mail has been so incredibly humbling and gratifying. Sometimes when you are in the middle of a very serious campaign for political office, you have no idea how many people care, how many people want you to win, how many people believe in you and your team and the desire to see a movement for change across America. And I am especially grateful to the multicultural army of younger people who worked on our campaign, who voted, who told me this is the first time they actually took politics seriously. I say to the young people, in particular, do not give up, and do not forget that it has always been younger people, in America, and around the world, who make change happen.

Together, we will win in 2010.

We the people are the leadership we are waiting for in Brooklyn, in America, and we are not going to let anyone turn us around. I have learned so much from this experience, am so grateful for the amazing people I have met, and I don’t care if I am running against Mr. Towns in 2010 or his son, Assemblyman Darryl Towns. We are going to end the business and cycle of family politics and shameless nepotism in Brooklyn once and for all.

Just as Abraham Lincoln lost nearly a dozen political campaigns before becoming president of the United States, just as Barack Obama lost a Congressional campaign in 2000 before becoming the Barack Obama of today, we are going to take this 2008 campaign as a necessary step toward victory in 2010.

I love you all and may God bless you all.

Sincerely,
Kevin Powell