In case you haven't noticed, the media have all practically endorsed Christine Quinn to become New York's first female and openly gay mayor.
Rather shockingly, don't count Alec Baldwin amongst them, for in a scathing piece published at the Huffington Post Monday, the actor proclaimed, "Christine Quinn is not qualified to be mayor of New York:
This, of course, is what the media in New York as well as all around the country have been saying.
Not Baldwin.
His major complaint is her connection to current Mayor Michael Bloomberg who Baldwin feels has been a failure.
"Is New York a place now so wholly overwhelmed, in a political context, by the demands, whining and blackmail of wealthy individuals and corporations that we accept reports that New York is doing well only when the climate for the very rich is favorable?" Baldwin asked, "Where do the concerns of New Yorkers making below $100,000 a year fit into the policies of the past twelve years?"
"Quinn basically had a deal with Bloomberg that he would support her and, as such, is clearly presenting herself now as pro-business, while walking and talking her way across the five boroughs as a populist," he answered. "Therefore, Quinn has positioned herself uncomfortably over the issues like paid sick leave."
"The backlash on the sick leave issue has already cost her the support of Cynthia Nixon (one of the stalwarts on marriage equality)," Baldwin continued, "and may cost Quinn the support of Gloria Steinem as well, as women are perceived to suffer disproportionately without sick leave reform."
Baldwin is also displeased with Quinn's support for "Stop and Frisk" which he believes "may be effective anti-crime policy, but it is also anti-U.S. Constitution to a lot of rather vocal political figures in the City and beyond. Quinn appears not to care."
He's also unhappy that Quinn is opposed to new tax increases to address New York's underperforming public schools.
Quinn told the New York Times in January she'd fund her education spending by "redirecting existing Department of Education financing."
"What good are all of those jobs that Quinn claims she will manifest in New York in the coming years if you have no where to send your young children to learn during the day?" Baldwin mocked.
"Even if Quinn got on her knees and begged forgiveness for the murder of the term limits law," Baldwin continued, "I still regard her as too compromised to become mayor."
"She is clearly viewed as the frontrunner and many New Yorkers seem downright medicated by the prospect of an openly gay woman as mayor of the 'The City,'" he correctly noted. "(The New York Times seems to be bending over backwards in their adulation of Quinn, covering her official announcement in March 11th's paper with a photo spread that can best be described as a proud parent's album.)"
But Baldwin isn't jumping on her bandwagon, and instead concluded by throwing his support behind NYC Public Advocate Bill de Blasio.
Baldwin's fans in the media will not be pleased.
