I'm Senator and I Know It
July 25, 2012 12:45 PM Subscribe
No more "Hunger Games" in our District! [autoplaying music] Running for State Senate in Brooklyn on the Republican and Conservative tickets, Mindy Myers, 22 and an Orthodox Jew, is the self-proclaimed Diva of the District. In an interview with City and State she says “I’m trying to attract a young crowd and recruit more young people," [...] "People in politics are out of touch with the younger generation, who are not voting, are not registered.”
Note that in NY state, candidates can run on more than one party line due to fusion voting.
Note that in NY state, candidates can run on more than one party line due to fusion voting.
This post was deleted for the following reason: Poster's Request -- Brandon Blatcher
Running on the Long Island Iced Tea Party ticket.
posted by phaedon at 12:52 PM on July 25, 2012 [24 favorites]
posted by phaedon at 12:52 PM on July 25, 2012 [24 favorites]
Simultaneously appalled and applauding.
posted by bastionofsanity at 12:52 PM on July 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by bastionofsanity at 12:52 PM on July 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
Appallauding?
posted by symbioid at 12:53 PM on July 25, 2012 [8 favorites]
posted by symbioid at 12:53 PM on July 25, 2012 [8 favorites]
I don't know about her politics or lack thereof but she seems to have a problem standing up straight for the camera.
And what views do Orthodox Jews hold that I need to be aware of?
posted by jsavimbi at 12:55 PM on July 25, 2012 [2 favorites]
And what views do Orthodox Jews hold that I need to be aware of?
posted by jsavimbi at 12:55 PM on July 25, 2012 [2 favorites]
“I’ve heard that by comparison, I’m sure mine is boring, although I’m not concerned being that no one’s ever won an election based on something on their website,” he said.
Man, now I want her to win just to make sure the Irony Gods are satisfied with the sacrifice of his career.
Also, from the website:
oh shit she's going to win
posted by griphus at 12:56 PM on July 25, 2012 [11 favorites]
Man, now I want her to win just to make sure the Irony Gods are satisfied with the sacrifice of his career.
Also, from the website:
AbortionWhat the hell does that mean? I can't even figure out her position even though she throws the "choice" dogwhistle right in there. This statement on a Very Important Issue is completely ambiguous.
Mindy believes women today have choices. When faced with the prospect of an unwanted pregnancy, women can get the help they need, no matter what their economic status, race, religion and education. There are many support groups available to help women through their pregnancies, along with providing the proper medical attention they need. In addition, there are many couples who are longing to provide a warm and loving home for these children through adoption.
oh shit she's going to win
posted by griphus at 12:56 PM on July 25, 2012 [11 favorites]
Well...Orange-Americans have historically been underrepresented in the politics of New York State.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 12:57 PM on July 25, 2012 [25 favorites]
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 12:57 PM on July 25, 2012 [25 favorites]
Not the least competent major party candidate I've seen run in one of these gerrymandered downstate districts. In '10 the repubs ran a 22 year old hard core tea-party candidate in my incredibly liberal district. A literal dog-whistle could have gotten more votes.
(not only is she RTL, she's also pro-voucher - a big issue for the orthodox community)
posted by JPD at 12:59 PM on July 25, 2012
(not only is she RTL, she's also pro-voucher - a big issue for the orthodox community)
posted by JPD at 12:59 PM on July 25, 2012
When faced with the prospect of an unwanted pregnancy, women can get the help they need, no matter what their economic status, race, religion and education.
Cite please?
posted by VTX at 1:00 PM on July 25, 2012 [9 favorites]
Cite please?
posted by VTX at 1:00 PM on July 25, 2012 [9 favorites]
“So I decided pink because pink’s my favorite color and the inspiration for that is definitely Elle Woods from ‘Legally Blonde.’ She showed me that you can take pink and make it sophisticated, take it all the way to Harvard. Why not just make everything exciting and animated so everyone should get involved in the election?”
Is this a real person?
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 1:03 PM on July 25, 2012 [6 favorites]
Is this a real person?
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 1:03 PM on July 25, 2012 [6 favorites]
Lets put this in perspective - the last two elections the incumbent Kevin Parker won
38k to 7k and 62k to 6k
posted by JPD at 1:03 PM on July 25, 2012 [4 favorites]
38k to 7k and 62k to 6k
posted by JPD at 1:03 PM on July 25, 2012 [4 favorites]
What the hell does that mean? I can't even figure out her position even though she throws the "choice" dogwhistle right in there. This statement on a Very Important Issue is completely ambiguous.
It means she's anti-choice but doesn't want to come out and say it because she's not a total idiot.
posted by Pope Guilty at 1:04 PM on July 25, 2012 [37 favorites]
It means she's anti-choice but doesn't want to come out and say it because she's not a total idiot.
posted by Pope Guilty at 1:04 PM on July 25, 2012 [37 favorites]
In case anyone was concerned she was going to win, she's a sacrificial lamb in a 56% Black district. Brooklyn is more likely to be destroyed by a volcano than elect her.
posted by Hollywood Upstairs Medical College at 1:05 PM on July 25, 2012 [14 favorites]
posted by Hollywood Upstairs Medical College at 1:05 PM on July 25, 2012 [14 favorites]
She is currently working for a real-estate attorney in Flatbush and attending the Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center in Central Islip, New York in the evening. Mindy intends to use her law degree as a segue into the political arena.
That's odd; most people who pay $150K to a shady institution to get into politics want no paper trail at all.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 1:05 PM on July 25, 2012 [6 favorites]
That's odd; most people who pay $150K to a shady institution to get into politics want no paper trail at all.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 1:05 PM on July 25, 2012 [6 favorites]
This must be a prank. Must be. Must be.
Mustn't it?
posted by Edison Carter at 1:07 PM on July 25, 2012 [2 favorites]
Mustn't it?
posted by Edison Carter at 1:07 PM on July 25, 2012 [2 favorites]
For those who aren't sure what Inspector.Gadget is talking about, Touro College -- which, along with Brooklyn College, is basically where Orthodox Jews in Brooklyn go for undergraduate education -- got dinged for being a diploma mill a while back.
posted by griphus at 1:07 PM on July 25, 2012 [6 favorites]
posted by griphus at 1:07 PM on July 25, 2012 [6 favorites]
(not only is she RTL, she's also pro-voucher - a big issue for the orthodox community)
Would the Orthodox community be comfortable with a woman in this kind of leadership position?
posted by atrazine at 1:07 PM on July 25, 2012
Would the Orthodox community be comfortable with a woman in this kind of leadership position?
posted by atrazine at 1:07 PM on July 25, 2012
Why does it look like her head is photoshopped onto her body in all her pictures?
posted by Curious Artificer at 1:10 PM on July 25, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by Curious Artificer at 1:10 PM on July 25, 2012 [3 favorites]
Orthodoxy is a pretty big gamut in that you can't really say "they'll be okay with this" or "they won't." Ultra-Orthodox/Haredi Jews are probably not going to be cool with it. As for the rest? It really depends on the views and community of those particular Orthodox Jews.
posted by griphus at 1:11 PM on July 25, 2012
posted by griphus at 1:11 PM on July 25, 2012
the last two elections the incumbent Kevin Parker won 38k to 7k and 62k to 6k
If you're going to offer up a sacrificial lamb, make it a cute one. Maybe she's planning to use her high-visibilty doomed campaign as a stepping stone to a Sarah-Palin-style free-range professional gadfly role. It's a career for a woman that likely wouldn't offend many Orthodox Jews or Orthodox Republicans.
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:12 PM on July 25, 2012
If you're going to offer up a sacrificial lamb, make it a cute one. Maybe she's planning to use her high-visibilty doomed campaign as a stepping stone to a Sarah-Palin-style free-range professional gadfly role. It's a career for a woman that likely wouldn't offend many Orthodox Jews or Orthodox Republicans.
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:12 PM on July 25, 2012
She's hopelessly out of touch. She's using the old Twitter logo on her site.
posted by mochapickle at 1:16 PM on July 25, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by mochapickle at 1:16 PM on July 25, 2012 [3 favorites]
Speaking of Mindys, this story seems a lot more like a winning plot for a Mindy Kaling sitcom than the one we're getting this fall.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 1:19 PM on July 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by MCMikeNamara at 1:19 PM on July 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
Even having seen the Hunger Games reference in the post, I still wasn't expecting a picture of her posing as Katniss accompanying her views of poverty and unemployment.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 1:19 PM on July 25, 2012
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 1:19 PM on July 25, 2012
For god's sake, someone, tell her about kerning.
Otherwise I have no problems.
posted by WPW at 1:22 PM on July 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
Otherwise I have no problems.
posted by WPW at 1:22 PM on July 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
SNOOKI AND JWOWW FOR RESIDENT!
posted by infinitywaltz at 1:27 PM on July 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by infinitywaltz at 1:27 PM on July 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
It's like the ghost of some webpage from the 90s rose to sparkle at me. All she needs is some flashing text crawling across the screen.
posted by lesbiassparrow at 1:28 PM on July 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by lesbiassparrow at 1:28 PM on July 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
She reminds me SO much of President Camacho (nsfw language) from Idiocracy.
It's only a matter of time I think.
posted by Malice at 1:38 PM on July 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
It's only a matter of time I think.
posted by Malice at 1:38 PM on July 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
Brooklyn is more likely to be destroyed by a volcano than elect her.
Dear Irony Gods: Please do not read this thread as a challenge.
Thanks! - Bellman
posted by The Bellman at 1:41 PM on July 25, 2012 [3 favorites]
Dear Irony Gods: Please do not read this thread as a challenge.
Thanks! - Bellman
posted by The Bellman at 1:41 PM on July 25, 2012 [3 favorites]
I foresee a thriving fox commentator career for this young woman!
posted by winna at 1:51 PM on July 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by winna at 1:51 PM on July 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
You know what, good for her. She's certainly not the worst or the most infuriating candidate out there, or even the one who at first glance most deserves to be mocked.
It's kind of refreshing to see someone different getting out there and wanting to run for office.
posted by mrs. taters at 1:53 PM on July 25, 2012
It's kind of refreshing to see someone different getting out there and wanting to run for office.
posted by mrs. taters at 1:53 PM on July 25, 2012
I should clarify that I totally made fun of her yesterday, but today I'm so sick of politicians that fuck it, I applaud this girl for blinging it out and being exactly who she wants to be.
posted by mrs. taters at 1:55 PM on July 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by mrs. taters at 1:55 PM on July 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
From the City and State interview:
She's the best the Brooklyn GOP could do? Wow.
posted by zarq at 2:05 PM on July 25, 2012
Who is Mindy’s style inspiration, we wondered?
“To be honest with you, the reason why I initially wanted to attend law school is because I’d watched Legally Blonde and saw Elle Woods,” Meyer said. Eleven years ago, when the film was released, Meyer was about 10 or 11 years old.
“She showed me you could go to Harvard and make it sophisticated. Pink is my favorite color, so that’s technically my inspiration, everything pink,” she said.
She's the best the Brooklyn GOP could do? Wow.
posted by zarq at 2:05 PM on July 25, 2012
Capital New York:
posted by zarq at 2:12 PM on July 25, 2012 [7 favorites]
Meyer is running as a Republican and Conservative candidate, against Democrat Kevin Parker, a politician with his own colorful profile.The Atlantic: "This is a perversion of Elle Woods's legacy. Of Kim Kardashian's, not so much." Ouch.
When I asked Meyer what made her a Republican and a Conservative, she at first had a hard time answering. She said she wanted to run against Parker, so she went to the Republicans and they endorsed her. The Conservative Party, she said, was more difficult.
"They started asking me a lot about the issues and I told them I was in the middle of law school finals and I'm like honestly, I can't tell you a lot about the issues right now, but what I can tell you is that if you put me up as your candidate I'm going to take the election till the end," she said.
She said they asked about abortion and gay marriage.
"They asked me if I'm pro-life or pro-choice and I said I'm pro-life," she said.
Meyer also said she would have voted against same-sex-marriage legislation.
"I feel like people can do whatever they want," she said. "I just don't necessarily feel like it should necessarily result in marriage ... It's not something I support, you know? But I'm not against--people can be with whoever they want. Just in terms of marriage, I just feel that, you know, um, I guess you can say I'm against it."
I asked her about Andrew Cuomo, who has in many ways been a friend to the Republican majority in the State Senate.
She seemed unsure, at one point telling me, "Honestly, I'm not really familiar with him."
I said he was the governor. Meyer later said, "I'm not familiar with him in particular, his issues and, you know, and everything about him. You're asking me how I would work with him?"
posted by zarq at 2:12 PM on July 25, 2012 [7 favorites]
For those who aren't sure what Inspector.Gadget is talking about, Touro College -- which, along with Brooklyn College, is basically where Orthodox Jews in Brooklyn go for undergraduate education -- got dinged for being a diploma mill a while back.In fairness, that was apparently two administrators with access to the registrar's system basically selling hacking services - that they'd make modifications to the records for a fee. Touro itself is accredited and legitimate.
posted by kickingtheground at 2:15 PM on July 25, 2012
So she's running on her young! pink! vibrant! a breath of fresh air! but is against abortion and against same-sex marriage.
She's like the Kwisatz Haderach of being unelectable.
posted by griphus at 2:16 PM on July 25, 2012 [6 favorites]
She's like the Kwisatz Haderach of being unelectable.
posted by griphus at 2:16 PM on July 25, 2012 [6 favorites]
Just once I want a real manic pixie dream candidate
posted by The Whelk at 2:24 PM on July 25, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 2:24 PM on July 25, 2012 [5 favorites]
That reads way too much like young pink vibrator and I urge you to reconsider your phrasing.
posted by elizardbits at 2:25 PM on July 25, 2012 [9 favorites]
posted by elizardbits at 2:25 PM on July 25, 2012 [9 favorites]
What the fuck sort of phrase is "I have the intention to follow my values"? Is Dan Brown writing her campaign literature?
posted by howfar at 2:28 PM on July 25, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by howfar at 2:28 PM on July 25, 2012 [2 favorites]
elizardbits: "That reads way too much like young pink vibrator and I urge you to reconsider your phrasing."
Wouldn't that be a hell of a campaign, though?
"Albany has been screwing you for years! Vote for me, and I'll help you screw yourselves!"
posted by zarq at 2:29 PM on July 25, 2012 [2 favorites]
Wouldn't that be a hell of a campaign, though?
"Albany has been screwing you for years! Vote for me, and I'll help you screw yourselves!"
posted by zarq at 2:29 PM on July 25, 2012 [2 favorites]
The republicans screws the poor, the sex party screws the poor!
posted by The Whelk at 2:31 PM on July 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by The Whelk at 2:31 PM on July 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
I should clarify that I totally made fun of her yesterday, but today I'm so sick of politicians that fuck it, I applaud this girl for blinging it out and being exactly who she wants to be.
I have a problem with this. This is like all the people who keep it real. If you are ignorant you get no credit from me for being yourself. If you are ignorant you need to be someone else. And if at all possible you need to make it someone who is not ignorant.
posted by The Violet Cypher at 2:31 PM on July 25, 2012 [9 favorites]
I have a problem with this. This is like all the people who keep it real. If you are ignorant you get no credit from me for being yourself. If you are ignorant you need to be someone else. And if at all possible you need to make it someone who is not ignorant.
posted by The Violet Cypher at 2:31 PM on July 25, 2012 [9 favorites]
I think Weiner already covered that.
posted by Madamina at 2:31 PM on July 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Madamina at 2:31 PM on July 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
This is my state senate district. Whee!
posted by ocherdraco at 2:48 PM on July 25, 2012
posted by ocherdraco at 2:48 PM on July 25, 2012
From the Atlantic piece:
She told Paybarah that it was way easier to get a Republican endorsement than a Conservative Party one, because the latter group asked more questions. "They started asking me a lot about the issues and I told them I was in the middle of law school finals and I'm like honestly, I can't tell you a lot about the issues right now, but what I can tell you is that if you put me up as your candidate I'm going to take the election till the end." And her thoughts on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo? "Honestly, I'm not really familiar with him."
posted by mek at 2:59 PM on July 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
She told Paybarah that it was way easier to get a Republican endorsement than a Conservative Party one, because the latter group asked more questions. "They started asking me a lot about the issues and I told them I was in the middle of law school finals and I'm like honestly, I can't tell you a lot about the issues right now, but what I can tell you is that if you put me up as your candidate I'm going to take the election till the end." And her thoughts on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo? "Honestly, I'm not really familiar with him."
posted by mek at 2:59 PM on July 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
One of the best/worst things about working in and around politics is that, on a disturbingly regular basis, you get to meet people like this. Not so much in the "young! pink!" sense (that's a new twist!) but in the "their brain is so full of ambition tinged with narcissism and mania that there's no room for anything else" sense.
I love the fact that she didn't really know who Andrew Cuomo was. To be fair, I think there are a lot of people who kind of wish they didn't know who Andrew Cuomo was.
posted by lunasol at 3:07 PM on July 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
I love the fact that she didn't really know who Andrew Cuomo was. To be fair, I think there are a lot of people who kind of wish they didn't know who Andrew Cuomo was.
posted by lunasol at 3:07 PM on July 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
I don't know what building she is standing in front of, but it's definitely not the NY State Senate building.
posted by Brocktoon at 3:10 PM on July 25, 2012
posted by Brocktoon at 3:10 PM on July 25, 2012
Myers isn't so different from a lot of politicians. She just hasn't learned how to lie, equivocate and disguise her ignorance of relevant knowledge yet.
posted by Kevin Street at 3:15 PM on July 25, 2012
posted by Kevin Street at 3:15 PM on July 25, 2012
I don't know how she calculates that she's the first 'young woman' to run for the New York State senate, but there are at least a few people who'd probably dispute that...including one named actually named 'Young.'
posted by yellowcandy at 3:16 PM on July 25, 2012
posted by yellowcandy at 3:16 PM on July 25, 2012
Since there are so many NYC politicos in the thread, what can you tell me about Christine Quinn? I like her labor background and always find her marriage equaility speeches moving, but when that happens it usually means they're actually totally horrible or something.
posted by The Whelk at 3:20 PM on July 25, 2012
posted by The Whelk at 3:20 PM on July 25, 2012
If the breathless responses on this thread are any indication, if she gets elected she'll be the northeastern equivalent to Sarah Palin, which will be all sorts of hilarity.
posted by Apocryphon at 3:24 PM on July 25, 2012
posted by Apocryphon at 3:24 PM on July 25, 2012
For those who aren't sure what Inspector.Gadget is talking about, Touro College -- which, along with Brooklyn College, is basically where Orthodox Jews in Brooklyn go for undergraduate education -- got dinged for being a diploma mill a while back.
I was thinking more of the fact that if Touro Law were a meme, it would be Shit Tier but you'd have to pay 9gag to access the image (though the above scandal certainly doesn't help matters). There are doubtless many hard-working, successful Touro Law graduates, but to trumpet your attendance as a mark of achievement supporting your election rather than demonstrating a propensity for total fiscal insanity (especially in this market) is beyond tone-deaf.
Also I am not interested in my tax money going to fund development loans for the self-tanner industry.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 3:38 PM on July 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
I was thinking more of the fact that if Touro Law were a meme, it would be Shit Tier but you'd have to pay 9gag to access the image (though the above scandal certainly doesn't help matters). There are doubtless many hard-working, successful Touro Law graduates, but to trumpet your attendance as a mark of achievement supporting your election rather than demonstrating a propensity for total fiscal insanity (especially in this market) is beyond tone-deaf.
Also I am not interested in my tax money going to fund development loans for the self-tanner industry.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 3:38 PM on July 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
"I think government is ready for a candidate who truly gets what young people look for in a state senator. Someone who understands what the youth of today is into: LMFAO, Tanning, and only having sex for procreation in a religiously sanctioned marriage."
posted by shmegegge at 3:39 PM on July 25, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by shmegegge at 3:39 PM on July 25, 2012 [5 favorites]
Since there are so many NYC politicos in the thread, what can you tell me about Christine Quinn?
Depends how you feel about Bloomberg. Conventional Wisdom is that she's his lackey.
posted by JPD at 3:47 PM on July 25, 2012 [2 favorites]
Depends how you feel about Bloomberg. Conventional Wisdom is that she's his lackey.
posted by JPD at 3:47 PM on July 25, 2012 [2 favorites]
I have ....mixed feelings aout Bloomberg, but I know she tried to distance herself from the whole library demolishing supervilliany.
Man this is going to be another day spent looking at voting records isn't it.....
posted by The Whelk at 3:51 PM on July 25, 2012
Man this is going to be another day spent looking at voting records isn't it.....
posted by The Whelk at 3:51 PM on July 25, 2012
I think I hate the Chicago font (outside of its uses on the iPod and in MacOS!) more than Comic Sans.
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 4:18 PM on July 25, 2012
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 4:18 PM on July 25, 2012
This is a joke, right? Gotta be. I'm almost sorta vaguely certain that it is. Almost. Maybe. Probably a parody. Gotta be. Right?
In this day and age who knows. We're fucked.
posted by futz at 4:32 PM on July 25, 2012
In this day and age who knows. We're fucked.
posted by futz at 4:32 PM on July 25, 2012
It seems that she is both for and against racial profiling. Well then, she has and does not have my vote.
posted by Splunge at 6:38 PM on July 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Splunge at 6:38 PM on July 25, 2012 [1 favorite]
“To be honest with you, the reason why I initially wanted to attend law school is because I’d watched Legally Blonde and saw Elle Woods,” Meyer said. Eleven years ago, when the film was released, Meyer was about 10 or 11 years old.
Too bad she didn't watch The Paper Chase and take Lindsay Wagner as her style icon. THAT would be interesting.
posted by ThisIsNotMe at 10:01 PM on July 25, 2012
Too bad she didn't watch The Paper Chase and take Lindsay Wagner as her style icon. THAT would be interesting.
posted by ThisIsNotMe at 10:01 PM on July 25, 2012
Ok... went to her page with her script blocker.
Gotta say, for someone against SSM (presumably), her GOP elephant looks, erm, awfully gay.
A quick look at the incredibly sparse pages, she looks to be not a fiscal conservative.
But, my god lady, hold your head straight, it's like there is ball bearing loose in her neck
posted by edgeways at 8:52 AM on July 26, 2012
Gotta say, for someone against SSM (presumably), her GOP elephant looks, erm, awfully gay.
A quick look at the incredibly sparse pages, she looks to be not a fiscal conservative.
But, my god lady, hold your head straight, it's like there is ball bearing loose in her neck
posted by edgeways at 8:52 AM on July 26, 2012
« Older Cross purposes | Armistead Maupin is leaving San Francisco for... Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by edgeways at 12:52 PM on July 25, 2012