How Hakeem Jeffries Learned to Fight Dirty
PoliticoJeffries’ two losing campaigns against Green, a savvy veteran wielding the levers of incumbency, marked his first taste of political combat. Now, the fact that his climb to power began with an attempt to draw attention to his opponent’s Muslim faith — an episode little remembered until now — sits uncomfortably with a man whose caucus includes three Muslim representatives, and whose political success relies on building multi-ethnic, multi-religious coalitions. “It wasn’t an intentional line of attack.” Jeffries regrets the incident, but maintains that the remark about Green’s religion was more youthful exuberance than purposeful dog whistle. After an oppressive summer of campaign events and candidate forums in which the two candidates remained largely civil but their supporters grew increasingly frustrated with one another, Jeffries didn’t believe he could let the opportunity to draw contrasts in a televised debate pass him by. … I always felt that was a private matter between me and my god.” Jeffries believes Green’s dramatic show of protest — walking off the stage of a televised debate on New York’s most-watched news station — served to rally Green’s supporters, compounding the cost of his comment.
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