Here’s his campaign launch video:
Is it meaningful that Senator Booker lives in the working-class neighborhood where he grew up? Some dismiss it as a stunt, but I don’t; it shows an uncommon level of commitment, IMO.
Booker’s exploits as mayor of Newark are legendary. He once rescued a woman from a burning building and saved a dog that was accidentally left out in freezing weather by her owner.
Cynics will note that cameras always happened to be there. Anonymous rivals recently criticized Booker for hamming it up, suggesting that he has an authenticity problem. Well, the man is a politician and a US Senator, so grandstanding comes with the territory. Does it matter?
You’ll recall that President Obama was relentlessly criticized by Republicans for being an empty suit celebrity, and then those same Republicans turned around and nominated an evil reality TV jerk with a spray tan and cotton-candy coif. They have no standing to cast asparagus at anyone for being a self-promoter, ever.
On the Democratic side, where dining on our own is a tradition, anyone with boldness and/or charisma will be criticized as shrill and/or inauthentic, and anyone low-key or detail-focused will be dismissed as a bore and/or too wonky.
Obama was a Goldilocks candidate in that he struck exactly the right balance. He was no-drama Obama while mastering policy details and debating bug-eyed Republican loons, yet he was one of the most electrifying, inspiring speakers to ever hold the office. That’s rare.
In the intro video, Booker raises the specter of Trump without speaking his name. He mentions battling slumlords, his opposition to shoving kids into “cages and coffins” and says Americans are yearning to see leaders on TV who instill “pride rather than shame.” That’s true of most of us, I think.
Some Democrats grumble about Booker’s ties to Wall Street. I don’t know enough about his voting record to assess whether that’s fair criticism or not. What do you think?
Anyhoo, I look forward to hearing more from Senator Booker. The 2020 field is shaping up to be a strong one!