NY-14: Democrat launches primary challenge to Ocasio-Cortez
New York City Council Member Fernando Cabrera (D) has launched a primary bid to unseat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).
Cabrera filed last week with the Federal Election Commission to run for the seat in New York's 14th District, which includes parts of the Bronx and Queens.
Cabrera has represented the Bronx in New York's City Council since 2010, his campaign website notes. Politico reported that he officially began his campaign on Thursday.
“Only a Democrat is going to be able to defeat her, and it’s going to be a moderate Democrat,” he told the news outlet. “She’s a no-show in the district. She hasn’t brought about anything except division within the party.”
He added that he objects to Ocasio-Cortez's self-described democratic socialist beliefs, her "Green New Deal" plan and her support for "Medicare for All."
“Socialism doesn’t work. I don’t want it for my children, for my grandchildren,” he told Politico.
He told the newspaper he decided to enter the race after Ocasio-Cortez spoke out against Amazon's plan to open a second headquarters in Queens, which has since been scuttled.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/465319-democrat-launches-primary-challenge-to-ocasio-cortez
= new reply since forum marked as read
https://observer.com/2014/06/fernando-cabrera-draws-fire-for-ties-to-hate-group/
A Bronx councilman and senate contender has a controversial Family secret.
Councilman Fernando Cabrera, a pastor and socially conservative Democrat, recently appeared on the radio show of the Family Research Council, a right-leaning organization that was labeled a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law center four years ago. Mr. Cabrera also participated in a 2012 FRC event that included Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum, leading a top rival to slam him for being out of touch with the heavily Democratic Bronx.
“This just affirms what we’ve known all along—that Fernando Cabrera never really left the Republican Party, and is totally out of step with the values of true Democrats,” Karthik Ganapathy, a spokesman for State Senator Gustavo Rivera, told the Observer. “From rallying against marriage equality to opposing a woman’s right to make her own healthcare decisions, Mr. Cabrera’s entire record shows he simply does not have the progressive credentials to represent our neighborhoods in Albany.”
Mr. Cabrera is challenging Mr. Rivera for his west Bronx seat. Elected in 2009, Mr. Cabrera is a former Republican who is one of the more conservative members of the overwhelmingly liberal City Council.
Though his not known for making incendiary remarks, Mr. Cabrera is tied to a group that is: the FRC was classified a hate group due to anti-gay speech from its leaders, including a call for gay men and lesbians to be imprisoned. The FRC joined groups like the Ku Klux Klan and the Nation of Islam when it was slapped with the designation by the influential civil rights organization.
snip
https://www.frcblog.com/tags/Fernando%20Cabrera/
On Sunday, September 9, 2012, Family Research Council and American Family Association hosted iPledge Sunday from First Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC, an event streamed to thousands of churches and home groups across the nation encouraging Christians to Pray, Prepare, and Participate in the 2012 election.
Participants included Tony Perkins, Kirk Cameron, Sen. Rick Santorum, Bishop Harry Jackson, Jr., Kristan Hawkins, Franklin Graham, Dr. Mark Harris, NYC Fernando Cabrera, and others.
Pol praises African gov't targeting gays
https://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20140903/BLOGS04/140909970/pol-praises-african-gov-t-targeting-gays
A YouTube video has surfaced showing Bronx Councilman Fernando Cabrera in Uganda praising the leadership of the African country for its socially conservative positions, amid widespread international condemnation for its passing one of the world's most severe anti-gay laws.
The Ugandan law, which was passed last December by its parliament and signed in February, reportedly created lifetime prison sentences for some homosexual acts. (It initially would have imposed the death penalty, but was ultimately amended.) The law made it a crime to "promote" homosexuality, and to rent an apartment to an LGBT person without informing other tenants or the authorities.
Mr. Cabrera is attempting to unseat Bronx state Sen. Gustavo Rivera, and socially conservative positions may well hurt his chances in the Democratic primary. Gay rights activists recently reacted angrily when Harlem Rep. Charles Rangel endorsed Mr. Cabrera.
In a video shot during a visit to the African country in January, Mr. Cabrera, a socially conservative pastor in the Bronx, appeared to praise the country’s leaders for standing up to President Barack Obama and others who had condemned the Ugandan government's actions.
"Godly people are in government," Mr. Cabrera said, referring to Uganda's leadership. "Gay marriage is not accepted in this country. Even when the United States of America has put pressure and has told Uganda, 'We’re not going to fund you anymore unless you allow gay marriage.' And they have stood in their place. Why? Because the Christians have assumed the place of decision-making for the nation."
snip
yep, he is a real gem
Thanks for that, Me
