Garden State Patriot

Representative Charlie Rangel appeared on New York 1 last night to discuss next year’s Democrat primary in New York. During the discussion Rangel lashed out Andrew Cuomo, the state’s current Attorney General because he has not ruled out a primary challenge against sitting governor David Paterson. Rangel went on to say that the prospect of such a challenge could cause ‘racial polarization’ within the Democrat Party.

Rep. Charles Rangel Friday warned of “racial polarization” if Attorney General Andrew Cuomo challenges Gov. Paterson in a primary next year.

Rangel, who is close to the poll-challenged Paterson, ripped Cuomo on New York 1 last night for flatly not ruling out a run for governor next year.

“You cannot support the governor, prepare for reelection and at the same time say that you’re keeping your options open for a primary,” Rangel said.

Cuomo has repeatedly said he expects to run for reelection, but has noted that next year is a long way off.

Should Cuomo run, Rangel said, it would create a divide that could be “devastating” to New York Democrats.

“I think that there might be an inclination for racial polarization in a primary in the state of New York,” Rangel said.

“Since we have most African-Americans registered as Democrats, and since you would be making an appeal for Democrats, it would be devastating in my opinion.”

Paterson, of course, was appointed to the governorship after Elliot Spitzer’s sex scandal led him to resign. However, since taking over, Paterson has grown increasingly unpopular. His budget proposals, laden with increases in taxes and fees, have not been well-received.

So, according to Rangel, a Cuomo challenge would be racially polarizing. How this is not dealing the race card from the bottom of the deck, I don’t know. Just what is the meaning behind Rangel’s statement?

• Is Rangel saying an incompetent governor, or any governor for that matter, is above a challenge merely because he is black?
• Is he saying that black voters within his own party would not understand the reasons for Paterson being challenged?
• Is he saying black voters are all drones who vote in lock step?
• Is he saying black voters in the Democratic Party will revolt because a white man challenged a black incumbent?

It’s hard not to read at least some of the above into Rangel’s comments, none of which can be viewed as anything but race baiting.

However, it’s also quite ironic to witness this kind of politics play out within the Democratic Party. After all, this is how Democrats like use race to attack Republicans. In fact, it’s not really any different than the warnings from Democrats or liberals in the media for Republicans not to oppose Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination to the Supreme Court now, is it?

Cross-posted at Conservatives with Attitude!