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Maloney under fire for racial slur prior to making Senate run

Maloney under fire for racial slur prior to making Senate run
By Nathan Duke

U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Astoria) came under fire this week for using a racial slur while relaying a story to a city publication amid plans to challenge U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) in the 2010 Democratic primary.

The congresswoman criticized Gillibrand in a July 17 City Hall article for her stance on English-only education. In the piece, Maloney relayed a conversation from someone from Puerto Rico who called her to say Gillibrand had gone to Puerto Rico andcome out for English-only education. “And he said, ‘It was like saying n—– to a Puerto Rican, ” said Maloney, quoting the caller.

Gillibrand’s camp was quick to respond to Maloney’s comment.

“Sen. Gillibrand believes that any use of the word is offensive,” spokesman Matt Canter said. “Furthermore, she opposes English-only policies and supports expanding opportunities for immigrants to learn English and thrive in our economy.”

In a statement, Maloney apologized for the comment.

“I apologize for having repeated a word I find disgusting,” she said. “It’s no excuse, but I was so caught up in relaying the story exactly as it was told to me that, in doing so, I repeated a word that should never be repeated.”

In a statement, the Rev. Al Sharpton said Maloney’s quote was “alarming and disturbing.”

“No public official even in quoting someone else should loosely use such an offensive term and should certainly challenge someone using the term to him or her,” Sharpton said. “Congresswoman Maloney should reveal the person that she was talking about so we know that, in fact, this conversation did occur and the way in which it occurred.”

Maloney, first elected to the House in 1993 as a representative for Astoria, Long Island City and Manhattan’s East Side, planned to officially announce her bid to replace Gillibrand by the end of the month, said Paul Blank, Maloney’s spokesman, before the flap.

“Congresswoman Maloney has made her decision,” Blank said in mid-July. “She believes times are too tough and our challenges too important for politics as usual. New Yorkers need a strong, experienced and independent leader who will never waiver and can always be counted on to stand up to powerful interests and fight for the values and principles we believe in.”

Gov. David Paterson named Gillibrand as successor to newly appointed U.S. State Secretary Hillary Clinton in January. Maloney had also been named as a potential choice for the seat at that time.

Gillibrand, who has strong support from U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and the White House, had appealed to Republicans and conservative Democrats during her tenure as a congresswoman in upstate New York due to her outspoken advocacy for gun rights and opposition to granting amnesty and non-emergency taxpayer benefits to illegal immigrants.

But Blank said Maloney would challenge the junior senator’s stances on guns, immigration and the economic downturn.

City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria) said he was aware of pressure on Maloney not to run, but he believed the congresswoman would be a strong contender for Gillibrand’s seat.

“I’ve always favored giving people a choice and I think Carolyn would make a great candidate if she should decide to run,” he said.

A source familiar with the Queens Democratic Party said Vallone could potentially run for Maloney’s seat in the House should she be elected to the Senate.

Blank said Vice President Joseph Biden had called Maloney earlier this month, but that he nor any other Democratic Party leader asked the congresswoman not to enter the race.

“This is a strategy by people who don’t want to give voters a choice,” he said. “There’s been no communication from the administration telling her not to run.”

Reach reporter Nathan Duke by e-mail at nduke@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.