Monserrate Invents "Yes We Can" Party For Senate Run

Not only is former state Sen. Hiram Monserrate running for his seat again after getting expelled for a misdemeanor conviction—this time he's doing it under the name of a made-up political party. Monserrate filed the needed petitions yesterday in order to get his name on the ballot for the March 16 special election, but since he's been disowned by the Democratic Party after being caught on video dragging his girlfriend down a hallway he decided to run on the "Yes We Can" party line.

The Daily News notes that the "Yes We Can" party seems to be "an homage, perhaps, to Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers or to President Obama, or maybe both." According to Board of Elections documents, the Republican Party doesn't appear to be fielding a candidate, so Queens voters will have to choose between Monserrate and Assemblyman Jose Peralta, who is running on Democratic Party and Working Families Party lines.

Monserrate—who tried to take legal action to block his expulsion and stop the special election—issued the following statement:

I am committed, as I have always been, to defend the rights of the voters and never allowing their vote to be disenfranchised. The amount of community support during the past 6 days proves that voters in this district know who best represents them independently from party bosses, political hacks, and Albany insiders.

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By Ben Muessig in News on February 23, 2010 4:26 PM

Comments [rss]

Joan Angelson

I spent some time with him in the 90's and he was a different man. Very polite and romantic. It was the drugs that changed him. He wasn't like this before the coke. And he was much thinner, he gained alot of weight since 2000.

learnedhand

I wonder if he had ACORN help him get the signatures he needed to get on the ballot.

justthinkin

It would make sense that ACORN would assist its fellow nuts.

Bubba

How about the "Fuck All Of You" Party?

Poppa

At the very least think up your own damn slogan. Preferably one that doesn't equate a violent domestic abuser with the current U.S. president.

The gall this man has...

drewo

Monserrate filed the needed petitions yesterday in order to get his name on the ballot for the March 16 special election

He must have done all this in a short time, since he was just booted last week.

Which begs the question - can just anyone "file the needed petitions", make up a political party, and get on the ballot for an election 3 weeks away?

hunter.blatherer

As long as you can get enough signatures from registered voters.

Angelheaded Hipster

tubby wifebeater

like dominic carter

Lautaro

There should be a laugh-track playing after everything this guy says.

Troy

smack my b@tch up was a popular song, think it will play in Queens? Politics is local but this guy is loco...

jaycjay

"he's doing it under the name of a made-up political party"

Is there any other kind? Political parties don't simply occur in nature, they're all "made-up."

MT

Andrew Cuomo should investigate everyone in Albany one by one. I'm sure they all have illegal stuff they are hiding, and it's the only way they'll ever be gotten rid of. God knows they will never leave in their own and apparently the system will never work to get them out through any election.

ANGRYGOD11

If there was ever a situation for every last pro-woman group in NYC to unite and make it clear this behavior isn't acceptable, this is it. And to make it clear, he better lose badly (9th place?).