Last Updated: 12:39 AM, March 6, 2012

Posted: 10:23 PM, March 5, 2012


Share on emailShare on facebook More Sharing ServicesMore Print “Drawing Districts To Deepen Divides?” (PostOpinion, Michael Benjamin, Feb. 28) claims that “the Dominican ambassador to the US has actually written Gov. Cuomo asking him to ‘open the opportunity to elect a congressman of Dominican origin to the US Congress.’”

The statement is mistakenly attributed to me and does not reflect an official position of the government of the Dominican Republic.

While the Dominican people would be pleased and proud if an American of Dominican descent were elected to Congress, our government fully recognizes that the electoral affairs of the United States, including redistricting issues, are internal and sovereign concerns.

Likewise, the Dominican Republic has a sovereign right to apply its own immigration laws and to decide who are citizens in its territory.

Aníbal de Castro

Dominican Ambassador to the United States

Washington, DC


Source: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/letters/it_new_york_call_yG36hdsstEWoD0VJ0gBuHM#ixzz1oLct85uo

What?

What exactly is this all about?

Michael Benjamin (Journalist at the NY Post) wrote an Opinion piece on Feb 28, 2012, in which he stated that Anibal de Castro wrote Gov. Cuomo to 'facilitate' the election of a Dominican descent candidate to the U.S. Congress. In other words, as it commonly referred to now a days, to grease the skids for such a candidate to win an election in the Empire State. Hummmh? That's a no-no.

Anibal de Castro Ambassador for Dom. Rep. in Wash. DC., the person named in this allegation made in that article by Michael Benjamin, denies these claims. He states unequivocally he did no such thing; And that he realizes the normal means of becoming a candidate are up to the constituent's support and the candidates popularity.

OK-got ya. Everybody knows that in politics things happen behind the scenes, where most of us dont get to see, are aware and know about. We have all heard about politicians getting endorsements, but to actually "facilitate" an election to favor a candidate has an ambiguous meaning to me and goes beyond routine campaign strategies.

Nevertheless, I guess my real question has more to do with the nitty gritty. What did they mean exactly by "facilitate" and how exactly did they plan to "grease the skid" or prepare a candidate to acheive a seat in the US congress. It just all sounds like it is a sort of corrupt political maneuver to get some one elected. But this is really nothing new. It happens in all elections. Just why Mr Benjamin decides to bring it out out in the open for this particular case, I find intriguing and there is probably more to this then meets the eye.

Here's my gut feeling:

I saw a picture of the author of that article, Michael Benjamin (looks like an African American to me), and I believe that these accusations may be another case of unfounded and biased allegations of those who staunchly defend Haitian interests at the expense of Quisqueya? You follow me? Capite?

I believe this might be a red herring or yellow journalism on the part of the NY Post towards D.R., and its Ambassador. Haters aren't only people that don't like successful rappers?

This is my personal spontaneous observation. I might be wrong? But, I never second guess my own gut feeling.