The Odd Couple; The Two Abes

Abe George - a candidate against DA Charles Hynes who is criticizing Hynes' handling of the Hasidim - chose Gotlieb's restaurant in Williambsurg, of all other places, as the venue to sit down with the Forward for a profile piece and as the backdrop for a photo accompanying it. “I have received some significant pledges from people within the Orthodox community," he told the Forward.

Forward

How is this that a candidate who runs on the platform of cracking down on the Hasidim boasts their support? 

Throw in Abe Rubin, who was scapegoated, if you will, by Chalres Hynes in an effort to show that he is tough on Hasidim, and the connection with Abe George - who is promising to be even tougher on these issues - should make evens less sense. Shouldn't it? Actually not.

The Foward is quoting a  political operative in Williamsburg that the arrest of Abe Rubin, an “admired leader” severely damaged Hynes’s popularity among Williamsburg Jews. Rubin is active in the politics on behalf of the aranite community, speaking for them during the camp saga, campaigning for their 2008 candidate Dan Squadron, and recently contributing to Lincoln Restler's campaign.

Last week, I wondered  what Abe George did at the aranite/Velazquez party. At the time I was thinking that Velazquez may have invited him, since he's also an anti-establishment candidate, or that it is an example of  “It could have been Tweedledum and Tweedledee — the two sides would have opposed each other,” that Professor Heilman told the NYT.  Since the leading Satmar faction went with Hynes in the past, the other side had to go the opposite way.

Now, it seems that it is much more than attending an event, and that there is much more to this strange marriage, though it makes little sense given Abe George's public rhetoric.

Talking of the race in general, I see it as one that will cause major headaches for responsible community leaders. On one hand you have a DA who is recently trying to show toughness against the community, and on the other hand you have someone who thinks it isn't enough. Practically, it may be better to start with a new guy who doesn't have the pressure to show that he's cracking down on the community, so he will be able to act appropriately and without ulterior motives. But how can you support him, given his rhetoric? I'm wondering how they will handle it. 

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