'Ben Jealous: Maryland candidate with an 'instinctive muscle' for activism' diff viewer (0/1)

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Ben Jealous: Maryland candidate with an 'instinctive muscle' for activism	Ben Jealous: Maryland candidate with an 'instinctive muscle' for activism
2018-09-28 10:35:09 UTC	2019-02-03 00:06:16 UTC (4 months later)
The day started early. Ben Jealous, a candidate for Maryland’s governor, arrived at the Empowerment Temple African Methodist Episcopal church – not to give a rousing stump speech, not to shake hands or collect campaign contributions, but instead, as an elder son of Baltimore, to pay his respects to a fallen daughter of the city.	The day started early. Ben Jealous, a candidate for Maryland’s governor, arrived at the Empowerment Temple African Methodist Episcopal church – not to give a rousing stump speech, not to shake hands or collect campaign contributions, but instead, as an elder son of Baltimore, to pay his respects to a fallen daughter of the city.
Taylor Hayes, a seven-year-old girl, had been tragically shot in the backseat of a car. Jealous, a former journalist, didn’t alert the media to his attendance. Nor did the former president of the NAACP stage a demonstration. Jealous was here less as a candidate than a Maryland resident, concerned that if his city couldn’t protect this young girl, who could it protect?	Taylor Hayes, a seven-year-old girl, had been tragically shot in the backseat of a car. Jealous, a former journalist, didn’t alert the media to his attendance. Nor did the former president of the NAACP stage a demonstration. Jealous was here less as a candidate than a Maryland resident, concerned that if his city couldn’t protect this young girl, who could it protect?
Like other residents of west Baltimore, Jealous was battling the depressing sense that the neighborhood’s expectations of basic safety, stability and upward mobility could not be secured.	Like other residents of west Baltimore, Jealous was battling the depressing sense that the neighborhood’s expectations of basic safety, stability and upward mobility could not be secured.
Historically, west Baltimore hasn’t been the site of noted political endorsements. But later that day a group of Democratic leaders stood outside Baltimore Blossoms Studio, a small flower shop owned and operated by Jealous’s cousin. Flanked by Baltimore mayor Catherine Pugh, Congressman Elijah Cummings and a handful of supporters, Jealous accepted the endorsement of the state’s Democratic luminaries for Maryland’s governor.	Historically, west Baltimore hasn’t been the site of noted political endorsements. But later that day a group of Democratic leaders stood outside Baltimore Blossoms Studio, a small flower shop owned and operated by Jealous’s cousin. Flanked by Baltimore mayor Catherine Pugh, Congressman Elijah Cummings and a handful of supporters, Jealous accepted the endorsement of the state’s Democratic luminaries for Maryland’s governor.
In doing so, he joined a slate of recent candidates across the country – such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Andrew Gillum and Ayanna Pressley – who have run unapologetically leftwing campaigns against establishment-backed opponents.	In doing so, he joined a slate of recent candidates across the country – such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Andrew Gillum and Ayanna Pressley – who have run unapologetically leftwing campaigns against establishment-backed opponents.
Cummings, speaking as if his days on Earth were numbered, said of Jealous: “I want to know that when I’m dancing with the angels, there was a Ben Jealous and a Susie Turnbull [Jealous’s running mate] who came along and made our state a state of high expectations.”	Cummings, speaking as if his days on Earth were numbered, said of Jealous: “I want to know that when I’m dancing with the angels, there was a Ben Jealous and a Susie Turnbull [Jealous’s running mate] who came along and made our state a state of high expectations.”
The curb bordering Baltimore Blossoms Studio served as the informal rostrum for the endorsement. Given the setting, Jealous could not help but recall west Baltimore’s yesteryear. But his reminiscences soon took a more serious turn. He recalled the “uprisings” of 2015, protest and unrest following the death of Freddie Gray, an African American man who died while in police custody.	The curb bordering Baltimore Blossoms Studio served as the informal rostrum for the endorsement. Given the setting, Jealous could not help but recall west Baltimore’s yesteryear. But his reminiscences soon took a more serious turn. He recalled the “uprisings” of 2015, protest and unrest following the death of Freddie Gray, an African American man who died while in police custody.
The results of the uprisings were shocking – 113 police officers injured, 250 arrests made, 150 vehicles and 60 buildings consumed by fire, and a declaration of a state of emergency, triggering the deployment of national guard troops in Baltimore. Jealous extolled his cousin’s efforts to place “this flower shop in the middle of west Baltimore when people thought she was crazy”.	The results of the uprisings were shocking – 113 police officers injured, 250 arrests made, 150 vehicles and 60 buildings consumed by fire, and a declaration of a state of emergency, triggering the deployment of national guard troops in Baltimore. Jealous extolled his cousin’s efforts to place “this flower shop in the middle of west Baltimore when people thought she was crazy”.
In a sense, it’s no surprise Jealous approved of his cousin’s decision to open her flower store in the middle of the uprisings – because it was during those few days that Jealous first considered running for governor.	In a sense, it’s no surprise Jealous approved of his cousin’s decision to open her flower store in the middle of the uprisings – because it was during those few days that Jealous first considered running for governor.
Although he was “making a lot of money” in investing, Jealous, watching parts of his hometown literally burn, started to reconsider his path. He is “best at pulling people together to get big things done”, he said, and he realized his days in the private sector were numbered.	Although he was “making a lot of money” in investing, Jealous, watching parts of his hometown literally burn, started to reconsider his path. He is “best at pulling people together to get big things done”, he said, and he realized his days in the private sector were numbered.
Jealous described his days leading a coalition to abolish the death penalty in Maryland (the campaign succeeded), and his career at the NAACP. There, he led the organization into the headwinds of immigration reform when he chaired cross-collaborative efforts to pass Maryland’s Dream Act, which allows undocumented immigrants to qualify for residential tuition rates at Maryland’s state colleges and universities.	Jealous described his days leading a coalition to abolish the death penalty in Maryland (the campaign succeeded), and his career at the NAACP. There, he led the organization into the headwinds of immigration reform when he chaired cross-collaborative efforts to pass Maryland’s Dream Act, which allows undocumented immigrants to qualify for residential tuition rates at Maryland’s state colleges and universities.
With this race, Jealous faces perhaps his hardest battle to date. The Republican incumbent, Larry Hogan, has deep Maryland roots (his own father, Larry Hogan Sr, served as a congressman) and remains one of the most popular governors in the country. His relatively moderate positions have earned him the label “A Most Agreeable Man” by the conservative magazine the Weekly Standard.	With this race, Jealous faces perhaps his hardest battle to date. The Republican incumbent, Larry Hogan, has deep Maryland roots (his own father, Larry Hogan Sr, served as a congressman) and remains one of the most popular governors in the country. His relatively moderate positions have earned him the label “A Most Agreeable Man” by the conservative magazine the Weekly Standard.
But perhaps Jealous’s trajectory is evidence he might have a shot.	But perhaps Jealous’s trajectory is evidence he might have a shot.
‘You dismiss Ben at your own peril’	‘You dismiss Ben at your own peril’
At Columbia University, Jealous learned early about the “inside-outside game” of politics and organizing, according to his former classmate, Eric Garcetti, now mayor of Los Angeles.	At Columbia University, Jealous learned early about the “inside-outside game” of politics and organizing, according to his former classmate, Eric Garcetti, now mayor of Los Angeles.
“You dismiss Ben at your own peril,” Garcetti recalled. Jealous was, in fact, formally dismissed by Columbia, his undergraduate alma mater. When the university proposed turning the site of Malcolm X’s assassination into a research facility for the university, Jealous’s protests resulted in his suspension. He left Columbia to work with the NAACP, an organization he would eventually run. He spent his time working to maintain historically black colleges in Mississippi and reporting for historic black publications like the Jackson Advocate.	“You dismiss Ben at your own peril,” Garcetti recalled. Jealous was, in fact, formally dismissed by Columbia, his undergraduate alma mater. When the university proposed turning the site of Malcolm X’s assassination into a research facility for the university, Jealous’s protests resulted in his suspension. He left Columbia to work with the NAACP, an organization he would eventually run. He spent his time working to maintain historically black colleges in Mississippi and reporting for historic black publications like the Jackson Advocate.
The burgeoning civil rights activist returned to Columbia in 1997 and quickly won a Rhodes scholarship – probably one of the only instances of someone winning a Rhodes at a university from which he was previously suspended.	The burgeoning civil rights activist returned to Columbia in 1997 and quickly won a Rhodes scholarship – probably one of the only instances of someone winning a Rhodes at a university from which he was previously suspended.
Activism isn’t something he has to find and move to, it’s his instinctive muscle	Activism isn’t something he has to find and move to, it’s his instinctive muscle
At Oxford, the scholarship’s prestigious veneer didn’t assuage Jealous’s penchant for activism. Garcetti, a fellow Rhodes scholar, said: “Activism isn’t something he has to find and move to, it’s his instinctive muscle.” Together, they advocated for the rights of asylum seekers and against apartheid. Jealous was “destined to lead”, Garcetti believed.	At Oxford, the scholarship’s prestigious veneer didn’t assuage Jealous’s penchant for activism. Garcetti, a fellow Rhodes scholar, said: “Activism isn’t something he has to find and move to, it’s his instinctive muscle.” Together, they advocated for the rights of asylum seekers and against apartheid. Jealous was “destined to lead”, Garcetti believed.
Jealous’s path to leadership took several turns, but all roads led to the NAACP. “My whole life my dream was to be president of the NAACP,” Jealous told me. But before he beat 200 candidates, including megachurch pastor the Rev Frederick Haynes III and former Clinton official Alvin Brown for the job, he made his mark in a variety of other posts, including more time as a journalist, leader of the National Newspaper Publishers Association and head of the US Human Rights Program at Amnesty International.	Jealous’s path to leadership took several turns, but all roads led to the NAACP. “My whole life my dream was to be president of the NAACP,” Jealous told me. But before he beat 200 candidates, including megachurch pastor the Rev Frederick Haynes III and former Clinton official Alvin Brown for the job, he made his mark in a variety of other posts, including more time as a journalist, leader of the National Newspaper Publishers Association and head of the US Human Rights Program at Amnesty International.
When Jealous assumed the role of president of the NAACP at 35 he was the organization’s youngest-ever leader but also, as a fifth-generation member of the organization, one with deep roots.	When Jealous assumed the role of president of the NAACP at 35 he was the organization’s youngest-ever leader but also, as a fifth-generation member of the organization, one with deep roots.
Jealous worked to position the legacy civil rights organization at the frontier of social issues. In addition to helping to end the death penalty in Maryland and pass the Dream Act, he got the 65 members of the NAACP’s board to officially support gay marriage against the headwinds of notable opposition from leaders such as William Owens, leader of the Coalition of African American Pastors. At the time of the NAACP’s resolution in support of marriage equality, only 36% of black Democrats supported legalizing marriage for same-sex couples compared with 61% of white Democrats.	Jealous worked to position the legacy civil rights organization at the frontier of social issues. In addition to helping to end the death penalty in Maryland and pass the Dream Act, he got the 65 members of the NAACP’s board to officially support gay marriage against the headwinds of notable opposition from leaders such as William Owens, leader of the Coalition of African American Pastors. At the time of the NAACP’s resolution in support of marriage equality, only 36% of black Democrats supported legalizing marriage for same-sex couples compared with 61% of white Democrats.
Jealous’s progressive bona fides are often combined with what he terms “common sense solutions”. In Silver Spring, as Jealous made his way from listening to a local business owner show off his new east African-inspired cafe to his usual barbershop, he opined about the “silly roadblocks” that hinder “small business owners”. He lamented the high cost of filing as an LLC in Maryland compared with neighboring Virginia.	Jealous’s progressive bona fides are often combined with what he terms “common sense solutions”. In Silver Spring, as Jealous made his way from listening to a local business owner show off his new east African-inspired cafe to his usual barbershop, he opined about the “silly roadblocks” that hinder “small business owners”. He lamented the high cost of filing as an LLC in Maryland compared with neighboring Virginia.
For a moment, he almost sounds like a Republican, until he adds: “I’ll be the first governor in the country to regularly train his local residents how to organize.”	For a moment, he almost sounds like a Republican, until he adds: “I’ll be the first governor in the country to regularly train his local residents how to organize.”
The notion of residents being trained as organizers would worry some politicians, but Jealous says: “If that means that one day some group of citizens who I helped train are now picketing me as I’m walking into my church, then that’s a good day.” As he sees it, the most important thing is elevating “voices in districts where those voices haven’t been heard”.	The notion of residents being trained as organizers would worry some politicians, but Jealous says: “If that means that one day some group of citizens who I helped train are now picketing me as I’m walking into my church, then that’s a good day.” As he sees it, the most important thing is elevating “voices in districts where those voices haven’t been heard”.
That’s precisely what must be done if Jealous wants to win the governor’s race.	That’s precisely what must be done if Jealous wants to win the governor’s race.
‘We can win this thing’	‘We can win this thing’
The campaign stresses that Jealous still has work to do on name recognition, claiming that “25% of Democrats” still need to learn more about him. The campaign’s polling math argues that if Jealous “improves his showing among registered Democrats by 7%, the race is tied”.	The campaign stresses that Jealous still has work to do on name recognition, claiming that “25% of Democrats” still need to learn more about him. The campaign’s polling math argues that if Jealous “improves his showing among registered Democrats by 7%, the race is tied”.
The campaign steers away from claiming they are part of some larger blue wave, but Donald Trump’s effect looms greatly. Jealous likes to remind voters that Hogan “took [Betsy] DeVos on school tours” and that Hogan has been less than outspoken while “Trump continues to do the outrageous”. That message resonates; according to recent polling, the majority of Marylanders want a governor who is independent of the president.	The campaign steers away from claiming they are part of some larger blue wave, but Donald Trump’s effect looms greatly. Jealous likes to remind voters that Hogan “took [Betsy] DeVos on school tours” and that Hogan has been less than outspoken while “Trump continues to do the outrageous”. That message resonates; according to recent polling, the majority of Marylanders want a governor who is independent of the president.
Hogan has tried to walk a fine line on Trump. He didn’t vote for him, but wrote in his dad’s name on the ballot. He publicly opposed Trump doing away with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca) and recalled Maryland’s national guard from the US-Mexico border during the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) child separation crisis.	Hogan has tried to walk a fine line on Trump. He didn’t vote for him, but wrote in his dad’s name on the ballot. He publicly opposed Trump doing away with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca) and recalled Maryland’s national guard from the US-Mexico border during the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) child separation crisis.
But for Jealous and his supporters, these actions and statements haven’t been nearly enough. At a Facebook Live town hall, Jealous argued that Hogan’s ambivalence toward the Trump administration amounts to tacit support.	But for Jealous and his supporters, these actions and statements haven’t been nearly enough. At a Facebook Live town hall, Jealous argued that Hogan’s ambivalence toward the Trump administration amounts to tacit support.
Positioning his opponent as a lackey of the Trump administration might be enough to get Jealous, and Maryland, swept up in the supposed rising tide of a “blue wave”. That prospect convinces Jealous “we have an opportunity to really be excellent and set high expectations”.	Positioning his opponent as a lackey of the Trump administration might be enough to get Jealous, and Maryland, swept up in the supposed rising tide of a “blue wave”. That prospect convinces Jealous “we have an opportunity to really be excellent and set high expectations”.
Jealous takes on criminal justice reform, stating that as governor he will “end mass incarceration” in Maryland through eight major policy reforms including marijuana legalisation, free college tuition and the creation of gun courts. On education, Jealous, with the support of Maryland’s major teachers’ unions, proposes 29% teacher raises and universal pre-K.	Jealous takes on criminal justice reform, stating that as governor he will “end mass incarceration” in Maryland through eight major policy reforms including marijuana legalisation, free college tuition and the creation of gun courts. On education, Jealous, with the support of Maryland’s major teachers’ unions, proposes 29% teacher raises and universal pre-K.
But featured most prominently, Jealous wants Medicare for All and talks about funding it through a host of counterfactuals – arguing that “the most expensive option is to keep the status quo”.	But featured most prominently, Jealous wants Medicare for All and talks about funding it through a host of counterfactuals – arguing that “the most expensive option is to keep the status quo”.
This isn’t too dissimilar to how Bernie Sanders, an ardent supporter of Jealous, framed paying for programs, rushing to emphasize just how much not universalizing healthcare would cost over the specific details of who might foot the ultimate bill. For instance, “Bernie’s plan will cost over $6tn less than the current healthcare system over the next 10 years”. Similar justifications based on counterfactuals landed Andrew Gillum in slight hesitations when explaining his Medicare for All plan during an interview with Dana Bash on CNN.	This isn’t too dissimilar to how Bernie Sanders, an ardent supporter of Jealous, framed paying for programs, rushing to emphasize just how much not universalizing healthcare would cost over the specific details of who might foot the ultimate bill. For instance, “Bernie’s plan will cost over $6tn less than the current healthcare system over the next 10 years”. Similar justifications based on counterfactuals landed Andrew Gillum in slight hesitations when explaining his Medicare for All plan during an interview with Dana Bash on CNN.
And this is precisely where Hogan’s attacks on Jealous could potentially take root. Because Hogan, unlike Jealous and unlike the new wave of progressive voices in the Democratic party, wants to talk about the numbers behind these plans. His campaign set up Mdcantaffordjealous.com, a Jeopardy-style critique of each of Jealous’s plans – and the refrain is clear: who is spending your money? With each click on each Jealous policy proposal, voters become clearer on the numbers that Jealous and his peers must carefully dance around.	And this is precisely where Hogan’s attacks on Jealous could potentially take root. Because Hogan, unlike Jealous and unlike the new wave of progressive voices in the Democratic party, wants to talk about the numbers behind these plans. His campaign set up Mdcantaffordjealous.com, a Jeopardy-style critique of each of Jealous’s plans – and the refrain is clear: who is spending your money? With each click on each Jealous policy proposal, voters become clearer on the numbers that Jealous and his peers must carefully dance around.
As Jealous made the rounds through Silver Spring that Saturday, random encounters with voters kept reminding him of Hogan’s electoral advantage. Charles Blair, a black construction worker and Democratic voter, questioned Jealous’s chances as Jealous raced to his next political event. “Hogan has a lot going,” he said. “He’s got the Democrats and the Republicans. “He’s a good guy and he’s crossed party lines.” He added, pointedly: “Who’s to say you can do better?”	As Jealous made the rounds through Silver Spring that Saturday, random encounters with voters kept reminding him of Hogan’s electoral advantage. Charles Blair, a black construction worker and Democratic voter, questioned Jealous’s chances as Jealous raced to his next political event. “Hogan has a lot going,” he said. “He’s got the Democrats and the Republicans. “He’s a good guy and he’s crossed party lines.” He added, pointedly: “Who’s to say you can do better?”
Chinedu Nwokeafor, a graduate student at Maryland’s Morgan State University, believes Jealous’s unique appeal is that he is, “more than anything else, human”.	Chinedu Nwokeafor, a graduate student at Maryland’s Morgan State University, believes Jealous’s unique appeal is that he is, “more than anything else, human”.