Mark Plotkin • July 19, 2016

On the ground coverage from our RNC correspondent Mark Plotkin in Cleveland.

Mark Plotkin • July 18, 2016

On the ground coverage from our RNC correspondent Mark Plotkin in Cleveland.

Mark Plotkin • July 13, 2016

The Republican National Convention begins in Cleveland July 18, just a few days from now. Rather than talk about presumptive …

Mark Plotkin • January 20, 2016

First of all, all of you should be aware that former Mayor Vincent Gray knows the exact date of this year’s D.C. Democratic primary by heart. [Full disclosure: this columnist and the former mayor have known each other since their college days at George Washington University.]

During an exclusive interview with him last week, as I struggled with the precise date, he eagerly informed me that it was June 14. Is this not a harbinger of things to come?

Gray would not commit to stating he would definitely run for a seat on the District Council. But he did say the following: “I love public service.” Now, the question is: Will it be in his home ward (7) or District-wide (for an at-large spot)? I would bet it will be in Ward 7.

He bluntly said, “People want change out here.” The incumbent Council member Yvette Alexander, a former Gray protégé, succeeded him after he moved on to become Council chairman.

Some observers (including me) presume that if he wins the Ward 7 Council seat, he will use it as a stepping stone to run for mayor in 2018.

With some intensity, Gray told me that this was not his plan. When I pushed him, he made the point clearly: “No stepping stone.” But when asked if he would issue a Sherman (“If nominated I will not run, if elected I will not serve”), he refused.

The former mayor is upset and angry over the four-and-a-half-to-five-year investigation that he has endured. In a matter-of-fact tone, he said he looked on the entire matter as “nothing that complex” and “pretty straightforward.” It all came down to “Was I aware of the situation,” he said. “Was I involved?” To that central question, Gray emphatically has said, “I wasn’t.”

When I inquired about his repeated meetings with Jeff Thompson (who pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing), Gray said that Thompson first declined when he approached him to help out with Gray’s campaign. But then, Gray recounted, Thompson called him and said, “I’d like to meet with you.” Gray admitted that there were two more meetings with Thompson, but said that Thompson “never asked me for a budget, nor did I give him one.”

Gray accused former U.S. Attorney Ronald Machen, who investigated and indicted individuals associated with the Gray 2010 campaign, of practicing “voter suppression.” He feels that, because Machen held a press conference three weeks before the April 1 Democratic primary, voters in Wards 5, 7 and 8 assumed that Machen would charge Gray and said to themselves, “I won’t show up and vote. Why bother?”

Vince Gray is adamantly proud of his record as mayor, pointing to education reform, fiscal prudence (he left his term with the city having “$1.87 billion in the bank”) and economic development, especially in the “east end of the city.” He is no fan of Mayor Muriel Bowser. He starkly commented about her: “I haven’t seen a vision for the city.” The citizens of D.C. are “still waiting,” he said.

It’s my opinion that Gray feels wronged. The only way to make it up is for him to jump back into the fray. That the U.S. Attorney General for the District of Columbia closed the case was vindication—but that alone will not do. He seeks to be back in the game. Many, many years ago, I watched him play intramural basketball at the Tin Tabernacle at GW. He always went straight to the basket, and he usually scored. That won’t change.

Political analyst Mark Plotkin is a contributor to the BBC on American politics and a contributor to TheHill.com. Reach him at markplotkindc@gmail.com.
[gallery ids="102210,131420" nav="thumbs"]

Mark Plotkin • August 17, 2015

Thursday, the whole world will be watching the Great Debate in Cleveland! Cleveland: “the mistake by the lake.”

The Republicans picked Cleveland because their convention will be on the shores of Lake Erie next summer. In addition, no state in presidential elections is more important than Ohio. No Republican has won the White House without winning Ohio. And the Democrats know the Buckeye state’s modern political history.

In 1964, Lyndon Johnson won Ohio, but Hubert Humphrey lost it in ’68. Then, George McGovern lost it in ’72, and Jimmy Carter won it in ’76 (but lost it in ’80). Walter Mondale lost it in ’84, and Michael Dukakis lost it in ’88. However, Bill Clinton won it in ’92 and in ’96. Al Gore lost it in 2000, as did John Kerry in ’04 — and then Barack Obama won it in ’08 and ’12. You get the picture.

Now much has been made about who will make the cut and appear on the stage. It has been determined by the powers that be that only 10 candidates will be allowed this lofty honor. Nobody asked me, but I am using this space to provide some unsolicited advice to the GOP aspirants. Call me the debate coach.

First of all, let’s begin with the guy who is getting all the play. That, of course, would be the massive mogul Donald Trump. My first piece of advice: Trump should do a complete make over. (I don’t mean his hair.) Stun the crowd by being soft spoken, humble, gracious, diplomatic, subtle and light-hearted. This behavior modification will so startle the other debaters that they will be rendered speechless.

Next up, Jeb Bush. He is considered too moderate. So, I encourage him to throw out some off-the-wall right wing bromides that will mix things up. Also, say you are seriously considering legally changing your last name.

Scott Walker is thought to be too dumb to be president. I would tell him: say that you will go to night school and get the necessary credits to receive a college degree. Then, proceed to quote noted philosophers, wise men and women in your learned responses.

Mario Rubio should continually refer to how young he is (43) and alternate his answers in perfect Spanish and English.

Ben Carson ought to remind people in the audience that he is, in fact, a medical doctor. He should keep on sprinkling his quotes with the name of the institution with which he has been associated: “Johns Hopkins.” Rand Paul should remind people that he is not his father — and that he, too, is a doctor.

For Ted Cruz, I say: drop that black suit, and lighten up. Smile a few times. Chris Christie, stop growling. Rick Santorum, do not wear the sleeveless sweater and tell people, again, that you won the Iowa caucus and 11 primaries and that your grandfather was a coal miner from Pennsylvania.

Almost last, but surely not least, Rick Perry: lead off by telling everybody the names of three government agencies you forgot four years ago.

John Kasich, run up on the stage and yell, “I am the governor of this state!”

That should do it. No charge.

Mark Plotkin is a political analyst and contributor to the BBC on American politics, contributor to TheHill.com and columnist for The Georgetowner.
[gallery ids="102271,128273" nav="thumbs"]