08/29/2005
Decent Exposure
In an effort to distinguish himself in a crowded field of nine hopefuls before the September 13 primary, openly gay Manhattan Borough President candidate Brian Ellner has produced an ad getting attention for both its graphic depiction of George Bush as an emperor with no clothes, and for the appearance of Ellner's partner Simon Holloway.
Ellner told the NYT, "Just like everybody from Speaker Miller to President Bush to everybody else in between, I wanted to introduce the person I share my life with," he said. (The president and Gifford Miller, the City Council speaker, have appeared with their wives in political advertisements.) I think it's important to break down this barrier as we continue to break down other barriers."
Ellner's ad spot has perhaps little to do with the day-to-day responsibilities of an acting borough president which include serving as advocate for Manhattan in the city's budgeting process, reviewing private and public land use proposals, introducing legislation to the City Council, and making several appointments on city-related boards.
It does, however, stand out to the liberal and gay constituency which Ellner is courting heavily in his campaign. And for other groups, I think it can only be enlightening for them to see the naked truth.
An Openly Gay Candidate Is Openly Paired in an Ad [nyt]
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 10:41 AM EST by Andy in Current Affairs, New York | Permalink
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FABULOUS!!!!
Posted by: Roy | Aug 29, 2005 11:07:30 AM
He totally tickles my fierce bone.
Posted by: MT | Aug 29, 2005 11:49:34 AM
Okay, he's 35. But his boyfriend looks like he's 12. What's that about?
Posted by: Don | Aug 29, 2005 3:32:48 PM
He's not really gay. I mean, c'mon, look at that tie! It's a ploy I tell you!!!
Posted by: Michael | Aug 29, 2005 4:37:38 PM
he has got my vote! I think it's really daring for him to include his partner in his commercial and I applaud him for it! I thinke he may be my very first real, positive gay role model :)
Posted by: Dan | Aug 29, 2005 5:09:08 PM
It strikes me as a bit cynical for Ellner to drag his partner into the frame for about one second. Not sure how I feel about it. And I wonder how his partner feels about it.
Oh, and I really don't see why the Manhattan Borough President should be too fixated on George W. Bush. His concerns are supposed to be much more local than that.
Posted by: Don | Aug 29, 2005 7:29:45 PM
He's a sleazy, cynical serial groper. This commercial is a lame attempt to use the sole defining feature of his candidancy ("I'm gay!") as a campaign platform.
I would vote for anyone else.
Posted by: Mat | Aug 30, 2005 10:23:43 AM
What do we learn from this ad? Nothing except that Ellner has a partner. Why do I need to know that? I should vote for him only because he is gay? Ridiculous.
As for the majority of these postings: I am so embarrassed by you. How typical of the community. Shallow.
Wouldn't you want to vote for someone who tells you what the position is, what he stands for and how that will improve the city?
I will vote AGAINST him quite possibly
Posted by: Pedro | Aug 30, 2005 7:19:17 PM
That is a very good commercial. I know Brian, and he is a great candidate. I certainly will vote for him.
Posted by: David | Aug 31, 2005 4:37:16 PM
Being a fellow native, gay, Jewish New Yorker who also went to Bronx High School of Science, I'd have to vote for this guy even if his ads sucked.
But I'm thankful they don't!
Posted by: Scott S. | Sep 6, 2005 10:00:22 PM
Oops, I guess basic honesty does not count for some people. I'm not a New Yorker but I do like to know more about the local candidates where I reside. Things like who the family is and the church and organizations they belong to make a difference because they are factors that will determine how the candidate really thinks. Being out there with his partner (who hardly looks 12, Don) is important. Just as his portrayal of Bush is important. Both are clues to how this man will act and neither show him to be a Fred Phelps follower or anything of similar ideals. I like to see where peoples minds are and in the case of this candidate I like what I see for a political leader.
Wre he to run for an office here in Florida he would have my vote as well as those of my friends and neighbors.
Posted by: Bear | Sep 7, 2005 1:31:14 AM
I went to college with Brian and he's a totally great guy - never known him to be anything but honest, funny and well-meaning. From his commercial, he's clearly very media-savvy; and it's hardly ever hurt a politician to be media savvy. Amid all the lame political ads, here's one that's funny and provocative and will actually get noticed.
Posted by: Dom | Sep 8, 2005 3:41:57 PM
I live in a predominately gay town (Palm Springs) which, as of last election, was governed by a predominately gay city council. Downtown is in shambles, City Hall remains as business unfriendly as ever, a $100 million convention center is massively underbooked, and a few developers continue to hold the city hostage. The meth problem is unfathomable, but the gay candidates offer little acknowledgement . I know nothing of Ellner's candidacy, but please know that being gay isn't a qualification. We often point out that it's just like left-handedness...well, remember it works both ways. Left-handers can be lousy pols too
Posted by: PSMike | Oct 11, 2005 7:22:22 PM
Did you hear Mr. Ellner just joined the Bloomberg campaign, after spending the ENTIRE campaign criticizing President Bush and the mayor on his anti-gay agenda (he vetoed several important bills to ensure domestic partnership rights, refused to do anything on gay marriage and vetoed legislation that would protect gay youth from being bullied in the classroom). This guy is THE MOST CYNICAL OPPORTUNIST IN MANHATTAN (and that says a lot!).
Posted by: west sider liberal | Oct 13, 2005 10:52:38 AM