What makes Cory Booker run? Bain Capital controversy exposes Newark mayor's ties to big money

theGRIO REPORT - Officials in Newark, who knew Cory Booker, before he became a regular headline maker weren't surprised that the mayor had delivered another controversial statement...

Dan Woolsey

May 22, 2012

Rahaman Muhammad, president of the SEIU (Service Employees International Union Local 617), bluntly accused the mayor of serving his own interest. “A lot of the things Cory says is for self interest. It’s about his personal ambitions. ” Did it hurt the president? “Of course it’s damaging. Of course it hurt the president. This was Obama’s core struggle against what Mitt Romney is trying to do.” The union leader says it’s a setback. “But we’re going to fight this.”

“He has to open his mind to more things that his personal ambition. I think it’s the first time he’s had his back against the wall. People are starting to check into his background to find out who’s invested in him,” said Muhammad.

Damaging or not, according to Newark councilman Ron C. Rice, Booker’s comments created an opportunity. “I think what it’s done is put the debate front and center before the American people. We have to determine what kind of corporate policy we want.”

His reaction to the Bain campaign ads?

“It’s a legitimate issue for debate. Do we want to go back to eight years ago to valuing profit over job creation, abusing main street and outsourcing jobs? Or do we want a corporate policy that embraces new technology, raising working class to the middle class, grow jobs in America, embrace health care?”