Guardian Angel Declares ‘War’ Of GOP Politics

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Curtis Sliwa is looking to make some noise in electoral politics after being silenced on the airwaves. The founder of the Guardian Angels, a volunteer anti-crime group, was recently let go from WABC, where he had been co-host of a radio program, “Curtis and Kuby in the Morning,” since 2000. Now he says he wants to reinvigorate the city’s Republican Party and possibly run for office himself.

“I’m getting canned on the radio December 3, replaced by Don Imus, which is hard to accept,” Mr. Sliwa told The New York Sun yesterday. “But that’s just a reality of the business, and people for years have always been asking me to consider running for office.”

Mr. Sliwa had harsh words for New York’s Republican Party, saying it had surrendered large portions of the electorate to Democrats without a fight and had failed to develop young prospects for office.

“Downstate there’s no bench, people buy office — there’s no soul left,” he said. “The Republicans have to get out in the streets and compete with the Democrats, who take blue-collar, working-class neighborhoods for granted.”

Mr. Sliwa said his focus is on building a movement of young Republicans, especially among minorities, whom he says the party has incorrectly written off.

“This is a declaration of war,” he said. “The battle must begin. It’s the New Jacks versus the Old School and its primary goal is to have a Republican in every election.”

He said he would look to these young followers in deciding whether to run for office. “I give the young Republicans direction. I will follow the consensus,” he said. Mr. Sliwa also said his movement would focus on the four boroughs he said have been neglected in favor of Manhattan.

As to what position he might run for, Mr. Sliwa said he would have his pick. “They’re all open,” he said. “They have no candidates.”


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