New York Values Revisited

As the clown show known as the Republican Presidential nominating campaign reaches the inflection point called "Super Tuesday" this evening, one memorable incident was when, as you can see in the video below, Texas Senator Ted Cruz criticized Manhattan billionaire Donald Trump for possessing "New York Values."

This was meant as an insult.

Republicans from elsewhere in the country don't like New York because they think we're all, as Woody Allen once said "Gay Jewish homosexual pornographers" and that we have evil gross "values" that we want to inflict on their God fearin', flag waving, gun lovin' way o' life. (Never mind, of course, that most Republican states have higher percentages of divorce and teenage pregnancy than New York -- they love guns, Gods, and embryos and hate everything and everyone else. Real Americans!)

Of course being a lifelong New York, I have nary a problem with gays, Jews, or even pornographers even though I'm none of things things. I've known lots of homosexuals and even been to a gay wedding reception, most of my friends are Jews (this is, in fact, true) and I have dated Jewish ladies, and even though I'm not a pornographer nor have I ever met one, I am a man with a fast-speed Internet connection so, uh ... let's just say I have no problem with pornography so long as it doesn't involve children, animals, or very bad story lines.

But seriously, New York values are distinct in many ways, despite the fatuous comments of the junior Senator from Texas. And out of this silliness comes this delightful series of radio segments from WNYC about "New York Values" exploring the values of NYC in in culture, in media, in history, even architecture. The segments are short but very enlightening and, if like me, you're an NYC junkie, they're well worth listening to. 

Of course, Donald Trump is, sadly, a New Yorker. He's gross, loud, vulgar, racist, sexist, xenophobic, and has very bad hair. He's been a staple of NYC media since my childhood because he makes good copy but he seems intent on becoming an American Putin. It's scary, and hopefully, once all the final votes are counted in his dreary election, he will be kept out of the White House and will remain hunkered down in Trump Tower, Tweeting and yelling at his staff. But Mr. Trump is just one New Yorker in a sea of over 8.2 million of us and this town is so much better than the man whose name sadly pollutes too much of our city's real estate. 

It is ironic, though, that the "family values" Republican party that claims to speak for the American heartland is about to nominate for the presidency a thrice-married New Yorker who has five kids by three women (imagine if he was black?) who has openly supported Democrats in the past. 

This is truly a crazy time to be alive. And a unique moment to be a New Yorker.