Carol Moseley Braun accuses opponent of being a Crackhead

From its very start, the Chicago Mayoral Race has made headlines world wide. From questions of Rahm Emanuel's residency, to the division of a so called "Black Vote" with three black candidates leading the race. Just when we thought we had seen every type of headline there was, at a forum yesterday held at Trinity United Church of Christ, the race took a new low when Candidate Carol Moseley Braun responded to her Community Organizer Opponent Dr. Patricia Van Pelt Watkins question of where her presence was in the city the last few years by saying that she hadn't felt her presence in the city for the past 20 years because she "was strung out on crack" while Braun was starting businesses and "hiring people".

Ouch!!!!!

Yes people, as if Chicago government couldn't be plagued with more scandal, Candidates are taking below the belt hits like this. It should be noted that Watkins, who only has 1%  support from leading polls, has been forthright in acknowledging her previous drug usage which she affirms never included Crack, and has not been apart of her life for the past 30 years. Whats puzzling is why Braun, former U.S. Senator and Ambassador to New Zealand, who is tied at 2nd behind Emanuel with Gery Chico, former chief of staff to mayor Richard M. Daley and former chairman of the City Colleges of Chicago would risk her polling position to stoop to such a low. Take a look at some video below taken at the forum.

Carol Moseley Braun Calls Patricia Van Pelt-Watkins Crack Addict at Candidate Forum: MyFoxCHICAGO.com

Braun has made headlines in the days leading up to the election with her refusal to disclose previous tax filings, criticisms of Rahm Emanuel for receiving campaign contributions from Hollywood heavy-hitters, her harsh critique of President Clinton, calling him a traitor to the Black community that supported him during his tenures as Commanding Chief, and claims that present Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis, is uniformed and too disconnected from the city to lead its Police Department.

The sad part of this all for me is that I didn't think Braun was this type of woman, or person for that matter. I'm disappointed to see her stoop to such lows. I'm completely empathetic of the passion she has that may lead her to make such charges. But her inability or blatant refusal to take accountability for the things she have said quite possibly in the heat of the moment, or be apologetic for the insensitivity of some of her comments strikes a bad accord with me, and unfortunately for her, a great number of her supporters and people on the fence.