A decade-long commitment of working for new Americans’ – immigrants’ – piece of the political pie is being tossed away and sullied to play the political game.

Morshed Alam is a candidate for the 25th Assembly seat in Flushing. I’ve known Morshed for the last decade-plus as a quiet champion – a worker – for the new Americans’ involvement in the political process. I now am witnessing that political process corrupting him and his principles, all for that very long, long shot of winning an election.

It is painful to watch. It is a shame. And it angers me.

I like (or maybe now it is liked) Morshed and have admired his quiet diligence toiling in the political fields, building a new immigrant voting block, and playing Democratic sacrificial lamb in a credible 1998 race against Republican Senator Frank Padavan.

Now Morshed faces the impressive efforts of Rory Lancman, a Democratic Party regular who has also toiled in the political fields and has embarked on a quest for the Assembly seat with an impressive and thorough effort. Rory was out of the gate so fast and so strongly that Morshed, who should have at least been competitive, has been left behind. The September Democratic Primary seems to have been clearly won already.

Rory’s impressive, early lead is not due to the Democratic Organization’s support. It is not due to the color of Rory’s skin. It is not due to Rory’s intellect or ideology. Rory is basically like a large group of Democratic politicians – well intentioned, ordinary people pursuing a career in public service. For that matter, a lot like many Republicans too. If there were really votes that mattered in the Assembly, you could be pretty sure that Rory and Morshed would cast them identically. Rory has grabbed the significant lead by hard work and using a network he has effectively established. He has played the system very effectively.

That is not to say that Morshed has not. Morshed is (or perhaps was) the most recognized and respected Southeast Asian Queens Democratic Leader. There are now others vying for the limelight and some foolish decisions on the part of Morshed may precipitate his quick fall from grace.

Let me explain.

The Queens Democratic Party, which supports Lancman’s candidacy, has challenged the petitions of Alam and his running mates. Coincidentally, Alam and his group have reciprocated and played the same game challenging the petitions of Rory’s group of candidates (including Southeast Asian District Leader Uma Sengupta). The vile and ugly accusation that Lancman is racist because of the challenge is an integral part of the Alam campaign. And Alam tries to distance himself from the smear campaign. Alam claims he is not involved.

Bullshit!

The false and outrageous accusations that Rory Lancman is racist can be clearly and absolutely traced to Morshed Alam and his campaign. This is not even a case of Alam’s acquiescence to campaign workers’ independent free speech, or even Alam turning a blind eye to the vicious attack of racism. This is a concerted effort on the part of Alam and his campaign to use the ugliest form of false personal attack for political gain.

Alam’s paid campaign manager Chuck Mohan – who has received some $5,000 in the past 2 months from Alam – leads the malicious racist slur campaign. The press releases are emailed from the Alam campaign email address and the faxes sent from the Alam Campaign headquarters.

Alam consultant Lois Marbach, a longtime respected Queens political consultant – respected because she ably challenges the Queens Dem organization, not because she uses vile and disgusting campaign tactics – is hiding behind the free speech rights of individuals.

Shame on you Lois, you know better.

But the biggest shame is on Morshed Alam. He is on the verge of throwing away a Queens lifetime of respectable hard work. The ugly campaign will get him nothing but disrespect and at the end of the game he will not be welcomed in circles of good will.

There is still time for him to right this wrong.

Morshed, apologize for your campaign’s wrongdoing and involvement and coordination of the ugly and false attack on Rory, fire Chuck Mohan, the instrument of the attack, and publicly acknowledge that Rory is no more (or perhaps less) a racist than you.

Morshed, if you’d like to do so, we have space for you on this page; contact us.

Although this writer has political leanings and often strong feeling about issues and elections, it is incumbent upon this paper and the mission of this column to stand up when politics crosses the line of civil sensibilities.

This is such a case.

Morshed Alam clearly owes Rory Lancman an apology.

Shame on you Morshed!

Michael Schenkler can be reached via this contact form.