Lest anyone get confused, politically I’m probably to the left of Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez all rolled into one. Additionally, I’ve often stated that one of the glaring faults of politics American-style is that the Democrats and Republicans only agree on one thing: If a Third Party tries to come along, they both will unite to strangle it in the crib.
So, while I agree with Nina Turner, Cornel West and Marianne Williamson in principle — that what this country needs is a viable third political party — why they are starting one at this juncture in America’s history leaves me beyond mystified; I’m dumbfounded, not to mention totally pissed off.
None of these so-called “headliners” of the upcoming first convention of the “People’s Party” are political naïfs. They know how Ralph Nader cost Al Gore the 2000 election, leaving the country saddled with one of the worse presidents in history. So they have to know that by electing to form this new party right before the most important election in the country’s 242-year history, they could be helping to reelect tRump.
That’s where the smell of money comes in. Did the Biden campaign refuse to throw Nina a bone by hiring her after Sanders dropped out? Or could it be something more sinister — that the trio of “headliners” are not just head cases seeking to prolong their time in the national spotlight, but actually are getting paid by Republicans to mount an effort to hurt Biden/Harris?
After the upcoming election is over, to begin talking about forming a People’s Party would be right up my alley. I’d love to be part of that conversation and effort. But now, when so much is at stake, we need all of our oars in the water for the Democratic standard-bearers.
Back in 2009, when political power brokers were proposing a change in county government, from three commissioners to an elected executive and a county council, The Call & Post ran a cartoon on its front page that depicted Turner (the only black elected official at the time that supported the change) as Aunt Jemima. At the time, in spite of the fact I didn’t agree with her support of the measure, I vigorously defended her against what I thought was a racial slur that went too far. But there’s a worse name to be called: traitor.
Now, with this latest attempt at … who really knows what the fuck she and those other clucks are doing … I’m kinda wishing I hadn’t rushed to her defense when I did. This stinks to high heaven.
