Take a seat and gather around, everyone. It’s time for another installment of Mounting Democratic Jitters, a cherished summer pastime observed from Wilmington to the West Wing. And today, we bring you a surprising twist: Cornel West, the renowned academic and civil rights activist, has emerged as an unlikely MAGA accessory.
Although West is a Green Party candidate for president, his chances of winning are slim. It’s highly unlikely that he will secure a single state or even an electoral vote. Nevertheless, he continues to be a source of concern for the president and his allies.
Having spoken with various individuals from the White House, Joe Biden’s reelection team, and the usual crowd of anxious Democrats that always emerges during an election, it is evident that West’s candidacy falls into a unique category of Democratic unease. Just the words “Green Party presidential candidate” are enough to evoke anxiety among Democrats, given their association with the 2016 nominee, Jill Stein. Stein’s vote count in key battleground states like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania surpassed the margins by which Hillary Clinton lost. So, what is Stein up to these days?
“Ironically, she is my interim campaign manager,” Cornel West told me during a recent phone interview. Believe it or not, this is no joke or acid flashback. Apparently, neither Ralph Nader nor Dennis Kucinich were available (Nader is busy running RFK Jr.’s campaign). It might be amusing if the stakes weren’t so high, as the potential outcome could be another Trump presidency.
West has consistently denied that he aims to play spoiler. He claims that most people who vote for him would not have voted for Biden, suggesting they would have stayed home instead. However, his dismissal of the two major parties as a “corporate duopoly” and his expressed admiration for Ralph Nader and Jill Stein have done little to ease Democratic concerns.
When I asked West whether he plans to campaign until Election Day 2024 or if he might reconsider at some point, he responded, “My goal is to go all the way to November.” However, he acknowledged that circumstances could change, prompting him to alter his plans. “I’m trying to approach this like a jazz musician, improvising as I go,” he said.
In his campaign-launch video, West promised to focus on progressive issues such as healthcare, housing, reproductive rights, and addressing the environmental and democratic damage inflicted upon our planet. He believes that both major parties fail to tell the truth, which is why he is running as a third-party candidate.
It is worth noting that West has placed blame on NATO for Russia’s war in Ukraine, arguing that the coalition’s expansion provoked Russia’s aggression. He believes this proxy war has the potential to lead to World War III. West has also criticized a House resolution affirming U.S. support for Israel as a “sham,” claiming that both the USA and the Israeli state have been racist in practice.
Several Democrats express frustration with West’s campaign, urging voters not to experiment or play around on the fringes. They recall how the Green Party played a significant role in tipping the 2016 election in favor of Donald Trump and fear that history could repeat itself if West becomes the nominee.
Ben Wikler, the Democratic Party chair in Wisconsin, predicts that Trump allies will support any third-party effort to undermine Biden. He cautions that regardless of the candidates’ motivations, third-party contenders could inadvertently deliver votes to Trump, especially if Trump-aligned super PACs fund targeted messages. This cynical game is to be expected, according to Wikler.
Cedric Richmond, a former Democratic congressman and White House adviser, who recently became a co-chair of the Biden campaign, acknowledges that West is a substantive person. However, Richmond argues that Biden has earned the support of the left through his track record on progressive causes. He believes that voters have seen the consequences of a Trump presidency and should think twice before casting a protest vote for a third-party candidate.
No Labels, a purportedly centrist organization that many Democrats view as pro-Trump, has been the main source of concern regarding third-party candidates. The group is attempting to form a unity ticket, possibly led by Senator Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat. Matt Bennett of Third Way, a center-left policy think tank, argues that the idea a third-party candidate won’t harm the Democratic nominee is preposterous. Recent polls show that when a third-party candidate enters the race, Trump is more likely to benefit. However, if No Labels fails to recruit a serious candidate, it remains a hypothetical threat. On the other hand, West is actively running, and the Green Party’s organizational structure in various states guarantees his position on general-election ballots.
West’s influence among college-age voters and those interested in social movements makes him a formidable force. He gained attention for his support of Bernie Sanders in the 2020 Democratic primary, though he ultimately voted for Biden in the general election. West referred to Biden as “mediocre” and “milquetoast” in what can be seen as a tepid endorsement.
Biden’s supporters hope that the backing of progressive allies like Sanders will protect him from the potential threat of defections inspired by West. The consensus is that voters have witnessed this movie before, and they know the ending.
In conclusion, while Cornel West’s candidacy as a Green Party nominee may not pose a significant threat to Joe Biden’s campaign, it stirs anxiety among Democrats due to historical precedents and the potential for a repeat of past election outcomes. Democrats are wary of bleeding votes, especially in critical battleground states. The presence of third-party contenders and the involvement of Trump-aligned super PACs could tip the balance in Trump’s favor. However, the extent of this threat depends on the recruitment of serious third-party candidates. Ultimately, West’s appeal to college-age voters and those invested in social movements cannot be ignored, making him an intriguing figure in the political landscape.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
