Cornel West’s third-party presidential campaign is stirring up unpleasant flashbacks to 2016 for members of the Democratic Party, some of whom are starting to grow anxious about the effect it could…

Cornel West recently announced he is running for president as a Green Party candidate, challenging President Biden in 2024. Some Democrats worry that West’s candidacy could split the progressive vote and help reelect Donald Trump if he is the Republican nominee again, as Jill Stein’s campaign did in 2016. However, West has supporters who see his run as a way to push Biden further left on issues. Still, even some progressives acknowledge West could hurt Biden’s chances of reelection. Democrats argue that beating Trump and enacting progressive policies requires electing Democrats first.

  •  Tomatoes [they/them]   ( @Delicious_Tomatoes@beehaw.org ) English
    5•11 months ago

    Democrats argue that beating Trump and enacting progressive policies requires electing Democrats first.

    They’re still arguing that? We’ve been waiting for the Dems to enact progressive policies for the past two years. It turns out that if you want progressive policies, you actually have to elect progressives.

    •  FlowVoid   ( @FlowVoid@midwest.social ) English
      8•11 months ago

      Progressives saw through climate change legislation and student loan reform in the last two years.

      The latter was shot down by the SCOTUS, which serves as a reminder that progressive policies can easily be undone.

    •  skepticalifornia   ( @skepticalifornia@beehaw.org ) English
      7•11 months ago

      Which Dems have you been waiting on to enact progressive policies? The House is controlled by MAGA republicans and the Senate is in a dead lock for the most part. How do you get any progressive policies through there? The Supreme Court is controlled by conservatives that will deny anything moderately progressive.

      Real change starts with local and state elections and electing Dems there. If you want that change, then try to help Dems in Texas, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, etc. Otherwise, just electing a Dem president is not going to suddenly make for progressive policies. It will slow down the MAGA bunch, but it won’t completely stop them until there is real change at the local and state levels.

    •  HQC   ( @HQC@beehaw.org ) English
      5•11 months ago

      Do you have a solution to enacting progressive policy that doesn’t require electing a bunch of Democrats to create, introduce and vote on said legislation?