Thursday, March 04, 2004

John Pilger on the Myth of a Democratic Opposition

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  1. Maybe I’m a Babe in the Woods, but if John Pilger’s reading (and quoting) Mark Hand on Press Action, perhaps it’s time for every reader of this site to “spread the word.” Thanks for your kind consideration, Richard Oxman

    Posted by Richard Oxman from  on  03/05  at  10:33 AM

  2. Mark, you were the first person I know to cite that disgusting 19-page manifesto by the Prog Policy Institute, their answer, apparently, to the neocon Project for a New American Century. Glad Pilger is citing your excellent work.

    However, the article is marred by a glaring error. Pilger says none of the Democratic presidential contenders, except Howard Dean, opposed the US invasion of Iraq. That is of course wrong. Dennis Kucinich opposed the US invasion of Iraq, and has been the most genuinely anti-war voice among the presidential contenders, though he has received little media attention in the US. He also wants to end the US occupation and indeed has embarrassed Dean in the debates by pointing out the contradiction of supposedly being “anti-war” while simultaneously calling for an increase of US troops to occupied Iraq. It’s worth noting that in the earlier Dem. debates, Kucinich’s anti-war stands garnered the biggest audience applause. Unfortunately, his progressive positions have been deemed by most libs and lefties in this country to be too far left (they’re not, he’s basically a Rooseveltian New Dealer), and he’s therefore not seen as “viable” enough to “beat Bush,” despite the fact that many people admit he’s their personal favorite. Alas, folks here are stupidly worried about what will play nice to a mainstream audience, so we’re stuck with Kerry and Bush, while just about everyone is sinking their knives into Nader.

    Cheers,

    -- Sunil Sharma
    Dissident Voice Editor
    Santa Rosa, CA

    Posted by Sunil Sharma from  on  03/05  at  10:37 PM

  3. Sunil,

    Excellent point about Pilger omitting Kucinich from the (short) list of Democratic candidates opposed to the U.S. invasion. Here’s what Pilger wrote in the New Statesman article:

    “What is the difference from the vainglorious claptrap of Bush? Apart from euphemisms, there is none. All the Democratic presidential candidates supported the invasion of Iraq, bar one: Howard Dean.”

    The dismissive media coverage and the electability fixation by the left/liberals apparently has succeeded in blinding someone as perceptive as Pilger from noticing Kucinich’s existence in the Democratic presidential candidate selection process let alone the merits of Kucinich’s enlightened positions on many of the top issues of the day.

    Posted by Mark Hand from  on  03/06  at  05:52 AM

  4. Forgive my ignorance, but did Sharpton support the invasion of Iraq?  Feel free to answer...anyone.  Best, Richard Oxman

    Posted by Richard Oxman from  on  03/07  at  08:24 PM

  5. Good point by Sunil.

    As for Sharpton, he did not support the invasion, either.

    Posted by Bill from  on  03/08  at  10:51 AM

  6. Sharpton did not support the Iraq War, and indeed was one of the leaders of the February 15th peace march on Washington where he gave a thundering speech against the war; at which, also, Patti Smith gave a sublime, heart-rending reading of her song “People Have the Power” sans music.  And good for Sharpton.  But alas, and this is where he lost me: I’ve forgotten his name, but Sharpton hired a blustering Republican operative to head up his current campaign, the one and the same who Bush and James Baker III sent to threaten and break up the attempted recount of the vote in Palm Beach while the 2000 election was still up for grabs.

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