Some thoughts on Cynthia McKinney

I think I might be annoying some of my fellow Clinton supporters with my considerations of what may occur should Clinton not be the nominee.  As of now, I still plan to vote for Obama should he get the nomination.  As of now, I still consider myself a Democrat first, and a Clinton supporter second.

However, posts like this offer a compelling argument for re-considering my November vote.  Notwithstanding the clunky terminology we’re forced to use (”women” v. “African-Americans,” esp. considering black women’s support for Obama rose in NC compared to VA) in depicting voter camps, it is certainly true that this primary has revealed some very deep cleavages within the Democratic party that have been chronicled at length around the ’sphere.

Folks committed to not voting for Obama in the fall seem to be evaluating four alternatives: a) to not vote at all, b) to write in Hillary Clinton, c) to vote for McCain, or d) to vote for Green Party Candidate Cynthia McKinney.  In November 2006, after the mid-term elections, I wrote a post at TPM Cafe about the possible break-up of our two party system - something that I’d love to see, as I think it is tremendously constraining for progressive and participatory politics.  Now, maybe we’ll all just simmer down by November and vote for the Democratic nominee.  Or, in a promising twist this fall, by registering our dissatisfaction at the polls in large enough numbers we can actually take a major step towards opening up our political system.

I think a write-in campaign for Sen. Clinton is righteous, but perhaps a little narrow for registering our dismay.  Yes, it’s pointed, but the larger problem here is one of misogyny, sexism, male privilege, the white patriarchy, and the two-party system that leaves us with rather centrist candidates who can’t fight for everyone, but instead have to divide and conquer among camps.  Clinton has to appear more hawkish to compensate for her gender than she may actually be.  Obama has had to be not “too black” but “black enough” simultaneously to appeal to African-American supporters without alienating large swaths of white voters.  Both camps have exploited or capitalized on gender, class and racial rifts in society in order to appeal to different groups.  And many, but certainly not all of us, are throwing our weight behind one or the other because it’s her or his “turn” to lead, and we’re rightfully thrilled at the notion of someone even remotely resembling us in the WH.

At my core, I’m a neo-Marxist, but in practice, I’m a relatively mainstream if disaffected Democrat.  One silver lining to the possible loss of Clinton as the nominee would be to re-direct her supporters to vote for Cynthia McKinney and the Green Party.  That would signal not only support for non-white-male-candidates, but also for the progressive ideals many of us in the Democratic Party struggle to embrace within the realistic confines of a two-party system.

Here is some additional information about the Green Party:

The Green Party of the United States is a federation of state Green Parties.  Committed to environmentalism, non-violence, social justice and grassroots organizing, Greens are renewing democracy without the support of corporate donors.  Greens provide real solutions for real problems.  Whether the issue is universal health care, corporate globalization, alternative energy, election reform or decent, living wages for workers, Greens have the courage and independence necessary to take on the powerful corporate interests.  The Federal Elections Commission recognizes the Green Party of the United States as the official Green Party National Committee.  We are partners with the European Federation of Green Parties and the Federation of Green Parties of the Americas.

Here is some info about Cynthia McKinney, a former Democratic Rep from GA who is now the Green Party Presidential Candidate; she:

* Consistently opposed funding for bloated military and secret intelligence budgets;

* Introduced Articles of Impeachment for George Bush, Dick Cheney, and Condoleezza Rice;

* Introduced, championed, and passed in the U.S. House the Arms Trade Code of Conduct, prohibiting the sale of arms to known human rights abusers;

* Authored legislation to end the use of depleted uranium weapons;

* Passed legislation to extend health benefits for Vietnam War veterans still suffering the health effects from exposure to the defoliant Agent Orange;

* Challenged Pentagon Secretary Rumsfeld and Chairman Myers of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on the $2.3 trillion missing Pentagon money and on U.S.-sponsored war games taking place on September 11, 2001;

* Currently serves on (a) International Tribunal on Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, (b) Brussels Tribunal on Iraq, (c) is participating in War Crimes prosecutions in Spain, and (d) is working with the Malaysian Peace Organization to criminalize war;

* Introduced legislation to eliminate federal subsidies for corporations taking jobs overseas.

Cynthia was never afraid to introduce legislation that showed her moral compass and where she felt our country ought to be. In that regard, after the tragedy of September 11th, 2001, Cynthia introduced legislation that would allow the survivors of the tragedy’s victims to sue those responsible for the attacks as well as participate in the Victims Compensation Fund. She introduced legislation to establish a national living wage and she also introduced legislation to repeal the Military Tribunals Act. Her signature environmental piece of legislation was the National Forest Protection and Restoration Act which would have provided much-needed jobs and revenues for the restoration and protection of America’s national forests. McKinney successfully authorized the USDA disparity study that demonstrated USDA discrimination against minority farmers. McKinney, like so many Americans, has long held Green values. McKinney is now proudly a Green. (my emphases)

According to Wikipedia, McKinney has been an active and vocal advocate for Katrina survivors and Gulf Coast reconstruction, which matters a great deal to me.  She also has called for a national conversation about race that actually focuses on institutionalized racial disparity in the U.S., versus the more superficial “debates” we’ve been subjected to in Obama v. Clinton.  In her 10 years as a political candidate, the bulk of her financial support has come from labor unions, and also organizations focused on women, such as Emily’s List.

Now, it’s highly likely that any mass exodus of voters from the Democratic ballot this fall will lead to a McCain victory.   We obviously need to decide if that’s worth it, and I know many are grappling with this now.  Voting is a deeply personal choice.   What I suggest here is that if you truly will not vote for Sen. Obama, you consider marking your ballot from McKinney, to deliver a one-two punch not just to the Democratic Party and its elders, but to this b.s. system of which the 2008 Party is only one fiendish part.