Cornel West Abstains from Passing Democratic Platform - Slams HRC Surrogates -Why'd they let him in?

[jake335544]

[iandhr]

1. Cornel West had no place on the platform committee.

I lost all respect I had for Bernie when I heard he was his choice.

[Human101948]

18. Isn't that the fifth time you lost all respect for Bernie?

I may have have missed one or two times.

[Stellar]

32. I lost respect for Cornel West (and Tavis Smiley) way before 'he' heard of Senator Sanders. nt

[OrwellwasRight]

57. ^^^^

I for one Cornel West!

[mjvpi]

75. I'm in the Democratic Party

And I agree with everything he said. If we as Democrats are about compromise, then let's start by compromising with voices in our own party. Voices who speak for a large number of Democrats like myself. Who in the Democratic Party debates was for the TPP? I thought every every candidate said they were against it. Why shouldn't that be a plank in our platform? Go Dr West!

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

84. What's wrong with having opposing points of view on the committee?

[bjobotts]

114. I don't like him either but no one else is standing up for what the majority wants like cliamte chan

change, (stop fracking now and head for 100& renewable energy). Medicare for all? who is against that? (the insurance companies or health care profiteers) Increasing min wage to $15/hr (only applies to those having a certain number of employees like 20 or so) Increasing SS benefits by getting rid of the FISA cap, Free higher ed by passing a wall street transaction tax. What is our party to stand for if not for the betterment of the middle class and the working poor and civil rights. Bernie knew this guy would not fold on getting things we all want into the platform rather than just allow the wealthy (DLC leaders) decide we should stand for what is good for the wealthy. It's not just Bernie, this is a populist movement which the majority of people claim they want according to the polls. Sounds like you have a personality conflict more than an issue conflict and I agree, the man is not popular and is hard to talk to but he will not falter on getting in the platform what the 'ignored' have been striving to get included. Now if only Mr. West would stop talking like he was giving a sermon or like a preacher

[Scootaloo]

2. Same reason they let in all the other members of the draft board

[BlueMTexpat]

3. What I would like to say

about Cornel West would very likely get me a hide.

[LenaBaby61]

4. Just a big fat....

NO COMMENT ......

[onecaliberal]

5. ^That^

For completely different reasons.

[Equinox Moon]

6. Good work Cornel West.

You are there for a very good reason. Keep up the good work!

[jake335544]

8. He also says he's not even a Democrat

He also says he's not even a Democrat in that hearing. I like Bernie Sanders, but seriously? Shouldn't that be a standard if you're going to vote on our platform ??!!

[Equinox Moon]

9. I don't know, but I like what he said in the clip

[jake335544]

11. He said that in the clip

"I joined the Sanders campaign not to support any particular party or candidate"
Why do we have someone on a platform commitee that isn't there to support us?

This is the same guy who was one of Obama's most reliable campaigners because he has so much support in the black community and academia. But then got disenchanted with him so much to the point where he called him a "Rockefeller Republican in Black Face"

He's a loose cannon, smart guy, but no reason for him to be allowed on that committee.

[freedom fighter jh]

20. Because it's not about us; it's about what we stand for.

Why do we have someone on a platform commitee that isn't there to support us?

West, like Sanders, supports the ideals that the Democratic Party used to stand for: government to serve the people, with an emphasis on serving the least powerful. West and Sanders, like so many, hope the Democratic Party can once again stand for the people, rather than the powerful.

[freedom fighter jh]

38. What part of what I said is bullshit?

[sangfroid]

47. OH gosh!

It's language and logic like this that makes Bernie supporters so want to jump aboard the presumptive nominee's campaign.

[Craig234]

63. Yawn. Go on believing that bullshit if you like.

The rest of us have no use for assholes who don't support Medicare for All, who don't care about oppressed people around the world.

[Pharaoh]

29. ^^This^^

[Equinox Moon]

45. Cornell's role is very important on the platform committee

He is the voice for many people. He is speaking for me and I am very glad he is there to represent me. Others on that panel represent me as well. It does not worry or concern me that he does not pledge allegiance to the Party. He is pledged to serving people. It reminds me of how hard it was for the white man to understand native peoples. It requires a different lens. It requires not being so quick to judge. Judging is easy. Understanding takes work, sometimes.

It is imperative Cornell is there. Imperative. I am very grateful.

[senz]

82. Thank you, Equinox Moon.

[Plucketeer]

41. He's there for HUMANITY

Not some self-appointed specialized slice of it.

[Equinox Moon]

46. Yes

[arcane1]

101. It's almost as if he supported actual principles, not a particular candidate or a party.

What kind of loser would do that?

[surrealAmerican]

106. The platform committee is the perfect place for him ...

... because that's where the issues are hashed out. Dr. West is concerned not about personalities, not about party loyalty, but, as he says, about the issues.

It's a shame more members of the committee were not more like Dr. West in this regard.

[Geronimoe]

17. You're proving his point

You need to be a human first. Planet before nation, nation before party.

[jake335544]

22. you can't throw loyalty out the window in a Presidential year

So why don't we just let anyone onto our debate stages, committees, and events? When we sign up to be Democrats we are expected to be loyal. Sanders has a history of loyalty, West doesn't.

[Pharaoh]

31. loyal to what?

values or party. Cornell's values are what the democratic party is supposed to be all about.

When you have 13 million + followers behind you you have a duty to fight for those values and morals.

That's what a convention is about, hammering out a platform and agenda. That is the democratic process.Not just rolling over and marching lockstep with a corporate agenda.

[Craig234]

65. I made up a test for people to take whether they are conservative or liberal

The first question on it was, "do think of yourself as a member of the human race first and your country second, or the other way?"

[Craig234]

62. Well, and George Will is no longer a Republican, to protest trump.

It doesn't mean he doesn't want to influence the Democratic Party even if he feels its policies are currently too far off to sign up for.

A lot of Democrats support his issues for change. He had every right to be there representing Bernie who had over 40% of the vote.

[mikimurphy]

7. Cornel West is a very principled person and I respect his point of view

Unfortunately, the party elite are determined to ignore the very real issues that face many of our citizens today, the issues that made Bernie so popular. I can understand his frustration.

[sheshe2]

26. He doesn't like our President either.

Do you have any problems with that?

[Scootaloo]

54. To the gulag with him!

[Craig234]

66. That is not accurate

He doesn't like SOME things Obama has done. Neither do I. He has a lot of praise for Obama in other areas.

But I guess it's politically more useful to misrepresent him and just paint him as Obama's worst enemy.

[Plucketeer]

49. The HONEST truth is

that the OVER-arching catalyst in the vaunted "party platform" is the BIG money that funds it. The peons that Cornell has foremost in his mind contribute VERY little to the process, so his ideals are understandably scoffed at. This whole process is about POWER - not people.

[Gothmog]

10. Cornel West is a horrible choice for platform committee

One does not win all battles and there has to be some compromise

[Iliyah]

13. So true, plus he's not even a Democrat.

Progressive/Liberals believe in compromising plus, that's the way democracy works. GOPers, rightwingers, tea party, conservatives believe in no compromise - their way or the highway. Sounds familiar huh.

[mjvpi]

64. For 30 plus years my party has been compromising and moving steadily to the right.

Obamacare was conceived by the Heritage Foundation. That's a perfect microcosm of the problem. Democrats have to act like the grown ups and compromise. After awhile, say 30 years, of always being "the grown ups" and witnessing a steady erosion of the the economy and the environment, I'm not feeling like a grown up, I'm feeling like a sucker. It takes two sides to compromise, and we should fight like hell and be unyielding in our ideals until the Republicans grow up. We need to start fixing things and stop compromising until the Republican Party grows up and accepts their responsibility to govern. We have been compromising for 30 years with people who want to destroy government, and we wonder why government isn't working. Go Dr. West!

[Craig234]

67. Well said n/t

[Triana]

98. +1000 n/t

[Geronimoe]

21. We need more corporate shills

[sheshe2]

28. Who may I ask are you calling a shill? eom

[Craig234]

68. I assume it's the people who support policies benefitng the most wealthy over the majority

Like not calling for Medicare for all, like not fighting to end oppression of people overseas by our allies

[sheshe2]

76. I am confused here

Craig234
I assume it's the people who support policies benefitng the most wealthy over the majority

Like not calling for Medicare for all, like not fighting to end oppression of people overseas by our allies

First. You assume?

Are you calling Hillary and Democrats shills? Or are Repukes the shills?

Second. Your last statement makes no sense to me.

You went from shills/ Medicare/oppression overseas/ allies.

Oh wait, you are interpreting another posters response. Got it. Perhaps Geronimoe can explain fully.

Thanks for interpreting, Craig.

[chwaliszewski]

88. I think you misspelled 'Repubs'.

It's not 'Repukes'. Just saying.

[Craig234]

93. No problem.

His statement made sense to me, so I gave my take. In this case, it's the Hillary people who are the shills - but the Republicans are of course far worse.

[Pharaoh]

33. .......

[still_one]

12. Cornel West, who only loves to hear Cornel West, and rarely lets anyone else get a word in edge wise

[Plucketeer]

50. I'm sorry

that's just plain false.

[still_one]

51. That is your view, and I have my view.

[NorthCarolina]

14. West is 100% correct. I support his actions. -nt-

[billpolonsky]

15. Democracy is a bitch.

Having to listen other people and argue your point is a drag. It's better to get rid of elections and just bring back a monarchy.

[jake335544]

19. to be fair...

To be fair I watched the whole thing and he was very conciliatory during those 8 or so hours and didn't interrupt people.

*The problem is* that he has no business in the Democratic Party. Great guy, but he's just too critical and too far left for any kind of Democratic unity efforts. I'd also appreciate it if less non-Democrats were infiltrating our party.

[Pharaoh]

34. really?

Last edited Sun Jun 26, 2016, 10:31 PM - Edit history (1)

too far left?

My,... how far this party has drifted right in my lifetime is astounding........

[Craig234]

69. And I'd prefer

That these pro-wealth centrists quit infiltrating MY party, the party of FDR and JFK and making it Republican-lite.

Cornell West has the positions I agree with as a Democrat a lot more than the DLC.

[giftedgirl77]

16. Can't think of anything nice to say.

[Evergreen Emerald]

23. What does his wife Kim think?

[SmittynMo]

25. Based on what I've read here.......

I see nothing will change for the next 4 years. It's like the past year of Bernie fighting for you and I didn't even happen. I am not looking forward to 4 more years of the same old shit. Without people like Cornel, the elite will never hear us. Although I may not always agree with Cornel, I have to agree with all this clip presented.

[Pharaoh]

35. ^^This^^

[passiveporcupine]

43. My thoughts exactly,

and it's very depressing. Every day now is just a cheering squad for the status quo, and it's like our struggle through the primary, fighting for a progressive voice in the party, was for nothing. NOTHING!

13 million people don't matter.

[senz]

83. We do matter and they did hear us.

It makes them nervous.

As it should.

[Gene Debs]

80. I think having nothing change for the next four years is actually the best-case scenario. I think

a more realistic prediction is that the shittification of virtually everything is only going to accelerate. Not only will no action whatsoever be taken to address climate change, but policies will be pushed—and enacted—that will only exacerbate the problem. We're going to see more wars, more crises on Wall Street (complete with taxpayer bailouts), the 1% will continue to get richer at the expense of everyone else, and—y'know what? Fuck it. it's late and I'm tired and I'm not in the mood to list everything that'll suck about the next four years.

About the only silver lining I can see is that the next four years will be like gasoline on the fire that Bernie Sanders has lit.

[SmittynMo]

96. Oh, it's not over

What Hillary does in the next 5 months will be crucial in the next 4 years. I hope she makes the right decisions. The revolution will continue to move this country in more of a progressive way. Bernie has started something that WILL NOT go away. And it shouldn't go away.

On a lighter note, Bernie's votes in LA and SF were completely flipped, after ALL the votes were counted.
Surprise, surprise!!! Can anyone explain as to why this wasn't originally reported? Our election process totally sucks. TOTALLY!

[chwaliszewski]

89. +1

[arcane1]

102. And self-proclaimed "liberals" will cheer it on.

[diligent sleeper]

27. Go West

I think the Democrats should stand up to Israelis more and not support fracking.

https://therulingclassobserver.wordpress.com/2016/06/25/of-labels-the-doors-of-perception/

[Tal Vez]

30. He should probably try to avoid active roles in politics. A committee like this is no place

for a connoisseur.

He will be happier (if he is capable of being happy at all) as a spectator who votes in elections. Maybe in November he will be able to find a candidate worth supporting. The choices are not too difficult.

[Craig234]

70. A committee is exactly the place

For someone fighting for better policies like he is.

[Tal Vez]

81. West knows that there is only one way to avoid being accused of not demanding enough and

that is by refusing to agree to anything. He's a classic connoisseur.

[Craig234]

95. His statements make a lot of sense to me

Last edited Mon Jun 27, 2016, 07:48 AM - Edit history (1)

Without any 'connoisseur' attack. I don't see him being a perfectionist, but raising important issues.

[Tal Vez]

105. We need people who can succeed in influencing events.

If someone wants to avoid being criticized for selling out, he can do so by never reaching agreements. Of course, that person never accomplishes anything, never really influences anything, but succeeds only in taking no chances.

I prefer people who can say that they did reach an agreement, that they did leave their footprint somewhere. West is more a talker than a doer. There will never be any Westcare health insurance law or any West labor law or any West anything other than Westtalk.

He shouldn't be placed in a position where people are expected to do something - for example, to reach the best agreement possible.

[Craig234]

115. I disagree.

There's a time for reaching compromise when it's possible, and for refusing a compromise that goes too far.

For example, is Obama a failure for not reaching a compromise with Republicans on their desire to repeal Obamacare? No, he's not.

[Tal Vez]

116. By not agreeing to repeal Obamacare, we still have Obamacare.

By not working to reach the best agreement possible as to the wording of a platform, West came away with nothing except the assurance that no can criticize West for anything that is in the platform. And for West, that it what it is all about - West.

His job is to participate in creating a platform, not to protect himself. Some people just aren't capable of actually doing anything.

[Craig234]

117. OK Tal Vez. Let's make the point this way.

My point is that Cornel West is the best participant in party platform history, in the history of the world.

Now, let's you and I come up with a joint position we agree on. It will be issued at the end of the process. And I won't budge. Go.

[Tal Vez]

118. The problem is that it doesn't matter if you and I agree to anything.

But, if it did matter, if the interests of other people were at stake, I would find a way to do it, even if I had to compromise.

See, it matters that there be unity in the party. That's why people appointed to draft a joint document should be people who are capable of compromise, people who can place the importance of reaching agreement and unity above that of their own egos.

Some people can do that and some people just can't.

[Craig234]

119. You're missing the point

But ok. I heard your input, and the proposed joint policy statement is, Cornell West is the best party platform drafted in world history.

Is your vote yes, no, or abstain, to having the statement issues as our joint position?

[Android3.14]

36. Because they thought they could fool us into thinking they would do right

Supporting the TPP is just the beginning.

[LongtimeAZDem]

37. Frankly, I take that as an endorsement of the platform (nt)

[still_one]

40. So he can hear himself speak, because he sure loves to hear himself speak

[still_one]

55. and Dr. West has used other racal slurs toward President Obama also. For someone who describes

himself as a Christian, he sure seems to harbor a lot of hate

[dembotoz]

42. as i read this i come to understand my place may no longer be in the dem party

by myself no big loss

but i am not a johnny come lately dem
I have been active for a number of years now.

some local leadership positions

and yet i feel i am no longer welcome

i would plead with the hrc camp to try to make us feel at home
if a dog is continually kicked, the dog will turn on you.....
the choice is yours....welcome the lefties

if not good luck

[Equinox Moon]

48. Your continued role is important

You and countless others are needed to help the Dem Party remember it is the Party of the People. It is hard work to be resilient and to persevere.

[Craig234]

71. The answer is not leaving the party

And the answer is not pleading with HRC supporters to improve their values and acceptance of progressives - they won't.

The answer is to fight and defeat them for control of the party, and let them ask progressives for a little consideration.

[chwaliszewski]

90. Statement of the year, right there.

[JoePhilly]

52. He gets one vote just like the others on the committee.

And he's using his vote to grandstand, and little else.

[jake335544]

59. They were all grandstanding

They all gave a speech and had a timelimit. His problem isn't grandstanding, it's that his critical attitude is harming party unity.

[JoePhilly]

100. I don't think anyone really pays much attention to him.

Bernie picked him to make the folks who hate Obama happy. Nothing more.

[hollowdweller]

58. I dearly love Cornel West

But I think they actually came up with a pretty good platform.

[Pauldg47]

74. Me too!!!

[RandySF]

60. Later, Brother Cornel.

See you back at Revolution Books.

[redstateblues]

61. Anyone who uses the N word when referring to President Obama

Has no credibility

[Craig234]

73. I don't like it either, but

Clearly he meant something very different than the use of it as a racial slur it usually means.

[chwaliszewski]

91. I can understand someone's disdain for the use of that term...

but perhaps in Cornell's eyes, the shoe fits. Is it the word that is so troublesome or the audacity of West using it? I personally feel that it was a callow way of expressing his disappointment in Obama not doing enough for the black community.

[Craig234]

94. No, I'm not

And the fact you rush to attack with the claim you do tells me you aren't listening to any answer.

Put aside West's words, and recognize that many do feel, I among them, that Obama has not stood up for the people sometimes - from his being Wall Street's choice OVER McCain in 2008, to not prosecuting ANY of the banksters for the crash, to floating SS cuts.

I would not use the N word in any form to describe anything about Obama, but these issues do exist.

And they're not really even about Obama. Democrats haven't been able to elect a progressive since, well, FDR though I'll give the 1960's credit for close enough in a lot of ways.

[markpkessinger]

78. Somehow, I think that in an African-American chooses to use that word to make a point . . .

. . . he is entitled to do so. And spare us the pearl-clutching.

[MrWendel]

87. Well ...

as a Black man, I can say that he saw him as nothing but a Ni@@er. But hey that's okay, I mean the GOP is okay with Trump and his views too.

[riversedge]

72. Per the video-his reason is that he did not get all he wanted onto the platform.

[still_one]

85. wah wah wah

[truebluegreen]

103. Way to reach out to lefties.

Good luck with that.

[still_one]

104. If Dr. West decides to abstain from voting for the Democratic platform because he couldn't get every

thing he wanted, that his right, just as it is someone else's right to disagree with that view.

I don't have to reach out to anyone. People should be mature enough to make their own minds up

[truebluegreen]

107. "should be" =/= "is"

as I said, good luck.

[still_one]

108. good luck for what? Because someone doesn't like my opinion regarding Dr. West, so that means they

won't vote for the Democratic nominee?

If that is how a person makes their decision on how they will vote, based on a post on a forum, from someone they don't know, then nothing I do or say is going to get them to change their mind who to vote for, and they have every right to vote for whoever they choose.

I am actually quite flattered that I have that much power.

Thanks

[truebluegreen]

109. Don't be silly: you don't have that much power.

But you collectively--Hillary primary voters and Hillary herself--need lefty voters in November. I have zero idea how they will react to what having their concerns and issues summarily dismissed. So if that is done, good luck attracting them, and good luck in November. The collective you will need it.

[still_one]

110. I wonder if those same folks approved of Dr. West's racial slurs against President Obama?

[truebluegreen]

111. Why don't you ask them?

And btw the eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.

[still_one]

112. Let's just agree to disagree.

[truebluegreen]

113. Already there.

[William769]

77. The good news is

In the up coming Clinton Administration, Cornel West (Along with a couple of others) will be on the outside looking in.

[chwaliszewski]

92. Is that really good news?

It may just get to the point where anyone who thinks differently from Hillary and her staff will simply be ignored, even if it's something that would help us regular working class.

[highprincipleswork]

86. I know. it's so damn irritating when people don't just rubber-stamp the corporatocracy.

[youceyec]

97. Mr West is an attention hog

Whatever good he did in the past should not excuse his showy attention seeking anymore.

[Equinox Moon]

99. Cornell's role, is very important on the platform committee

He is the voice for many people. He is speaking for me and I am very glad he is there to represent me. Others on that panel represent me as well. It does not worry or concern me that he does not pledge allegiance to the Party. He is pledged to serving people. It reminds me of how hard it was for the white man to understand native peoples. It requires a different lens. It requires not being so quick to judge. Judging is easy. Understanding takes work, sometimes.

It is imperative Cornell is there. Imperative. I am very grateful.