Undemocratic Dems for President

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

The crowded field has 25 Dems in it so far, maybe more to come. Tulsi Gabbard and 89-year-old former Senator Mike Gravel are the only worthy candidates. 

Both have anti-war, progressive agendas, not progressives in name only Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, or anti-criminal justice supporter Kamala Harris.

Gabbard has been in the news but not Gravel. I wrote several times about her, largely offering praise, criticizing some of her positions, stressing her genuine attributes, making her a worthy aspirant. 

From 1969 to 1981, Gravel was US Senator from Alaska, earlier serving in its house, including two years as speaker.

He calls his platform "the most progressive" in the crowded Dem field, saying:

His mission is "ending all wars—not only our murderous wars of choice abroad, but our disastrous war on drugs, the war on crime, and the everyday war on this country's working class. Our goal is a country defined by peace and justice—not by violence, inequality, and poverty."

Like Gabbard, he's genuinely anti-war. He supports ending the "America alone" world vision through peace and cooperation with other nations.

Along with other notable figures for peace, equity and justice, he was a member of the Bradley (now Chelsea) Manning advisory board, campaigning for justice denied her.

He's a 9/11 truth supporter, earlier saying: "There's no question in my mind that 9/11 was an inside job." The evidence is indisputable.

A website and Twitter account in his name explained the following. Entering the race isn't about winning. 

He and his supporters said the "goal is to push the rest of the (Dem) field toward policies, especially on political reform, climate change, and foreign policy, that, for the first time in decades, will truly challenge the American plutocracy and military-industrial complex."

He strongly opposes the US war OF terror, not on it. Years earlier, he said "90% of what the government does is held secret. It's a whole cult. And that's the thing that is really strangling (US governance), that we just don't know what's going on."

Sticking to the official narrative exclusively on issues mattering most, establishment media suppress what's vital for everyone to know.

On his website, Gravel calls for:

"FULL RE-ENGAGEMENT WITH MULTILATERAL INSTITUTIONS

ENDING THE NUCLEAR THREAT

NON-AGGRESSION ABROAD

DEPARTMENTS OF PEACE AND WAR

BRING EVERY TROOP HOME

BIG CUTS IN MILITARY SPENDING

COMMITTING TO INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE

OPPOSING ISRAELI APARTHEID

ENDING SUPPORT FOR SAUDI ARABIA

BANNING FOREIGN ARMS SALES

MAKING WAR CONSTITUTIONAL AGAIN

A PEACEFUL SOLUTION IN THE KOREAN PENINSULA

AN AMERICAN NATIONAL FUND

BREAKING UP BIG BUSINESSES

A NATIONAL REPARATIONS TRUST FUND

FAIR EDUCATION REFORM

PROTECT OUR PARENTS, 

PROTECT OUR CHILDREN

ECONOMIC SUPPORT FOR THE LEAST ADVANTAGED

REFORMING AND NATIONALIZING CORPORATE LAW

A GREEN NEW DEAL

A TRANSPORTATION POLICY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

PUBLIC BANKING FOR ALL

AUTOMATIC TAX FILING

THE RIGHT TO OWN: COOPERATIVE BUSINESSES

PROGRESSIVE TAX REFORM

HOUSING AS A HUMAN RIGHT 

HEALTH AS A HUMAN RIGHT

INTERNET ACCESS AS A RIGHT

ENDING THE WAR ON DRUGS

ABOLISHING THE DEATH PENALTY

PROMOTING POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AND BODILY AUTONOMY

FAIRNESS IN TRIALS AND SENTENCING

IMPROVING PRISONS AND COMBATING RECIDIVISM

JUST IMMIGRATION REFORM

SUPPORTING SEX WORKERS

FULL RIGHTS FOR AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES

INVESTIGATING HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES

SUPPORTING LGBTQIA+ INDIVIDUALS

AMNESTY AND HONOR FOR WHISTLEBLOWERS

RESTORING CIVIL LIBERTIES

ABOLISHING THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE

MAKING ELECTIONS FAIR

NATIONAL RANKED-CHOICE VOTING

ADOPTING THE WYOMING RULE

ABOLISHING THE SENATE AS WE KNOW IT

12-YEAR TERMS FOR ALL FEDERAL JUDGES

SELF-DETERMINATION FOR DC, PUERTO RICO, AND OTHER TERRITORIES"

No major party presidential candidate in US history had an agenda remotely this progressive — for peace, equity and justice.

None ever challenged the military, industrial, military, media complex this way — calling for big cuts in military spending, banning foreign arms sales, bringing home US forces deployed abroad, along with substituting plowshares for swords, and opposing apartheid Israel.

At age-89, Gravel's candidacy is symbolic. It aims to challenge the dirty system and give 'em hell.

He wants his progressive social justice, anti-war voice heard, supporters aiming to spread it.

VISIT MY NEW WEB SITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html