[PEN-L:5324] Re: Nader, Affirmative Action, and Lesser Evils

[R. Anders Schneiderman]

Doug wrote,

>I can't speak for Nader; his refusal to talk about "gonadal politics," as
>he calls it, is also unfortunate. But I do think it's a bit of a leap to
>conclude that Nader is "another White Boy on the Left who doesn't take
>racism seriously." You could also argue that affirmative action is entirely
>in accordance with ruling class strategy - as Marx said, the better a
>ruling class is able to absorb the natural leaders of the oppressed
>classes, "the more solid and dangerous its rule." Would making that
>argument be a sign that one "doesn't take racism seriously"? Anders, like
>his comrade Nathan, seems very quick to accuse others of various failings,
>even as they're composing an apology for Bill Clinton.

Doug, I didn't say that Nader had to argue in favor of affirmative action;
I said he had to take a serious position on racism:

>you'd expect that he'd come out strongly on the
>issue, strongly defending affirmative action and attacking the Republicans.
>If he had some philosophical problems with affirmative action, then at a
>minimum you'd expect a progressive presidential candidate would a) strongly
>and repeatedly attack the Republicans for using affirmative action as a
>smoke screen  and b) strongly and repeatedly argue for an alternative set
>of programs designed to aggressively eradicate discrimination.

The issue of racism is one of the central problems facing our country
today. It's also one of the central issues the Right is using to divide our
side.  If Nader is going to duck it, then I don't see how anyone who
believes in social justice can take him seriously as a progressive
Presidential candidate.

Anders