Senate Candidate from NY Jonathan Tasini Opposes War Funding

[davidswanson]

War And Peace

The majority in Congress in the past two elections has been elected to end wars. If you elect me I will put your money where my mouth is. I will vote against funding to support the continuation of foreign occupations. I will oppose any new wars of aggression.

I will vote No on every procedural vote to advance unnecessary wars and occupations. I will work toward the closure of US military bases around the world that are hurting our relations with other nations at great financial expense and undermining our national security—which, in my view, is enhanced not by wars of aggression but through diplomatic dialogue and economic engagement based on fair, not exploitative trade. I will speak out on these issues and lobby my colleagues to vote as I do.

And I will not accept a dime from weapons makers or other military contractors.

[maryf]

1. K&Rnt

[clear eye]

2. Sounds like a real Kucinich-style progressive populist.

Unfortunately NY's not Ohio, and unlike Kucinich, Tasini is starting his first campaign to the left of the unions. NY is one of the few states that allows candidates to run on more than one line, but the only influential leftwing line in NY is the "Working Families" party which is captive to the state unions including some that are fairly rw about everything but the right to organize. The Working Families Party regularly gives its imprimatur to candidates who aren't actually running on most of its stated principles, and turns down those who are. The SEIU is also big here and they are enemies of single-payer. So where's he expect to get any campaign funding to get his message out and counteract the inevitable smears? The other primary contestants will have him for lunch. From what I hear, Gillibrand's daddy has taught her not to play nice.

In my ideal world a wonky progressive like him would fill every elected office there is. Until we have total public financing of election campaigns in this state, even getting one such into any office above a city council is a pipe dream. Since he does labor research, he should know better.

P.S. I watched the video you linked and the anchor was far from speechless. She continued proclaiming her rightwing elitist nonsense until time ran out.