> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-lbo-talk at lists.panix.com
> [mailto:owner-lbo-talk at lists.panix.com]On Behalf Of jf noonan
>
> On Fri, 21 Jan 2000, Nathan Newman wrote:
>
> > I also wonder why with all the discussion of left alternatives there is no
> > discussion of the Socialist Party and David McReynolds campaign,
>
> Who?
The Socialist Party USA is one of the successors of Debs' original Socialist Party (along with DSA and a now largely defunct group called Social Democrats USA) which was formed from a split in 1972. It is committed exclusively to third party electoral politics and has run local candidates on up to Presidential level since 1976.
Check out http://www.sp-usa.org for party platform and other info. Socialist Party candidates have generally run on the Peace & Freedom candidate line in California and have run their candidates in a number of states. They are one of the few socialist groups that have had significant membership growth in recent years -- I believe doubling their membership level to about 1000 with other campaign supporters in various areas.
David McReynolds was one of the leaders who led the SPUSA out of the old party and was the Presidential candidate back in 1980 as well. His main area of activism over the years was as head of the War Resisters League. His candidacy web site is supposed to be at http://www.votesocialist.org but I've been having trouble connecting.
David is a friend and I consider him one of the most decent human beings I have met in politics. We disagree on a lot of issues obviously, but unlike a lot of third party advocates, he does not spend his time demonizing those who disagree with third party strategies but instead spends his time arguing for their merits, even as he will readily recognize the good faith of those who stick with "lesser evil" options. We worked together a bit when a number of folks were working to get SP-USA, DSA, the COmmittees of Correspondence, Solidarity and some other left groups to create a stronger relationship in order to create an alliance that could create a stronger socialist voice. David worked hard on the effort, which matched his always ecumenical view of alliances with other activists, even as he firmly argues for and acts on the strategies he personally feels are most effective.
I don't agree with David, but he is an admirable guy.
-- Nathan Newman