sweeney is speaking monday at the pro-israel rally with netanyahu

Max B. Sawicky sawicky at bellatlantic.net
Sun Apr 14 10:26:35 PDT 2002


FWIW, I agree w/Nathan's responses to Tim. I also think the Chipster's comment is well-taken, in principle. It mostly comes down to circumstances of time and place, however. It should be possible to take advantage of tactical opportunities and still tell the truth about all parties concerned.

For instance, at the Rabbi Lerner rally, some Palestinian women showed up w/flags and a poster equating Israeli policy with the Holocaust. Chances are they did not necessarily support our beloved liberal two-state solutioin. The women and their flags were welcomed, but Lerner went out of his way to make clear that the comparison was not well- founded. Nobody had a cow and it was all right.

Nothing prevents Nader from talking about Buchanan, and he shouldn't hesitate to do so. That he doesn't is unfortunate. But all leaders known to me are imperfect vessels, and to dwell on imperfections is not always constructive politics.

mbs

Hi,

I understand the practical issue of pragmatic cooperation with otherwise opposite political tendencies on the tactical issue of passing legislation. I work with just such a coalition against government repression and in defense of civil liberties based in D.C.

What I object to is serving as an apologist for policies and ideas that are repugnant. For example my public criticism of Nader has been limited to Nader's refusal to speak out against the xenophobic, anti-immigrant, anti-labor, and antisemitic aspects of Buchanan's right-wing populism and the union-busting ideologies of Milliken and the USBIC.

-Chip


> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-lbo-talk at lists.panix.com
> [mailto:owner-lbo-talk at lists.panix.com]On Behalf Of Max B. Sawicky
> Sent: Saturday, April 13, 2002 5:27 PM
> To: lbo-talk at lists.panix.com
> Subject: RE: sweeney is speaking monday at the pro-israel rally with
> netanyahu
>
>
> This is not new. There is a long-standing left-right anti-free
> trade coalition in the Congress, with parallels among advocates.
>
> The left components may delude themselves as to their separateness
> and purity, but the fact remains.
>
> I don't have a problem with it. You take votes where you can get
> them, as far as Congress goes. More to the point is the policy in
> question.
>
> mbs
>
>
>
> More great progressive moves by U.S. labor. This is from Jackie
> Calmes's WorkWeek column in yesterday's Wall Street Journal:
>
> >GOP PROTECTIONIST and textile magnate Roger Milliken forms a new
> >lobbying group, Attac, to oppose both "fast track" trade-negotiating
> >power for Bush, and the president's bid to give trade preferences to
> >Andean nations. Milliken wins support from the main textile union --
> >more than 140,000 jobs were lost last year -- and recruits other
> >industries. Attac plans a spring march on Washington.
>
> Milliken is a Buchanan-supporting, union-busting reactionary - and
> UNITE! is doing a deal with him? Cute of him to call his group Attac,
> too.
>
> Doug



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