Nader and racialist politics In "Nader's Blind Spot" (9/6/00) Vanessa Daniel describes Ralph Nader as a "white progressive." While Nader may be "passing" for white, he is actually of Lebanese parentage. Daniel erroneously assumes that Nader's choice not to address the "racial dimension" is due to a "blind spot." As Edward Said points out in a recent issue of Counterpunch, "Nader has never made himself part of any Arab or Arab-American campaign.... My guess is that Nader has thought that being seen as an Arab advocate would have harmed him in his consumer work." Nader wisely steers clear of identity issues in electoral politics. It is a road well traveled by a parade of hypocrisies and false pieties of the very kind [we] were treated to during both the Republican and Democratic conventions.
During the impeachment proceedings, Toni Morrison mawkishly declared Bill Clinton to be "our first black president." Nader's Arab heritage probably precludes him from any realistic chance at the presidency, making that particular episode sadly ironic upon reflection. Clinton still enjoys widespread support among African Americans despite his horrid record on the issues that affect them the most. Nader, on the other hand, apparently cannot garner support from people of color despite delivering on issues that matter to them. In these (postmodern) times of symbolic politics, it's not so much what you do but what you say that matters.
Daniel finds it significant that Nader lacks any endorsements from major nonwhite organizations. This probably has more to do with the fact that such entities are already in the back pocket of the Democratic party than any failure on his part to reach out to them. While it is true that Green issues are associated with the college-educated, erstwhile-slacker white middle class, it should be obvious to the self-appointed leaders of nonwhite groups that Nader is a natural ally. Finally, Daniel exhorts Nader to "pull race from the margins to the center of his campaign," thereby providing "impetus to the growing people's movement." The implicit suggestion that this movement be racially defined is problematic. It is important to oppose racism, but to insist on racialist politics is counterproductive.
Joe Wanzala Oakland
>From: Doug Henwood <dhenwood at panix.com>
>Reply-To: lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org
>To: lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org
>Subject: RE: [lbo-talk] Booing Manning Marable
>Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2004 12:26:37 -0500
>
>Joseph Wanzala quoted the ever amusing Mitch Cohen:
>
>>When Manning Marable spoke, he was interesting as he always is, but
>>he came to the end saying that he'd voted for Nader last time but would
>>vote for Kerry this time because of what Bush means for people of
>>color. Suddenly, quite a few boos, very loud ones, were heard -- more
>>than I'd expected, actually. And not just from the NY Greens entourage
>>which was sitting a few rows behind me.
>>
>>At first Manning was amused, but as the booing grew, he clearly was
>>rattled. His case was very weak, and he could have just as easily said
>>"And therefore I am voting for Nader again," with just as much logic.
>>
>>I talked to him afterwards and he tried to smooth it over. When I said,
>>"You have the right to tell people whom you think they should vote for,
>>but you do not have the right to narrow their choices by saying that
>>Nader should not run." Manning said: "Well, we don't really disagree
>>then." And I said, "Yes we do. You've caved in to the pressure."
>>
>>Meanwhile, Manning's wife, Leith Mullens, went over to the group of NY
>>Greens and yelled at them that they were a bunch of racists!!!!! Just for
>>booing Manning's public exhortation to reject Nader.
>
>During the 2000 campaign, list alum Rakesh Bhandari passed along a critique
>of Nader supporters from his companion, Donna Jones, who's African
>American. I can't remember the exact words, but it was something like,
>"Black people look at Republicans and see a bunch of Klansmen. White
>leftists who are going to vote for Nader just don't get this." It gave me
>pause at the time, but not enough to stop me voting for Ralph. I kept
>thinking about it, and I've been thinking about it a lot this time around.
>It must have something to do with the fact that Nader has about zero black
>support.
>
>Doug
>___________________________________
>http://mailman.lbo-talk.org/mailman/listinfo/lbo-talk
_________________________________________________________________ Fast. Reliable. Get MSN 9 Dial-up - 3 months for the price of 1! (Limited-time Offer) http://click.atdmt.com/AVE/go/onm00200361ave/direct/01/