Challenging
Hillary Clinton
By Joshua Frank
09 May, 2006
Countercurrents.org
Hillary
Clinton is pocketing enormous amounts of cash across the country for
her reelection campaign, from Manhattan to Hollywood. Yet, Hillary is
facing what seems to be fierce opposition from within her own party,
as well as from third parties here in New York. The main reason candidates
have signed up to challenge Hillary is her position, er, non-position
on the disgraceful "war on terror."
Hillary, in a letter to constituents
last November, expressed her belief that the war in Iraq shouldn't be
"open-ended" but was clear that she would never "pull
out of Iraq immediately." Translation: Hillary Clinton supports
a continued occupation of Iraq. Her stance on Iran isn't much better;
in fact, it may be worse. In the same letter, Clinton hoped contingents
of U.S. soldiers would remain in the region with "quick-strike
capabilities. … This will help us stabilize that new Iraqi government,"
she attested. "It will send a message to Iran that they do not
have a free hand in Iraq despite their considerable influence and personal
and religious connections there."
Messages, I guess, carry
more weight when they are delivered at gunpoint. "Watch out Tehran,"
Hillary seems to be declaring, "I'll strike quick." Such neoconish
attitudes have upset antiwar activists, and now many are rallying 'round
any alternative they can find to challenge Hillary in her bid for reelection
this year.
Jonathan Tasini, who is running
against Clinton in the New York Democratic primary, is gaining the most
visible support. His position on the Iraq war is solid, as he wants
all U.S. troops home now. Tasini also believes that democracy in Iraq
is a long way from developing and argues that there will be no such
thing in Iraq's future as long as the U.S. stays the course. "[The]
invasion of Iraq has created a theocracy," says Tasini. "The
people of Iraq have the right to decide what law they choose to follow."
The Green Party is also tossing
its antiwar weight into the ring. Sander Hicks, the founder of Soft
Skull Press and operator of indie publishing house Vox Pop, is challenging
Steve Greenfield for their party's nomination. Both Hicks and Greenfield
support bringing U.S. troops home immediately and oppose any US involvement
in Iran. The Libertarian Party of New York recently nominated Jeff Russell,
who says he'd bring soldiers home as soon as possible, and the Socialist
Equity Party is running Bill Van Auken, who wants to bring U.S. troops
home now.
None of the antiwar third-party
candidates at this point in the campaign season have any real name recognition
or financial backing. Even so, Tasini the Democrat does. Antiwar flyers
plaster campuses throughout New York City touting Tasini, and his campaign
is being discussed on numerous antiwar blogs and e-mail lists. Tasini's
drive may soon spark some real tension among antiwar activists in New
York, however, as many believe supporting Tasini will fail the movement
against the war.
For starters, they contend
that Tasini is still a Democrat, which means that if he doesn't beat
Hillary in September's primary election, he will most likely endorse
her campaign and hand over his antiwar funds to the pro-war Democratic
Party, much like Dennis Kucinich did during his presidential race in
2004 when he endorsed John Kerry.
When I contacted Tasini's
campaign manager, Adam Koch, he challenged these criticisms.
"Tasini won't be endorsing
Senator Clinton after the primaries if he doesn't win," says Koch.
"Nor will he be giving any of his money to the Democratic Party."
Koch also noted that Tasini is currently seeking the Working Families
Party line, but if that falls through he will not be appearing on the
ballot.
The Working Families Party
will be endorsing a New York senatorial candidate on June 3, and Hillary
and Tasini have been the only two candidates to seek the party's line
thus far. Hillary scored the endorsement in 2000, so it's not guaranteed
to go to Tasini.
If the antiwar movement is
to truly take on Hillary this election season, we need to challenge
her all the way up to November. The majority of New Yorkers who oppose
the Iraq war aren't even Democrats and can't vote for Tasini in New
York's closed primary elections. The validity of Tasini's campaign is
now greatly dependent on whether or not he receives the Working Families'
endorsement.
Supporting another antiwar
candidate or voting "none of the above" may be the only way
to hold Hillary Clinton accountable for her depraved Iraq war stance
on Election Day 2006. Until then, let's track Hillary across the country
and let her know we don't agree with what she's offering.
Fortunately, antiwar activists
can all agree on one thing: Hillary Clinton doesn't deserve our votes.
Joshua Frank, author of Left
Out! How Liberals Helped Reelect George W. Bush, edits http://www.BrickBurner.org