Hillary is not.
Did you even know that Hillary has a Dem challenger for her NY Senate seat?
Well, she does. He has strong progressive bona fides, although he lacks cash and name recognition. His name is Jonathan Tasini. He got three times the signatures necessary to get on the ballot for the NY Democratic primary, which is September 12th. You can get to know him better at his website, Tasini for New York, which is very well set up and comprehensive. The blog entries are interesting and informative, which include: activist/protest activities of his, news items relevant to his opponent's stances contrasted with his, opinion, and latest campaign efforts and concerns.
I also urge you to check out Tasini today, on Democracy Now! (Democracy Now). He will also speak with local political radio show host Brian Lehrer today on The Brian Lehrer Show. (Archives/Lehrer).
I've said Tasini is a TRUE progressive Democrat, the sort we progressives search for, yet, unfortunately, rarely find. But dont take my word for it -
Here is nice little chart from his website contrasting the two candidates: Tasini v. Hillary on the Issues. Couldnt be clearer where he stands, and the contrast is stark between the two candidates. Even has an Israel/Palestine issue link.
Ever notice how often politicians are fudgy, vague, and lacking in their issues sections? Dont lay out where they stand on the meaty issues? (Er, HIllary...) Tasini is clear. (Issues Link) The man CAN take the heat. He will go IN the kitchen, where the core issues are boiling over, while others in power look the other way. He will say what needs to be said and do what must be done. He will tackle important issues head-on as a common sense, humane progressive, not as a warmongering, establishment go-along. His background speaks to his commitment on issues of importance and his successes: About Jonathan Tasini
Right now there is a diary in recommend about the horrendous oil spill off Lebanon's coast, (OIL SPILL rivalling Exxon-Valdez) due to the appalling war waged against it by Israel. This is related to my support for Tasini. Many of us bemoan the Dems virtually lockstep alignment with the hardliner Israeli stance, one with which BushCo has been in collusion on ME policies, with disastrous results - war as a first resort, military action over diplomacy. But Tasini isnt lockstep with the Democratic status quo, or piss poor positioning on the I/P or Lebanon or Iraq.
Tasini took an immediate stand against the bombing of Lebanon, and called for a ceasefire. (Tasini Calls for Ceasefire). He protested at the UN with concerned activists, such as Code Pink. He believes in ending the endless green light for Israel and starting bilateral negotiations for peace and a viable state for Palestinians, not a unilateral decree from Israel, which is unfair to the Palestinians and will not give security to Israel. Here is Tasini on taking a stand for what is right, not politically safe: Touching the Third Rail of New York Politics
If there were more like him in the party and on the Hill, we wouldnt be where we are now. We wouldnt be discussing this horrid despoiling of Lebanon's coast and massive slaughter of its people. Israelis would not be dying, wounded, and huddled in bunkers in Haifa. And we might not have ever waged war on Iraq. It would never have come to this.
As for Iraq,, Tasini always was against the illegal, immoral and unjustified horror that is the "preventive" Iraq war... and wants the troops out now. Tasini's position on the Iraq war is in stark contrast to Hillary's strong and unchanging support for the war on Iraq. I recall how she came out saying she always believed in Regime Change in Iraq, just before the Senate's IWR vote in October, 2002, on Meet the Press. Along with the unproven threat of Iraqi WMD, she used this as justification for waging preventive war and for her upcoming AYE vote for war. She seemed quite sanguine about it all when talking to Tim Russert. I will never forget how my heart sank while watching her cavalier betrayal of those of us who rightly recoiled from the idea of this war of choice against another nation that hadnt harmed us.
Furthermore, despite massive protests in NYC, where Hillary has her office, she refused to meet with any NY antiwar groups at all, and became notorious for shutting these constituents out. This is why one Brooklyn peace group printed a flier saying: "It takes a bomber to raze a village," riffing off the title of her well-known book.
I am sure Tasini would not have voted for the Iraq War Resolution, would have spoken out against waging war on Iraq, and, not only would he have listened to concerned constituents against this lunatic policy, but he would have been out there marching in protest with us.
Tasini is different. He is a progressive with spirit and backbone. He does not shrink from confronting crucial domestic and foreign policy issues, the latter being especially pressing in these times. We dont need establishment Dems like Hillary, et al, who address these issues irresponsibly when they have to, or try to sweep them under the carpet, which is also unacceptable.
I have focused on foreign policy, but on other issues, such a trade, healthcare, the death penalty, full equal rights for gays, WAL-MART, abortion, flag burning, the difference is deep between these two, with Tasini standing up for working people and progressive values.
Please do check out Tasini. (Website. Democracy Now, Brian Lehrer.) And do spread the word of this rare find who wishes to add another progressive voice and votes in our Congress. For a change. A much needed change. Even if you are not a New Yorker, a man like Tasini in the Senate would be a voice and a vote for all progressives.
We need Dems like Tasini, not Hillary, in Congress.
Finally, congrats to Lamont! Glad to see Joementum sputtered out in the primary, as he should have. But there is much more to our fight to get this country into the 21st century, where enlightenment beckons, than electing one senator from Connecticut. We need more progressives, people like Tasini, to move us from regressive to progressive.
Please spread the word about Hillary's Democratic primary challenger, Jonathan Tasini, the progressive's progressive!