Schamus' Sham

James Schamus writes the following on yesterday's Huffington Post:

"A Bloomberg candidacy would thus, by its very existence, inflame racial and ethnic tensions to truly horrific levels, dispossessing Black and Latino Americans of their hard-earned stakes in the one political institution (along with some parts of organized labor) in which they have managed to gain a significant toehold, the Democratic Party. Jewish-Americans committed to the ideals of social justice and a democratic (regardless if Democrat-led) America should thus do everything in their power to dissuade Bloomberg from running this year."

Let's pick this apart, shall we?

First, there is nothing more democratic than having more than 2 viable candidates in an election. Fuck the Nader haters who blame him for Bush's presidency. The point of living in a democracy is so that people have choices. The problem is the two-party system, not the third party candidates who give voice to those who can't hear their own reflected in the din of the monolith. Anyone who has the funding and the support to mount a credible campaign deserves our respect for enhancing our democracy; to claim that there is some social good in limiting ourselves to two parties is inherently unjust.

Second, let's take note of the underlying self-hating Jew-talk in all of this-- Jews' concern about having a President who shows concern for what matters to them is somehow less worthy than Blacks and Latinos' concerns?

And why exactly would there be inflamed racial tensions? Because Bloomberg would siphon off votes from Obama, and because he's Jewish, and hurting a Democrat's chance at the White House, he would invite the wrath of America's minorities (though last time I checked, Latinos were supporting Hillary, but whatever)? So by having a more democratic presidential election, with more than 2 candidates, minorities would become outraged because they prefer a less democratic way of life? Um, bullshit. And if minorities would rise up and riot because a Jewish guy wants to be President, then not only is that fucked up, but that's the problem right there: if there really is all this animosity between Jews and minorities bubbling under the surface, you don't keep sweeping that under the rug by telling people not to run! You address it, you deal with it, you work it out.

Also, like, I have more faith in the intelligence of all people not to be so simple minded and hateful. Maybe I'm naive, but I hope not.

I'm a huge Obama supporter, but Schamus' article is shameful. And while it's really touching that he seems to care so much about the little guy, ask him how much he pays all the little guys who work for him at Focus. I can tell you this much: it's not a living wage.