
“Come from a tradition where I care about you. I care about the quality of your life, I care about whether you have access to a job with a living wage, decent housing, women having control over their bodies, health care for all, the escalating of the destruction of the planet, the destruction of American democracy. Democracy creates disruption. It creates an eruption. It creates an interruption wide from below, the energies of everyday people is manifest” – Dr. Cornel West (05.06.2023)
With the launch of the Presidential Campaign of Dr. Cornel West for the People’s Party. The People’s Party itself can be giddy and happy. They have a name and a man who is recognized across the nation. This is a big name for a small fringe third-party that has struggled and haven’t been able to run grassroot organization.
The People’s Party itself and the founder Nick Brana has enough trouble as is. It will be easier for the founder and the ones in his circle to feel good. Now that they have a left-wing pundit and philosopher on their team.
Cornel West is legitimizing the party and giving it credibility. Brana has serious allegations on his name. The party itself haven’t established itself and seemed legit. His former Sanders staffer, but still the party haven’t released a manifesto, party program or anything sincere.
There was a hot minute when they even talked about comedian and former TYT host Jimmy Dore as a Presidential Candidate. The party have picked a better one now and someone who can collectively raise awareness about a cause.
Dr. West has been a pundit and vocal leftist for a long while. His now a third-party candidate in a race, which has been mostly a duopoly. The only one who had a name and was able cause misery was Ralph Nader as the Green Party candidate. A man who got the blame for the loss of Al Gore and letting George W. Bush win in Florida in 2000. However, Gore himself and the Democratic Party could have held a better campaign that year.
West must prove himself, but the party itself needs to show force too. It needs to be committed and be vocal. Now they got to show finesse and a little political maturity. Brana has gotten himself the golden goose and the man who controls the faucet. This is a wet dream for him, and he couldn’t feel luckier.
Dr. West on the other hand is trading his name and reputation to run. I know that West can say the right things and be a reasonable guy. That is not the problem here. The doctor and philosopher are a genuine candidate. However, the platform and the history of the People’s Party will linger on his head.
Just to tell how confusing the whole structure and ideals around the platform. Some says the People’s Party (PP) is the historical one and the one West is running on is the Movement for People’s Party (MPP). Brana is behind the MPP and that makes sense, but the logo’s are all PP-ish. Therefore, the confusion is there and that’s before you cannot find any manifesto, program or about on the web-page. The only thing you see is bumper-sticker ideals and quotations. It just shows how meek and lacking of substance the whole party have at this point.
Now they have a running candidate, but apparently as a former Bernie Staffer he doesn’t have a hold or a grip. Only fluff and a now a launching video. As well, as all the questions lingering about the foothold, the grass-root ideals, and the supposed party organization itself.
That isn’t Dr. West’s fault, but he must carry that now with his name on it. He decided to take this leap and stand. Now his part of the party and the history of Brana. Even if he doesn’t like it or acknowledge it. It doesn’t happen without a merit or a reason, board members doesn’t quit over nothing. Therefore, Dr. West must clean up shop too.
For the ones fundraising and getting political donations, getting Dr. West is a goldmine. It is a treasure and a unique selling point. A third party with that sort of candidature is rare and the PP or MPP can thrive on it. They will get backing and support. However, will it be worthwhile?
I doubt it. It is another Nader in the making. It will cause some chaos on the left and some questionable headlines. Nevertheless, it will not change the status of the Democratic Party just yet. Peace.
















