When I analyzed the long-shot possibilities of progressive
Zephyr Teachout winning the Democratic primary for New York governor a few days
back, I made a huge analytical mistake.
I forgot that the Working Families Party has already nominated Andrew
Cuomo for Governor, so even if Teachout should pull off the miracle of miracles
and defeat Cuomo for the Democratic nomination for governor of New York state,
Cuomo will still be on the ballot come November.
There is no telling what could happen: New York is the
bluest of blue states, so many voters may vote the Democratic party line, no
matter who the candidate is. Cuomo’s name recognition may swing the election
his way. Cuomo already has $23 million in his election kitty. The national
Democratic fundraising machine may do nothing for Teachout.
Or Teachout and Cuomo may split the votes, swinging the
election to conservative Republican Rob Astorino. Most progressives believe
that electing Astorino as Governor would be an unmitigated disaster.
On the surface it seems as if New York progressives better
vote for Cuomo or risk Astorino.
But consider the facts: Both Cuomo and Astorino are for
fracking. Both are for lower taxes for businesses and against higher taxes for
the wealthy. Both support union-busting charter schools. Hasn’t Cuomo just spent four years playing
ball with Republican state legislators?
It is true that Cuomo is much better on social issues than Astorino, but
it’s New York we’re talking about. No one is messing with a woman’s right to an
abortion and no one is taking away the hard earned right of gays to marry.
Evolution and climate change will be taught in the public schools.
Consider, too, that Cuomo has refused to debate Teachout and
has said that debates can be a disservice to democracy. This kind of fascist
double-talk in and of itself should disqualify Cuomo from our consideration.
In her career and political life, Zephyr Teachout has never swayed from standard progressive positions on the environment, the economy, social issues and education. She is a true progressive who deserves the
votes of those opposed to fracking and charter schools, and in favor of more
support of education and alternative energy and government policies that
promote job growth and an equitable distribution of wealth.
Progressives in New York have an historic opportunity to
send a real message not just to New York state but to the country that we want
policies that lead to economic equality, higher wages, more jobs, smaller
classrooms, lower tuition, more unionized workers, alternative energy
development, more mass transit and a cleaner environment. It’s easy for the ruling elite to ignore and
invalidate a series of demonstrations like the Occupy movement. But they can’t
turn their backs on the voters—that is, if we vote.
Because of the national implications of the New York state
primary race for governor, I’m proposing a national campaign by progressives to
“Reach Out for Teachout.”
To be part of Reach Out for Teachout, all you have to do is
identify every New York state resident among your friends and family and
contact all of them about Teachout by email, Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter. Ask
all of the New York residents in your vast (or not so vast) network to vote for
Teachout on September 9 in the Democratic primary election. And tell them to tell all of their friends to
vote for Teachout.
Starting with OpEdge readers, maybe Reach Out for Teachout
will go viral. We have seen the power of social media to aid in revolutions in
other countries. Maybe it can help start
a revolution by vote in the United States. First beat Cuomo, then beat
Astorino. Put the Democratic Party and our elected officials across the country
on notice that we expect policies that help others than just the top one
percent of the wealth ladder.
I urge you to work your lists and get out the New York vote
for Teachout, even if you live in Duluth or New Orleans.
Reach Out for Teachout.
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