In a recent interview, Green Party presidential candidate Cornel West called the Democratic Party “beyond redemption,” while also describing fellow progressives such as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-NY) as “window dressing” for the party.
West, a former supporter of Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign, responded to Sanders’ recent comments defending his support for President Joe Biden’s re-election bid. Sanders had suggested that progressive members, including West, need to unite with mainstream Democrats to counter “authoritarianism.”
In response, West stated, “Brother Bernie’s making a plausible argument, but I think deep down in his heart, he knows that the Democratic Party has no fundamental intention of speaking to the needs of poor people and working people.”
Adding to his criticism, West, an Ivy League academic, suggested that the Democratic Party is primarily influenced by its corporate and militarist factions. He characterized Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez as, at worst, mere “window dressing” and, at best, individuals who are courted every four years for electoral appeal.
The Green Party candidate’s critique comes amidst concerns within the Democratic Party that third-party candidates could potentially detract votes from Biden in the upcoming general election. This could potentially pave the way for a victory for former President Donald Trump. West’s comments underscore ongoing tensions within the political left, highlighting divisions between progressive and mainstream Democrats.
