Harlan Crow (of the Clarence Thomas patronage scandals) donated the max individual donation ($3,300) to Cornel West’s campaign, which invited obvious criticism.

Text of his response on Twitter:

As an independent candidate and a free Black man, I accept donations within the limits of no PACs or corporate interest groups that have strings attached. I am unbought and unbossed. Despite my deep political differences with brother Harlan Crow (who is an anti-Trump Republican), I’ve known him in a non-political setting for some years and I pray for his precious family. I find it hypocritical for those who highlight his $3300 donation to my campaign but can’t say a mumbling word about the PAC-driven billion dollars to support the genocidal attack in Gaza sponsored by their candidate! I’m fighting for Truth, Justice, and Love! Onward!

Frankly, the pleasant words make this look much worse than just saying “if some asshole wants to send me money, I’ll keep it”. Sounds like someone he wants to keep on the good side of, but y’know they’re only political differences, not stuff that really matters.

  • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Any article with a quote by Bernie should just be an article about his quote…

    Asked about West’s comments on CNN later that month, Sanders said that "where I disagree with my good friend of Cornel West is I think in these really, very difficult times, where there is a real question whether democracy is going to remain in the United States of America… I think we have got to bring the entire progressive community to defeat Trump or whoever the Republican nominee will be."

    "Support Biden, but at the same time… demand that the Democratic Party, not just Biden, have the guts to take on corporate greed and the massive levels of income and wealth inequality that we see today," Sanders added, noting his own willingness to challenge the president and party with which he caucuses.

    Biden is nowhere near the top of my list. But we have a two party system and I’ll always pick Biden over a Republican

  • Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Cornel, it’s not that we think he’s trying to influence you. That’s not why we’re calling attention to the donations.

    We’re calling attention to the donations because the right thinks your campaign benefits Trump.

    • michaelmrose@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      He knows it will benefit Trump. He’s a rich man n bad financial straights and he’s risking everyone’s future to make a few bucks for himself.

  • halfempty@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    Crow obviously wants to promote Cornell West as a spoiler candidate against the Democrats.

  • just_another_person@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Money is money in this case. If the donor doesn’t support your platform, don’t take the fucking money. $3300 isn’t even that much money these days. Fuck this guy.

  • jimmydoreisalefty@lemmus.org
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    1 year ago

    RFK Jr. is polling in third place, only 3rd party person that is polling that high in a while.

    Robert’s super pacs are receiving wealthy backing and lobbyist support, same as the bloods/crips.

    Either way good when people call out politicians instead of oinly defending them.

    Cornel West started losing people when he got Peter Daou, as Campaign Manager, then when he left the Green Party (44+ states possible) to the independent party (29+ states possible).

      • jimmydoreisalefty@lemmus.org
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        1 year ago

        Well, Jimmy Dore is not the only one.

        I think he just has a way of explaining things in a bruttal manner, which riles up some people.

        No sugar coating.

        He is suprisingly quite on RFK Jr. and what he said about Israel-Palestine.

        Kim Iverson did call RFK Jr. out, which is good.

        RFK Jr. was trying to seem as a antiwar person, but now we know better.

          • jimmydoreisalefty@lemmus.org
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            1 year ago

            Most people tend to give the benefit of the doubt, before calling them out.

            Bernie Sanders was a hard one to find out.

            Dr. Cornel West was called out when interviewed by Jimmy Dore, then West got Peter Daou as manager.

            RFK Jr. was found out when Israel-Palestine talks were brought up.

            AOC and the Justice Democrats are others that have been called out, as well.

      • jimmydoreisalefty@lemmus.org
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        1 year ago

        Yes, you are right!

        That is why now many have started thinking that he was never serious, he is doing another Bernie Sanders, sheep hearding to the Blue No Matter Who.

        It would have split the vote more if he stayed, which would effect the duopoly.

        • TheMauveAvenger@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Strange to compare the full-on movement Bernie brought with whatever peanut shells West is scraping off the floor right now.

          • jimmydoreisalefty@lemmus.org
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            1 year ago

            Comparing how both are not willing to push against the status quo, they only go so far, we now know what works to help the movement and what does not.

            Dr. West did leave the duopoly, so props for that.

            Sanders went through 2016 and seemed to learn nothing. Then 2020 came by again and he stayed the same.

            These are more harsh critics of him, on his actions and how he is just the dog of the democrats.

  • roguetrick@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    If you’re threatened by West you’re already preparing your arguments for losing. He will have zero appreciable impact on the results.

    If you’re mad at him existing because he forces your candidate to address things he’s weak on, that’s just a poor coping mechanism for having a weak candidate.

    Edit: to be clear, I’m not a West supporter, but I strongly want social justice Christians to start waking up and participating in the political process and he is very useful for that

    • Zaktor@sopuli.xyzOP
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      1 year ago

      Harlan Crow certainly thinks West’s campaign could impact the results, and not because he wants Biden to do better on social justice issues.

      Plus there’s just no world where praising Harlan Crow is compatible with strong and uncompromising moral leadership. West just seems like a dude that likes having powerful ‘friends’.