In an interview with the Real News, Howard Zinn recently told people to vote for Barack Obama because of the “lesser of two evils” argument.
However, Zinn has now kind of retracted that. Here’s the email from the Nader for President campaign:
The famous historian lives in Massachusetts, where Obama is ahead by 20 points.
Zinn created a stir earlier when he said he was voting for Obama.
He legitimately took some heat for supporting the corporate Obama.
But late last night, Zinn admitted in an e-mail to our campaign that he made a mistake and now says he will vote for Nader.
And Zinn urges all people of conscience to vote for the true progressive in slam dunk states.
Of which there are now many.
(Zinn says that in non slam dunk states, he urges people to vote for Obama. We obviously disagree with that bit of advice.)
Or as Ralph Nader put it today:
“A vote for Nader/Gonzalez on November, rather than being wasted by piling onto an Obama landslide or McCain implosion, will produce a stronger hammer and watchdog for what millions of Americans want — including public Medicare for all with private delivery and a living wage for the one in three workers who don’t make one.”
I’m saddened to see Zinn, who knows too well the historic impact of progressive third parties and their presidential candidates, but also the false promises of the Democrats.
I’m saddened to see him fall into the least worst trap…However, I’m happy to see he’s asking people to vote Nader in at least MOST of the states.
I’m getting it tomorrow. Let’s see how I do.
I tried reading his “People’s History of the United States”, but it makes my little head spin…
The Catholic Trotskyist Party of America thanks God for inspiring Howard Zinn to admitting that the “lesser of two evils” divine law still has some value. Amen.
I hope we hear what Matt Damon has to say about this.
It’s nice to see Zinn back on Nader’s side again. Or at least half way there anyway.