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.
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
Bernie is incredibly clear-sighted. God, we should have had him as president.
Should have listened to the fucking bird
I still have my Birdie Sanders sticker hanging around somewhere
Mine’s still on my fridge
I occasionally wear a Birdie lapel pin. Unfortunately everyone thinks it’s a Twitter bird.
Wait…. Bernie is a Disney princess?
How could he loose?!
Compare and contrast with this video of what flying creatures prefer the company of Trump.
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.
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.
Crow obviously wants to promote Cornell West as a spoiler candidate against the Democrats.
He polls even lower than the lowest Republican running for President.
I’ve never heard of him until today and he comes across as a real tool
He’s a very smart guy, which makes me wonder what the hell he’s up to running for president.
He’s a useful idiot.
Yeah, but what is his reason? What is really behind this? What convinced him to do it? He can’t think he has a chance.
Self righteousness and vanity.
I guess. I just thought he was smarter than that.
The man is a useful idiot to those seeking to destroy democracy.
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.
money is money. I don’t see why he shouldn’t take it.
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
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’.
