I can't remember ever watching a revolution on television, witnessing the might of a million people blanketing the darkness, raising their candles to demand a voice. With the much-applauded departure of former Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak, the world stage beckons new leaders with new thinking. Into the void comes a challenge for the United States to become an honest broker for peace between Israel and Palestine, to abandon preemptive wars, and to forsake its role as arms merchant to torturers.
It's a whole new ballgame now.
And back in Washington one of Israel's most ardent supporters in Congress, an AIPAC activist,
just quit.
When I heard the news that Jane Harman was resigning, I thought, 'Now we finally have an opportunity to send a progressive to Congress, someone who will work to create jobs in the new economy, to free the 36th District from its perpetual war footing.'
I was at school, in between teaching classes and talking Egypt, checking my cell phone messages from news editors, bloggers, and former campaign supporters, all asking the same question.
'Will you run again?' A special election could be called as early as April.
'I am exploring the possibility,' I told them, adding that I live in Santa Monica now, less than a mile outside the district that hugs the coast from bohemian Venice to working-class San Pedro. In 2010, just months ago, the Winograd for Congress campaign mobilized 41% of the vote in a primary challenge to Harman. It was exhilarating, daunting, inspiring, and eye-opening as I precinct walked from one end of the district to the other, meeting aerospace workers, writers and artists, and that Egyptian pharmacist in Torrance who put my "Jobs, Not Wars" sign in his window.
Most of my support came from the northern end of the district, from Venice and Mar Vista, but we enjoyed significant inroads in the working class union strongholds of Wilmington and San Pedro.
Fast-forward to the present, I barely had time to digest the political possibilities before running back to class, to my South LA high school students, some of them dressed in military fatigues, where we would read Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic's essay, "Breaking the Silence of the Night,' a passionate account of Kovic's transformation from blind follower to critical thinker and anti-war leader.
Veteran, Anti-War Activist, and Born on the Forth of July author Ron Kovic with me at Redondo Beach Winograd for Congress fundraiser.
Sunday, February 7, 2010.
My high school students knew nothing of the buzz in the blogosphere, only that their teacher seemed a little preoccupied.
I had just hung up with LA City Councilwoman Janice Hahn, who told me she was running, making a courtesy call -- perhaps hoping to clear the field -- and asking for an endorsement. I told her I had two concerns -- that we needed a voice that would transition us to a new economy, challenge pre-emptive wars, regardless of whether the wars were waged by Republicans or Democrats, and that we needed a congress person who would advocate for a just and lasting peace in the middle east, someone who would not be afraid to criticize Israel, to fight for equal rights for both Palestinians and Israelis. It was time for the United States to be an honest broker at the negotiating table. World stability depended on it.
After reminding me she had supported anti-war efforts on the Los Angeles City Council, Hahn added, "I want to make it clear. I am a friend to Israel."
I am a friend to equality and dignity for all.
I asked Hahn if she would be willing to meet with a group of Jews and Palestinians offering an alternative viewpoint to current US foreign policy.
Yes, she would.
A few hours later news broke that California Secretary of State Debra Bowen was also running. Not surprising, since Bowen will term out of office in a few years. I know Debra and admire her courage in taking on the electronic voting industry, in banning touch-screen voting machines, in doing virtually everything in her power to protect our electoral voice. Would she also be ready to take on the military budget? To demand that Washington stop holding our young engineers hostage to bomb-building -- and, instead, award job-rich contracts to develop mass transit, high speed rail, and solar cities?
I haven't had a chance to speak with Debra Bowen -- but when I do I will ask her the tough questions, starting with...
"Will you join the Out of Afghanistan caucus, voting against further military appropriations for expanded wars in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Yemen?"
"Will you lead a peace with justice delegation to Israel and the West Bank, visiting the border towns but also the ever-expanding settlements and home demolitions?"
"Will you go to the wall to defend Social Security and Medicare, our greatest safety nets?"
"Will you visit Bradley Manning in solitary confinement?"
"Will you walk the streets of Wilmington with me, breathe the oil fumes, and work to crack down on polluters?"
"Will you support the right of states to pursue single-payer health care?"
I am waiting to ask the tough questions - and to hear courageous answers.
Then I will decide.
Until then, I will applaud the courageous people of Egypt. I raise my candle to them.
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Californians recently passed an Open Primary law, meaning that if no candidate wins 50% plus one vote in the Special Election, the top two vote-getters go head-to-head in the next round. Had the Open Primary law been in effect when I challenged Harman in 2010, Harman and I would have faced off against each other in the General Election, as well. Given the small turn-out in special elections, 35,000 of the 300,000 registered voters may decide who replaces Jane Harman.
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