If, like me, you’ve ever donated to a Democratic candidate then you no doubt received at least three text messages on your phone today – one from President Biden, one from Vice-President Kamala Harris, and one from First Lady Jill Biden. All were asking for a financial contribution to the president’s 2024 reelection campaign which he launched earlier today.
At this point I’m choosing not to support Joe Biden’s 2024 presidential campaign. Why? Because I don’t believe his agenda is the one needed to both defeat whoever the Republican presidential candidate is in 2024 and lead the country in the direction it needs to go in the years ahead.
Earlier today, Marianne appeared on The Hill TV’s Rising program where she offered her take on Joe Biden’s 2024 presidential campaign, his “out-of-touch” pitch to the American people, and the efforts of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to stifle the democratic process by ignoring or marginalizing any Democratic challenger to Biden so as to “shoehorn” him into the nomination.”
Rising’s interview with 2024 Democratic presidential candidate Marianne Williamsom is well worth checking out.
Unlike the DNC, I stand for democracy everywhere, not just as a goal but as a process. . . . There should be a debate. It should be RFK Jr. It should be myself. It should be the president. And it should be anyone else who joins. We need to discuss what is the right agenda and who is the right person to take on the Republicans in 2024. This should not be a decision that is just dictated by the establishment elite at the DNC. . . . The people should decide, not the DNC. They should not be trying to shoehorn this president into the nomination. . . . I think that I’m a far more serious candidate for this moment in our history than the president is. . . . Right now, I’m planning on winning the nomination.
– Marianne Williamson
Also today, Marianne appeared on Fox News’s Tonight program where she schooled the host on the real state of the nation and on how her platform differs from President Biden’s. I should also say at this point that I think it’s pathetic that a right-wing network is prepared to give Marianne Williamson’s progressive platform a respectful listen when so-called liberal outlets like MSNBC, CNN, and NPR continue to ignore her candidacy.
I conclude this post by sharing the latest from Marianne’s substack, Transform. It’s also the latest in her “Notes from the Trail” series.
President Biden made it official this morning that he’s running for re-election. Here is the statement I put out shortly after watching his video:
For those of us committed to Democrats winning the White House in 2024, the president’s campaign announcement today was concerning.
His remark that he has fought so that everyone "is given a fair shot" contradicts his refusal to fight for a higher minimum wage, permanentize the child tax credit, or side with railroad workers trying to negotiate for sick pay.
His saying that he “knows America” doesn’t seem to include his knowing the 39% of Americans who report skipping meals to pay rent, the one in four Americans living with medical debt, or an entire generation concerned that the tepid efforts of his administration to fight the climate crisis will rob them of a habitable planet.
His saying that this is “not a time to be complacent” about threats to our democracy does not seem to include standing for the democratic process when it comes to choosing the Democratic nominee. The Democratic Party establishment has indicated it is planning to subvert the primary process by shoe-horning Biden into the nomination, and Americans most concerned about our democracy must not let this happen.
With over 50% of Democrats, and 70% of all Americans making it clear they wish to see someone other than Biden run against the Republicans in 2024, it is imperative that the voters hear from all candidates running in this primary – not just the President.
I look forward to a robust debate with Joe Biden, as I present to the American people my platform of fundamental economic reform as a far better way to win the White House in 2024 than the president’s incremental approach to governing. At such a critical time in our country, neither the President nor the DNC has the right to determine who and who is not a serious candidate. That is the right of the people alone.
Then, as the day went by, politician after pundit after politician lined up to endorse the president. I admit I was pretty sad to see Bernie Sanders not only announce he would not be running and that he endorses Biden, but that he “discourages any other high-visibility progressives from doing so either.”
My sadness gave way pretty quickly, however, to an even deeper commitment to keep walking in the direction I’ve been walking.
It’s pretty astonishing to me the way people fall in line in a situation like this. It’s a primary, for God’s sake! No one is spoiler here! It’s a primary. But be that as it may, as my mother used to say . . .
Someone needs to take a stand for universal health care. Someone needs to take a stand for cancelling the entire college loan debt. Someone needs to take a stand for tuition free college (which we had until the 1960’s). Someone needs to take a stand for free childcare. Someone needs to take a stand for paid family leave and guaranteed sick pay. Someone needs to take a stand for a guaranteed livable wage.
With 39% of Americans now reporting they skip meals in order to pay for rent, someone needs to take a stand for an economic u-turn in America.
The positions I support are considered moderate in every other advanced democracy, and they should be in ours as well.
So I’m going to continue being that someone, and I hope you will support me. Let’s not forget that the majority of Americans actually agree with my positions, but have been so beaten down as to not expect any more than they have. Americans have been trained to expect far too little.
Last night I spoke to a full house of young people at Michigan State University. Today I met with Stop Cop City activists in Atlanta, and tomorrow night I’m speaking at Emory University. After that I’m off to Charleston to begin another swing through South Carolina. It’s all quite grinding, in case you’re wondering, but very exhilarating as well.
I’m in it to win it, because the American people deserve so much more.
Much love from the campaign trail. And thank you so much for your support.
– Marianne Williamson
“Notes from the Trail”
Transform
April 25, 2023
“Notes from the Trail”
Transform
April 25, 2023
Above: Agribusiness Management senior Mateo Ponton takes a selfie with Marianne Williamson, a Democratic candidate for the 2024 presidential election, who spoke about her agenda at MSU's Broad College of Business on April 24, 2023. (Photo: Sonya Barlow)
Related Off-site Links:
DNC Shields Biden, Refuses to Hold Primary Debates, Silences RFK Jr andc Marianne Williamson – Rising, April 24, 2023).
Marianne Williamson Made a Campaign Stop in Detroit Where She Railed Against the 1%. The Media Didn’t Cover It – Michael Betzold (Metro Times, April 25, 2023).
Marianne Williamson Warns Younger Voters Will “Stay Home in Droves” If Biden Becomes Nominee – Ryan King (Washington Examiner, April 25, 2023).
Presidential Candidate Marianne Williamson Speaks to Youth Issues at MSU Campaign Stop – Lily Guiney (The State News, April 25, 2023).
Presidential Hopeful Marianne Williamson Targets Young Voters in East Lansing – WILX-10 News, April 24, 2023).
The Case for Marianne Williamson – Zach Courtney (The Minnesota Daily, April 20, 2023).
Democratic Presidential Longshot Marianne Williamson on Challenging Biden: “We Should Have as Many People Running in an Election as Feel Moved” – Victor Reklaitis (Market Watch, April 15, 2023).
Marianne Williamson, Fusing Bernie Sanders and (Early) Jordan Peterson, Is Taking Over TikTok – Ryan Grim (The Intercept, April 14, 2023).
Meet Eris, the Goddess Behind the Force That Is Marianne Williamson – Rayner Jae Liu (Medium, April 8, 2023).
Marianne Williamson Making Gains Against Joe Biden, New Poll Suggests – Jason Lemon (Newsweek, April 1, 2023).
Democratic Presidential Candidate Marianne Williamson Challenges Biden Status Quo in South Carolina Visit – Chris Day (The Post and Courier, March 28, 2023).
Biden Won South Carolina, But Marianne Williamson Tells Democrats to Take Her 2024 Bid Seriously – Javon L. Harris (The State, March 27, 2023).
Williamson Launches Progressive Challenge to Biden in New Hampshire – Andrew Sexton (WMUR 9 News, March 12, 2023).
Marianne Williamson Says Democrats Need to Fix “Unjust” Economy to Win – Andrew Stanton (Newsweek, March 12, 2023).
UPDATES: Marianne Williamson Is Serious About Running a Progressive Campaign for President – Liza Featherstone (Jacobin, April 27, 2023).
Why Biden May Have to Forfeit the First Contest in His Re-election Bid to Marianne Williamson or RFK Jr. – Alex Seitz-Wald (NBC News, April 27, 2023).
Marianne Williamson on Her 2024 Presidential Bid – C-SPAN (May 4, 2023).
Marianne Williamson: Democrats Need a “Genuine Economic Alternative” to Beat the GOP in 2024 – David Sirota (Jacobin, May 5, 2023).
To Make a Peaceful Revolution Possible – Marianne Williamson (Transform, June 7, 2023).
See also: Marianne 2024 Official Site | About | Issues | News | Events | Blog | Donate
See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
• Marianne 2024
• Marianne Williamson Launches 2024 Presidential Campaign
• Progressive Perspectives on Marianne Williamson’s Presidential Run
• More Progressive Perspectives on Marianne Williamson’s Presidential Run
• Ben Burgis: Quote of the Day – March 10, 2023
• Marianne Williamson: “We Must Challenge the Entire System”
• Progressive Perspectives on the U.S. Midterm Election Results
• Marianne Williamson on the Current Condition of the U.S.
• An Essential Read Ahead of the Midterms
• Marianne Williamson’s Politics of Love: The Rich Roll Interview
• Celebrating Tuesday’s Progressive Wins in the Midst of the Ongoing “War for the Future of the Democratic Party”
• Now Here’s a Voice I’d Like to Hear Regularly on the Sunday Morning Talk Shows
• A Deeper Perspective on What’s Really Attacking American Democracy
For The Wild Reed’s coverage of Marianne Williamson’s 2020 presidential campaign, see the following chronologically-ordered posts:
• Talkin’ ’Bout An Evolution: Marianne Williamson’s Presidential Bid
• Why Marianne Williamson Is a Serious and Credible Presidential Candidate
• Marianne Williamson: Quote of the Day – April 24, 2019
• Marianne Williamson: Reaching for Higher Ground
• “A Lefty With Soul”: Why Presidential Candidate Marianne Williamson Deserves Some Serious Attention
• Sometimes You Just Have to Take Matters Into Your Own Hands
• Marianne Williamson Plans on Sharing Some “Big Truths” on Tonight's Debate Stage
• Friar André Maria: Quote of the Day – June 28, 2019
• Presidential Candidate Marianne Williamson: “We’re Living at a Critical Moment in Our Democracy”
• Caitlin Johnstone: “Status Quo Politicians Are Infinitely ‘Weirder’ Than Marianne Williamson”
• Marianne Williamson On What It Will Take to Defeat Donald Trump
• “This Woman Is Going to Win the Nomination”: Matt Taibbi on Marianne Williamson in Iowa
• Something to Think About (and Embody!)
• The Relevance and Vitality of Marianne Williamson’s 2020 Presidential Campaign
• Marianne Williamson: Quote of the Day – November 4, 2019
• Michael Goldstein: Quote of the Day – November 11, 2019
• Marianne Williamson: “Anything That Will Help People Thrive, I’m Interested In”
• Marianne Williamson and the Power of Politicized Love
• Marianne Williamson: Quote of the Day – December 14, 2019
• Marianne Williamson: “I Am Not Suspending My Candidacy”
• Marianne Williamson on New Day with Christi Paul – 01/04/20
• “A Beautiful Message, So Full of Greatness”
• A Thank You Letter to Marianne Williamson
• “I Learned So Much From the Experience”: Marianne Williamson on Her Presidential Bid
• Deep Gratitude
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