Following is an op-ed by Hayes, first published May 2 in The Bulletin.
Why I’m Voting for Marianne Williamson
By Cylvia Hayes
The Bulletin
May 2, 2024
Sadly, in this critical election we have two aged candidates who remain anchored to the past, at a time when America needs to focus on the future. Both Joe Biden and Donald Trump have won their party’s nomination and will be facing each other in the general election. Though the candidates are already locked in, there is still a way to inject into this campaign the real policy issues that must be courageously confronted if we are to secure a brighter future. The vehicle to do so is Marianne Williamson. Given the options we will be presented in November, a vote for Biden is the only sane choice and I will support him in the general election.
In the primary, however, I’m going to vote Marianne Williamson – a candidate I am actually excited about. Williamson has been a Democratic candidate for President for the entire election cycle but the Democratic National Committee has shut her out and mainstream media has refused to give her coverage. In other words, the national party and associated media have taken it upon themselves to decide which candidates the people get to hear from. This is one of the many reasons I’ve been outspoken about the need to evolve beyond the current two-party system and the relationship between political parties, money in elections, and corporate, for-profit media.
I’ve been tracking Marianne Williamson for years, have met her several times, and we have had detailed conversations. She is brilliant, savvy, and the only candidate speaking honestly about the deep, challenging systems change that we must undertake in order to solve pressing problems like economic inequality, homelessness, health care that is increasingly unaffordable, and climate change.
Here are some of the things she stands for and is committed to:
• An immediate cease-fire in Gaza.
• Reproductive freedom for all women.
• A 21st-century Economic Bill of Rights. (See her video on economic system change and fairness.)
• Declaring a Climate Emergency and getting serious about reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• A health care system that is focused on health, not just medical care – that is, a system that ensures everyone has timely access to quality, affordable health care, and to food, housing, child care, education, and a good job; all of which contribute to health.
Williamson correctly points out that though our founders established a government “of, for, and by the people”, what we now have is a government of, for, and by corporations – the very same corporations that essentially control both political parties and status quo politicians.
Marianne Williamson is on the ballot in 40 states (including Oregon) and if she gets 15% of the primary vote in any of those states she will earn delegates and be able to speak to the nation at the Democratic National Convention in August. Her message and policy proposals can infuse into the fall campaign, the critical issues that both Trump and Biden should be debating.
Giving Marianne Williamson this forum – that she has so far been denied – will serve the overall policy debate, other candidates, and the elected leaders who need to hear what she has to say.
Voting for Marianne Williamson in the primary election is not a vote that benefits Trump. It is a vote for a saner system and brighter future. And importantly, it is a vote for democracy.
– Cylvia Hayes
The Bulletin
May 3, 2024
The Bulletin
May 3, 2024
Related Off-site Links:
Love, Democracy, and Gangster Politics – Marianne Williamson (Transform, May 5, 2024).
Marianne Williamson on Why She’s Fighting for Gen Z in This Election – Julia Merola (Her Campus, May 3, 2024).
One Season Passes and Another Begins – Marianne Williamson (Transform, April 11, 2024).
Marianne Williamson, Still in Democratic Presidential Bid, Says Campaign Isn’t About Winning: “There’s More Than the Horse Race” – Isabella Murray (ABC News, March 29, 2024).
Why I Keep Going – Marianne Williamson (Transform, March 16, 2024).
In Hopes of a Future Harvest – Marianne Williamson (Transform, March 13, 2024).
How Marianne Williamson’s Name Became the Placeholder for “Uncommitted” Protesters in Arizona – Alex Tabet (NBC News, March 19, 2024).
Primary Purpose and Power – Marianne Williamson (Transform, March 12, 2024).
Marianne Williamson Surprises by Coming In Second in Multiple States, Leapfrogging Dean Phillips – Timothy H.J. Nerozzi (Fox News, March 6, 2024).
I Remain in the Race – Marianne Williamson (Transform, March 6, 2024).
Marianne Williamson Returns to Presidential Race, Saying Biden Is Vulnerable Against Trump – Anders Hagstrom (Fox News, February 28, 2024).
Biden and Other Centrist Democrats Keep Bragging About the Economy. But Here’s the Problem – Perry Bacon Jr. (The Washington Post, February 20, 2024).
For The Wild Reed’s coverage of Marianne Williamson’s 2024 presidential campaign, see the following chronologically-ordered 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
• Despite the Undemocratic Antics of the DNC, Marianne Williamson Plans on “Winning the Nomination”
• The Biblical Roots of “From Each According to Ability; To Each According to Need”
• Marianne Williamson on The Next Revolution with Steve Hilton – 05/30/23
• Marianne Williamson’s Economic Bill of Rights
• Three Progressive Voices on the War in Ukraine
• Marianne Williamson: Quote of the Day – June 27, 2023
• Marianne Williamson on The Issue Is with Elex Michaelson – 07/20/23
• Voters, Not the DNC, Should Choose the Nominee
• Marianne Williamson in New Hampshire
• Marianne Williamson: “Repairing Our Hearts Is Essential to Repairing Our Country”
• Marianne Williamson on Trump’s Day in Court
• Marianne Williamson on NewsNation – 08/25/23
• Presidential Candidate Marianne Williamson Joins NYC’s March to End Fossil Fuels
• Marianne Williamson on Your World – 10/6/23
• Marianne Williamson’s “Radical Idea” of Putting People First
• Marianne Williamson: “We Need to Disrupt the Corrupt”
• “We Are Surging”
• “Let the People Decide”: Marianne Williamson on the DNC’s Efforts to Deny and Suppress the Democratic Process
• Democratic Presidential Debate: Marianne Williamson and Dean Phillips – 1/8/24
• The Democrats Challenging Biden
• Bannering for Marianne
• Campaigning for Marianne Williamson in New Hampshire – Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
• Marianne Williamson: “I Have Decided to Continue”
• Marianne Williamson in Nevada – 2/4/24
• Forever Grateful
• What Marianne Williamson Learned from Running for President
• Marianne Williamson: Playing It Big
• Minnesotans Launch Super Tuesday Push for “Suspended But Not Ended” Candidate Marianne Williamson
• A Welcome Return
• This Super Tuesday, Don’t Be “Uncommitted” . . .
• Super Tuesday in Minnesota
• Marianne Williamson, the Cassandra of U.S. Politics, on the “True State of the Union”
• Marianne Williamson in Arizona – 3/17/24
• “This Is the Moment”
• Marianne Williamson on Washington Journal (4/2/24) and The Letterhack (4/4/24)
• For Marianne Williamson, One Season Passes and Another Begins
See also:
• Marianne Williamson: “We Must Challenge the Entire System”
• Marianne Williamson on the Current Condition of the U.S.
• Marianne Williamson’s Politics of Love: The Rich Roll Interview
• 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
• Marianne Williamson on the Tenth Anniversary of Occupy Wall Street
• Marianne Williamson on How Centrist Democrats Abuse Voters with False Promises
• “Two of the Most Dedicated and Enlightened Heroes of Present Day America”
• Deep Gratitude
• “A Beautiful Message, So Full of Greatness”
• Marianne Williamson: “Anything That Will Help People Thrive, I’m Interested In”
• Caitlin Johnstone: “Status Quo Politicians Are Infinitely ‘Weirder’ Than Marianne Williamson”
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