Cornel West downplays spoiler worries, targets moral decay in presidential bid

Independent presidential candidate Cornel West dismissed Democratic concerns that his long-shot bid for president would jeopardize President Biden’s reelection push and give former President Donald Trump a boost.

Mr. West, the Ivy League scholar and liberal activist, said he’s running to blow up the duopoly that has dominated American politics and ushered in moral and civic decay, adding he’s poised to give voters a choice next year.

“To me, brother Donald Trump is a bonafide gangster and fascist,” Mr. West said at a breakfast Thursday hosted by the Christian Science Monitor.

Turning to Mr. Biden, Mr. West said the Democrat has been a milquetoast neo-liberal on the domestic front and too much of a military adventurist overseas.

“We have one who is pushing us toward a second civil war at home, and the other is pushing us toward WWIII abroad,” Mr. West said. “That’s the choice?”

He added, “That is what brings tears to my eyes. Neither one of them represents anywhere near the best, whatsoever.”

Mr. West said he is raising his voice because he believes people of all political stripes are hungry for change.

When he announced his independent bid in June, he said he was running to “end the iron grip” of the ruling class and be a voice for working-class Americans fed up with the corporatization of the parties and American institutions.

Mr. West believes his message can resonate with young voters and Trump supporters.

Mr. West first must get on the ballot in every state.

The former Harvard and Princeton professor said he’s on the ballot in Alaska and has raised half a million dollars for his campaign, with 18,000 volunteers.

Mr. West said his policy vision is to lift people out of poverty and end homelessness. He said a two-state solution is not the answer to end the Israel-Palestinian conflict and said he would pull the U.S. out of NATO.

He said a lot could change between now and Election Day, suggesting Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump might not even be their parties’ nominees.

“I am thoroughly convinced Biden may have an LBJ moment and decide he may not do it,” Mr. West said. “How long is he going to last?”

As for Mr. Trump, is he “actually going to be the candidate? He might be on his way to jail,” Mr. West said.