The progressive activist organization RootsAction on Wednesday urged comedian and activist Jon Stewart to challenge President Biden in the Democratic primaries as a way of “opening up the process” at a time when “the activist base of the Democratic Party is widely alienated from the president.”
Here is RootsAction’s statement:
In these desperate times – with Donald Trump bent on authoritarian revenge if he retakes the White House, and an increasingly weak and unpopular Joe Biden ignoring the will of most Democrats who don’t want him to seek re-election – RootsAction urges Jon Stewart to enter the Democratic primaries for president.
Jon Stewart is much more than a comedian. He has shown his political effectiveness and deep solidarity with working-class Americans through his successful campaigns on Capitol Hill on behalf of 9/11 responders and military veterans exposed to toxins. He’s demonstrated the intelligence, compassion and knowledge that could help lead our country out of its current state of malaise and division.
A Stewart campaign could unleash an outpouring of support from voters and activists, small-dollar donations, and impressive poll numbers -- and a sense of relief that there’s finally a strong Democratic alternative to President Biden. A Stewart campaign might even influence Biden to step aside, thereby opening up the process.
The activist base of the Democratic Party – including young people of all colors and faiths, climate organizers, racial justice activists, Arab- and Muslim-Americans – is widely alienated from the president. But many of them would be enthusiastic about a candidate like Jon Stewart who has championed racial justice and has stood with most Democrats in urging Biden to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and Israel.
We know Jon Stewart has often laughed off the idea that he would ever run for office. With deep respect, we consider it a serious idea that deserves his serious consideration.
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RootsAction, with an active email list of more than 1 million, supported Bernie Sanders for president in 2016 and 2020. Co-founder Jeff Cohen was interviewed last weekend by Salon.com about the idea of Jon Stewart for president.
Here is RootsAction’s statement:
In these desperate times – with Donald Trump bent on authoritarian revenge if he retakes the White House, and an increasingly weak and unpopular Joe Biden ignoring the will of most Democrats who don’t want him to seek re-election – RootsAction urges Jon Stewart to enter the Democratic primaries for president.
Jon Stewart is much more than a comedian. He has shown his political effectiveness and deep solidarity with working-class Americans through his successful campaigns on Capitol Hill on behalf of 9/11 responders and military veterans exposed to toxins. He’s demonstrated the intelligence, compassion and knowledge that could help lead our country out of its current state of malaise and division.
A Stewart campaign could unleash an outpouring of support from voters and activists, small-dollar donations, and impressive poll numbers -- and a sense of relief that there’s finally a strong Democratic alternative to President Biden. A Stewart campaign might even influence Biden to step aside, thereby opening up the process.
The activist base of the Democratic Party – including young people of all colors and faiths, climate organizers, racial justice activists, Arab- and Muslim-Americans – is widely alienated from the president. But many of them would be enthusiastic about a candidate like Jon Stewart who has championed racial justice and has stood with most Democrats in urging Biden to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and Israel.
We know Jon Stewart has often laughed off the idea that he would ever run for office. With deep respect, we consider it a serious idea that deserves his serious consideration.
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RootsAction, with an active email list of more than 1 million, supported Bernie Sanders for president in 2016 and 2020. Co-founder Jeff Cohen was interviewed last weekend by Salon.com about the idea of Jon Stewart for president.
