By Peter Annear
SACRAMENTO — Ron Daniels is not yet a household name in the United States, but he has an impressive track record in the social, black and political movements. Now he is working towards independent presidential nomination through the Campaign For a New Tomorrow: Strategy '92.
Daniels was a manager for the Jesse Jackson presidential campaign in 1988, and a year earlier the executive director of the National Rainbow Coalition. From 1980 to 1985, he was co-chairperson of the National Black Independent Political Party and prior to that president of the National Black Political Assembly.
The Campaign For a New Tomorrow aims to be a vehicle for mass political education and organisation. Daniels wants a Native American running mate, he will nominate a progressive "cabinet", and he hopes to hold a National Progressive Convention following the Democrat and Republican conventions.
"We have the chance to take over the values of righteousness and justice and morality, to create a new America that is radically different but fundamentally much better than what we now have", he says. I caught up with him in January at the California Green Party conference, where he came to explain his ideas and win support.
"I worked for Jesse Jackson because he was so visionary and ahead of his time in the era of Reaganism, when everyone else was basically silent and acquiescent", he said.
But the hope that the different patches of the progressive movement and what might be called the multiracial mosaic would come together as a political force was frustrated when Jesse Jackson was rejected by the Democrats in 1984 and again in 1988. Now, several new party initiatives have surfaced, including Labour Party Advocates, a broad party based on the National Organization of Women, and the Green Party.
"So far", he said, "I am the only one who has nominated as a candidate who has a legitimate history and perspective, so I hope my candidature together with the progressive cabinet and convention can serve to draw these initiatives together. Alone, none of us is strong enough."
In particular, Daniels is not anxious to see another presidential contest between "a Republican and a Republicrat".
"This country is now talking about its triumph over communism, but there is so much wrong in this country. It is a litany of disaster: 30 million people live in poverty; a third of black people live in poverty; 7 million people are homeless; 37 million have no health insurance; 60 million are illiterate; crime is escalating out of Yet we in the US have the idea that we are the best society in the world."
If capitalism triumphed over communism, said Daniels, then capitalism went across the finishing line bloodied, battered and seriously in need of repair. As a result, there is a new public receptivity to ideas of economic and political democracy that was not evident a decade ago.
"Now we have the bitter harvest of Reaganism — in Africa, in the Middle East, in the Third World and in the United States."
Last year, "everyone jumped on board to hail the 'victory' in the Gulf War, to hail the slaughter of the Iraqi people. We had an orgy of victory parades and celebrations, and a lot of talk about overcoming the Vietnam syndrome and of America becoming number one in the world again."
Now, people are beginning to look at the domestic decay and there "is not so much hoopla about the Gulf War". Some people have even come to question in whose interest the war was really fought.
Daniels says a revolution of values is needed. "Not just a 25% cut in military spending but massive cuts. The tremendous concentration of wealth in the hands of the few must change. The unbridled form of capitalism we have in this country is by far the worst in terms of its lack of compassion and concern. There is no sense of social responsibility.
"It is very easy for transnationals to move capital rapidly around the world in response to cheap labour markets. We need an international movement demanding a new holistic interpretation of workers' rights, their environment and living standards, and the distribution of wealth.
"We must remember that many women played an incredible role in the political process among Africans in this country. We also see our role as fulfilling some of the challenges laid out by Martin Luther King and Malcolm X."
Daniel's campaign is already organised in 15 cities, with 15 more to come soon. It is getting a good reception in the black community, among the greens, and among labour groups.
"Support is developing, but it remains to be seen if it is strong enough for a significant candidacy. We will make that decision in June. Our target would be a million to million and a half votes. But electoral politics is not the only vehicle. The next step is consolidation, to build a movement from the bottom up, and to create a permanent organisation."