Jill Stein, once seen by some as a leading figure in the American third party movement, has faced growing criticism for her lukewarm support of key issues like Palestinian liberation and her inconsistent stance on Zionism. For those of us who see Cynthia McKinney, Stein's 2008 Green Party presidential nomination predecessor and former congresswoman, it's no surprise why McKinney—and those who stand with her—cannot support Stein in 2024. Jill Stein’s contentious history with Cynthia McKinney and the wider anti-Zionist movement raises significant concerns about Stein’s reliability on issues related to Palestine and Zionism. Stein has a record of positioning herself as an anti-war candidate and, by 2016, had embraced the BDS movement, yet her prior stance was far from consistent. In her 2012 presidential run, Stein did not express support for BDS, which contrasts with McKinney's choice in Dr. Shiva Ayyadurai, who sports a long-standing position in favor of Palestinian rights and an acknowledgment of Zionist involvement in 9/11—an assertion that Stein avoids.
McKinney's Staunch Anti-Zionism vs. Stein’s Evasiveness
Cynthia McKinney has long been one of the few high-profile American politicians willing to challenge Zionism head-on. In contrast, Jill Stein’s approach has been marked by avoidance and cautious positioning. McKinney, in her career, raised questions about U.S. foreign policy and the undue influence of the Zionist lobby long before these discussions entered the mainstream. She has also been willing to explore uncomfortable truths, such as the role of Zionist actors in events like 9/11.
Jill Stein, however, only came around to supporting the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement during her second presidential campaign, while McKinney has consistently championed this cause. The difference is stark: McKinney has long been a vocal advocate for Palestinian rights, while Stein has waffled, only belatedly aligning herself with the BDS movement when it was politically convenient, and it most certainly wasn’t convenient for McKinney as a sitting congresswoman.
Defaming Anti-Zionist Voices: A Pattern
Another key issue is Stein’s troubling tendency to defame those who speak out about Zionist power structures. One notable example is her response to those who have questioned the role of Zionist actors in 9/11. Instead of engaging in serious debate, Stein has accused these critics of anti-Semitism, including some who, like Cynthia McKinney, have been fearless in their pursuit of the truth.
This pattern of dismissing and undermining anti-Zionist voices isn't isolated. Stein’s reluctance to confront the reality of Zionist power in U.S. politics has led her to undermine key voices in progressive spaces. Just look at the way Stein inserted herself into the 2020 presidential landscape, where she sabotaged VenturaMcKinney2020 by recommending individuals who were hostile to anti-Zionist movements for key campaign roles.
Sabotage in the Cornel West Campaign
I knew, from my similar experiences with Stein's sabotage when I ran the Jesse Ventura/Cynthia McKinney 2020 presidential campaign, that the latest example of Stein’s undermining behavior would be seen in the Cornel West campaign. Like many, I was initially hopeful when West announced his presidential bid. But what followed was another act of subversion from Stein. She recommended individuals who would go on to sabotage the West campaign, a tactic that is now familiar to those of us who have watched her over the years. It appears Stein’s role in the progressive movement, or the third party movement in general, has become one of misdirection and controlled opposition, ensuring that no real anti-Zionist candidate can rise to prominence. West himself failed my personal litmus test on Covid1984 but he owes his 2024 failure to Stein’s misdeeds, such as installing a Clinton operative to replace her as campaign manager of West24.
Why We Support Dr. Shiva Ayyadurai for 2024
Unlike Jill Stein, Dr. Shiva Ayyadurai has taken bold stances on issues that truly challenge the status quo. Ayyadurai has long been a supporter of BDS and an outspoken critic of Zionism. He has also acknowledged the Zionist State’s role in 9/11, a position that Stein would never dare take.
My mentor Cynthia McKinney and I support Dr. Shiva Ayyadurai for president in 2024 because he represents a clear break from the tepid politics of people like Jill Stein. Ayyadurai doesn’t shy away from naming Zionism as a central force in U.S. hegemony and has the courage to hold those in power accountable. This is the kind of leadership that we need, not someone like Stein who, time and again, has shown that she is unwilling to challenge the most powerful interest groups in America, effectively that is.
Jill Stein’s defamation of anti-Zionist voices, her sabotage of key campaigns, and her weak, belated support of BDS make her unfit for the presidency. Those of us who truly care about Palestinian liberation and ending Zionist influence in American politics know that Cynthia McKinney, Dr. Shiva Ayyadurai, and others who hold these positions deserve our full support in 2024. Stein's repeated actions demonstrate that she is more interested in protecting her political viability than in challenging the forces of oppression and Western hegemony that shape U.S. policy. It’s time we move beyond Stein, and the Green Party, and support candidates who are unafraid to speak the truth.
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