Home
Refresh   Tag(s): ; ; ;
Add to My Group
August 28, 2008 at 06:49:51

View Ratings | Rate It

Promoted to Headline (H2) on 8/28/08:

Howard Zinn's Advice to Obama

submit to twitter
submit to reddit
submit to digg

Tell A Friend

By Rob Kall (about the author)     Page 1 of 1 page(s)

opednews.com     Permalink

For OpEdNews: Rob Kall - Writer

On August 20th, I interviewed one of the most famous living historians, Howard Zinn, author of the best-selling People's History of the United States, a book that should be read by every American, on a wide range of subjects.

This article covers his Advice to Obama on how to win.

R.K. -Do you have any advice for Obama?  

H.Z. -Yes. I have advice for Obama. You want to win? - Speak boldly to the American people, the American people want to get out of Iraq. Speak boldly and say, "I'm going to withdraw from Iraq as fast as ships and planes can carry them"- , and I think that Obama will have a much better chance of winning the election because he will be speaking to the hearts of the American people, who really are sick of the war. And instead, he gives us these half-baked solutions about "I will withdraw in 16 months and will send some troops to Afghanistan and keep some troops in Iraq for security purposes."

Now that's - you know-- that's not what the American people want. And if he thinks he will win more votes by being moderate and centrist, I think he's wrong. So my advice to Obama, not just from the standpoint of being right, but even from the standpoint of being pragmatic and winning, is be bold - be bold on the war - be bold on having a single payer, government financed health system. Be bold on ending our position as a militarist nation. Obama is calling for a strong military - big military - he should stop doing that!



R.K. - Obama's biggest challenge is white male voters, particularly southern ones and any, any ideas on what it will take to get them to move to the left - to stop supporting right wing politicians who betray and screw them basically?

H.Z. - well I think he has to talk - I think he has to talk more about class issues - more about how this government and McCain as part of it , has been funneling all the wealth of this country into the rich. I mean, most of these white males are not rich people. They are middle-class, they are poor and I think he has to talk about how the Republicans are the party of the rich and how the Democrats are going to take up the legacy of Franklin D. Roosevelt and become a party of the poor and the middle class.

I think that is his best chance and I think he has to say to these people, who may think ahhh - well the Republicans are better on national security. Yes, ask these white male voters - has our security been enhanced by the war in Iraq? Are we more secure now and what is security? Is security gotten by military prowess or do we need health security and employment security, and all sorts of security for children and people in trouble., That's national security? He has to redefine - he has to redefine all the terms that are being used.

R.K. - That's a big challenge isn't it, the "languaging"--  the "Frank Luntzing"-- of American English?

H.Z. - yes

look for more excerpts from the interview appearing in coming days.

Thanks to James Magee 111 and Jay Farrington for transcribing the interview.

Listen to the full interview here, for a limited time:

Recording Download Link (Right-click the link and select "Save Link to Disk…") available until Sept. 19, 2008.

(If there's a free place to archive this kind of audio recording -- about 21 MB-- please drop me a note. )

 

Rob Kall is executive editor, publisher and site architect of OpEdNews.com, Host of the Rob Kall Bottom Up Radio Show (WNJC 1360 AM), President of Futurehealth, Inc, (more...)
 

The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author
and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.

Contact Author Contact Editor View Authors' Articles

Follow Me on Twitter

 

Book Recommendations for "2008 Election Presidential"
The World Views of the U.S. Presidential Election: 2008

$90.00
Lowest New Price $77.41

Number of pages: 266
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

The 2008 Presidential Elections: A Story in Four Acts

$80.00
Lowest New Price $68.93

Number of pages: 272
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

Presidential Elections 1789-2008 (Presidential Elections Since 1789)
by CQ Press

$59.00

Number of pages: 417
Publisher: CQ Press

The Galvanization of the Young Vote in the 2008 Presidential Election: Lessons Learned from the Phenomenon
by Glenn Starks

$19.95

Number of pages: 88
Publisher: University Press of America

View All Book Recommendations

Share this page: (what's this?)                   Tell a Friend: Tell A Friend

FACEBOOK      DIGG THIS      Add This Page to Mr Wong!           NEWSVINE      DEl.ICIO.US      Looksmart Furl      NETSCAPE      My Web      Tag!RawSugar      Blink List     (More...)

Comments: Expand   Shrink   Hide  
34 comments
To view all comments:
Expand Comments
 

Absolutely. by GLloyd Rowsey on Thursday, Aug 28, 2008 at 7:10:30 AM
Zinn is the real thing by Joel S. Hirschhorn on Thursday, Aug 28, 2008 at 8:59:49 AM
Pressure by Rob Kall on Thursday, Aug 28, 2008 at 9:54:24 AM
You're misrepresenting Zinn by trying to force him into your by Richard Mynick on Thursday, Aug 28, 2008 at 11:38:57 AM
Putting words into Zinn's mouth? by R. A. Louis on Thursday, Aug 28, 2008 at 5:41:58 PM
You've misunderstood. I wasn't talking about what Zinn said, by Richard Mynick on Thursday, Aug 28, 2008 at 6:00:51 PM
Sorry. WRONG! by Rob Kall on Thursday, Aug 28, 2008 at 6:17:29 PM
Here is exactly what Zinn said (starting at 26:52 into the by Richard Mynick on Friday, Aug 29, 2008 at 12:49:33 AM
You make Zinn sound good by Brett Paatsch on Friday, Aug 29, 2008 at 2:13:17 AM
Why are people that tell hard truths always called ... by Mr M on Thursday, Aug 28, 2008 at 8:48:29 PM
There's zero chance of Obama doing anything of the sort. by Richard Mynick on Thursday, Aug 28, 2008 at 9:24:54 AM
I've been by GLloyd Rowsey on Thursday, Aug 28, 2008 at 9:44:26 AM
FDR AND OBAMA by WML on Thursday, Aug 28, 2008 at 4:22:50 PM
Obama's FISA betrayal shows he'll violate the Constitution by Richard Mynick on Thursday, Aug 28, 2008 at 6:21:33 PM
Obama really said THAT? by Brett Paatsch on Friday, Aug 29, 2008 at 1:53:56 AM
Yes, it was in an interview with CNN's Candy Crowley. She by Richard Mynick on Friday, Aug 29, 2008 at 9:16:07 AM
Here, Brett -- I found the link to the Crowley interview - by Richard Mynick on Friday, Aug 29, 2008 at 9:27:55 AM
Thanks for sourcing the link, CNN has abbreviated it though by Brett Paatsch on Monday, Sep 1, 2008 at 12:14:15 AM
Thanks for sourcing the link, CNN has abbreviated it though by Brett Paatsch on Monday, Sep 1, 2008 at 12:15:08 AM
W.M.I. let's paly a game ... by Mr M on Thursday, Aug 28, 2008 at 8:53:39 PM
I'VE NEVER SUPPORT OBAMA LUCY by WML on Thursday, Aug 28, 2008 at 11:41:03 PM
Well here we are again... by Mark A. Goldman on Thursday, Aug 28, 2008 at 10:54:36 AM
In love with REASON, not FAILURE by KenH on Thursday, Aug 28, 2008 at 4:11:12 PM
Voting our conscience by Nick van Nes on Friday, Aug 29, 2008 at 1:42:41 AM
Zinn and reality by Mark Sashine on Thursday, Aug 28, 2008 at 12:27:45 PM
where to go with 21Meg? by Tony Forest on Thursday, Aug 28, 2008 at 1:28:39 PM
it may hurt, but baby steps first by truthseeker7 on Thursday, Aug 28, 2008 at 3:43:56 PM
How by Michael Dewey on Thursday, Aug 28, 2008 at 5:39:47 PM
Republocrats want the same thing as usual. by John Hanks on Thursday, Aug 28, 2008 at 7:25:17 PM
I have some advice for Obama by Mr M on Thursday, Aug 28, 2008 at 8:14:16 PM
I second... by shirley reese on Thursday, Aug 28, 2008 at 11:46:18 PM
And If Obama REALLY Wants to be Brave and Bold.... by Kris Malmquist on Friday, Aug 29, 2008 at 12:31:48 AM
Obama had the most appeal by Nick van Nes on Friday, Aug 29, 2008 at 12:53:49 AM
Excellent piece by Michael Collins on Friday, Aug 29, 2008 at 1:13:13 AM

 
Want to post your own comment on this Article? Post Comment


 

 

 

Tell a Friend: Tell A Friend

Copyright © 2002-2009, OpEdNews

Powered by Populum