Dear Editor,

Jake Blanc stated in his column that “in order to have any
hope of political success, a candidate must abandon the majority of his or her
core beliefs.” He cited politicians such as Dennis Kucinich, Cynthia McKinney
and Leonard Peltier as those who haven’t, and are thus relegated to the fringes
of politics.

I respectfully disagree. First, moderation is not ipso facto
a sign of political prostitution. Simply because a Democratic candidate does
not swing as far left as Blanc would like is not proof that their policies are
in some way less “genuine.”

On the second point, I believe that Blanc has misunderstood
cause and effect. While he claims that Kucinich, McKinney and Peltier have no
chance of national political success because they cleave to their core beliefs
and do not “meander along party lines,” I would instead argue that they have no
chance because their core beliefs are absolutely insane. Thank goodness the
American body politic, for all its faults, leaves no place at the national
level for extreme nanny-state pacifists (Kucinich), race-baiting 9/11
conspiracy theorists (McKinney) and convicted cop killers (Peltier).

­— Travis Weinger

Revelle College senior