On stage under spotlights in front of an audience and TV cameras, five Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate recently were in suit and tie, and A. Robert Kaufman was in a brightly flowered shirt, tan slacks and sandals.
His message was as unorthodox as his attire ? pretty much the same socialist approach he?s been preaching for half a century as a perennial candidate.
“We?re the richest country in the history of the world, yet half a percent of Americans own most of the wealth,” Kaufman said. “Until we organize the other 90 percent,” the standard of living will continue to go down, the United States will keep fighting wars in Third World countries and global warming will get worse. “We need to tax the rich, instead of giving them tax breaks.
“I?m supporting the Democratic Party like a rope supports a hanged man,” he told the College Park audience Tuesday to laughter. Both parties, he said he believes, are in the control of the wealthy and multinational corporations.
“I?m trying to bring about social change,” said Kaufman, 75, who became a Marxist at Goddard College in 1940s.
He started out supporting candidates for the Socialist Workers Party and running for himself. But for the last 20 years, he?s been running as a Democrat for Senate, governor, Congress, Baltimore mayor and City Council.
“This way I get to participate in the forums,” Kaufman said. After the debates, supporters of other candidates will come up to him and give him encouragement. “They know I can?t win. I know I can?t win.”
The casual attire was not meant as disrespect, but was a result of the 80 pounds he lost last year after he was stabbed, caught blood poisoning and went into kidney failure. “My clothes don?t fit me any more,” he said.
At some forums, he will ask the audience to help him find a new kidney so he can get off dialysis, though he did not do that this week.
“I?m used to being a giver, not a beggar,” Kaufman said.
After the primary election and, if he loses yet again, as expected, Kaufman will support Senate candidate Kevin Zeese, the nominee of the Green and Libertarian parties. He said he will then launch an even more earnest search for a new kidney.
