Old Left v. New Left

[Peter the Lefty]

The Old Left (we're talking about this in the context of the United States I guess?) was horrible, ultra-white and run by hacks in smoke-filled backrooms. To summarise the question at hand, George McGovern > Hubert Humphrey.

New Left by a mile.

It's not really fair to compare the nadir of the Old Left to the best of the New Left. And McGovern became a right-wing libertarian by the time he died anyway.

No he didn't.  Are you thinking of Gene McCarthy?

[Peter the Lefty]

Anyways, to answer the question, "New Left" has been seriously misdefined here.  Here are some examples of real "New Leftists:" Barbara Ehrenreich, Bobby Kennedy, Ralph Yarborough, George McGovern, Joe Clark (The PA Senator, not the Canadian PM), and Abe Ribicoff.  Clintonian centrists are not, and can't hope to be, on the New Left, for they're not anywhere near the left.  Paul Douglas is a classic example of the Old Left.  Essentially, the Old Left became too mired in the Cold War consensus, and I do have to say that in a 1970's context, anyone who was pro-gay-rights HAD to support the New Left (since the Old Left was against us until the 80's at best).  So, as someone who would've wanted to live my life free of persecution, and as someone who would've been anti-war, and passionately pro-labor as well, I'd be an actual New Leftist.  A good example of the modern day New Left would be Jeff Merkley.

[Peter the Lefty]

This campaign brochure for McGovern is actually really interesting to read. Contrary to popular myth, bread and butter are quite prominent.  Besides Vietnam and military spending, every single other section is social justice related.

[Peter the Lefty]

Also, Willy Brandt, Olof Palme, and Gough Whitlam are good examples of New Left folks AU admire.

[Peter the Lefty]

The Old Left (we're talking about this in the context of the United States I guess?) was horrible, ultra-white and run by hacks in smoke-filled backrooms. To summarise the question at hand, George McGovern > Hubert Humphrey.

New Left by a mile.

It's not really fair to compare the nadir of the Old Left to the best of the New Left. And McGovern became a right-wing libertarian by the time he died anyway.

No he didn't.  Are you thinking of Gene McCarthy?

nah, McGov became a huge mouthpiece for the national "right to work" committee in his old age

Just found it.  And that was rather heartbreaking for me, I'd never known that.  I'll cut him some slack and assume he was senile.

Anyways, the McGovern of 72 was better than the Humphrey of 72.  Just as Brandt, Whitlam, and Palme were far better than Helmut Schmidt, Francois Mitterrand, and Arthur Calwell.