Marianne Williamson has been traveling across America for months on a demanding schedule of appearances in her second tenacious run for the presidency, despite facing long odds.
Although she did not make it to the 2020 primaries in a wide-open Democratic field, she is now running against a sitting president from her own party, with the Democratic establishment having closed ranks behind Joe Biden.
Even though some of her most devoted followers doubt she can be elected, Williamson remains committed. She is running because she believes in herself and the American people.
Williamson, 71, said during an interview in New York City, “The most important things you do in life, not because there’s guaranteed success on some external level, but because you feel in your heart it’s the right thing to do.”
She acknowledges that it has been grueling at times – not just the punishing campaign schedule, but also the emotional bruising from a barrage of unflattering characterizations.
For her, it’s “the ultimate challenge to have tough skin, but a soft and open heart,” she said. Williamson worries that negative perceptions detract from her policy positions, which include financial reparations for Black Americans and creation of a Department of Peace.
PHOTOS: Bestselling spiritual author Marianne Williamson presses on with against-the-odds presidential run
“What are the words they use? Wacky, kooky, crystal lady,” she said, listing the names she’s called. “People will take one line out of a book, completely out of context. That has certainly been done to me. Plus, you know, they lie.”
Williamson, born in Houston to a Jewish family, remains committed to her Jewish faith while also embracing universal spiritual themes, such as loving one another. She rose to prominence with her popular 1992 book, “A Return to Love.”
She has a legion of dedicated fans and millions of individuals who engage with her through her books, lectures, and platforms like TikTok.
Issac Bailey, a communications professor at Davidson College in North Carolina, described Williamson as extremely sincere in her beliefs and wise in many ways. However, he added that she also has a streak that takes her beyond the pale.
He cited her wariness and sharp criticism of government vaccine mandates during her last campaign, although she later expressed support for vaccines.
“I’m a socially middle of the road Jew who goes to the doctor,” she said. “I’m not a crystal lady. I understand how important science is.”
Williamson entered politics with an unsuccessful independent congressional campaign in California in 2014, then gained national attention as a vocal supporter of Bernie Sanders’ failed presidential bid in 2016.
In 2020, she entered the race herself, acknowledging making what she calls “cringeworthy” comments back then, such as her idea to harness love to defeat former President Donald Trump.
“Once they could be contextualized in a way that made me appear silly, there was almost no getting past the mockery,” she said.
According to Galen Watts, a sociology and legal studies professor at the University of Waterloo in Canada, people may embrace quasi-spiritual language in their private lives, but it typically doesn’t play well on the campaign trail when coming from political candidates.
For years, Williamson has been the subject of criticism for her theology and ideas, with some questioning her political inexperience. However, she dismisses these criticisms, arguing that those experienced in politics are not the only ones qualified to lead the country out of its challenges.
Despite being well-known, recent polls show her running more than 60 percentage points behind Biden. However, she continues to be well-liked by many young people who appreciate her focus on issues like Medicare for all, equitable wages, and affordable housing.
While it is unlikely that Marianne will win the nomination, her policies resonate with many young people, who feel that they are not receiving enough media attention.
Marie Griffith, a professor of women, gender and sexuality studies at Washington University in St. Louis, believes that Williamson stands no chance of winning due to her lack of connection to Democratic machine politics, which heavily influences Democratic candidates’ political careers.
Williamson speaks in religious and spiritual terms about America as a nation in need of confession and atonement. She is concerned about vast economic inequality and advocates for declaring a climate emergency.
One of her signature policy proposals is government payment of reparations to Black citizens for centuries of enslavement and discrimination. This idea, proposed in her 1997 book “The Healing of America,” involves creating a council of Black academic, cultural and political leaders to disperse at least $1 trillion to Black Americans over two decades.
Author and rabbi Jay Michaelson lauded Williamson for raising the issue before other political candidates and for her previous work during the AIDS crisis. However, he criticized her bid for president as selfish and deluded while denigrating science and giving spirituality a bad name.
According to Michaelson, some of Williamson’s policy positions are too radical for many, and her vague appeals for a politics of love and revolution do not resonate with the wider population.
Williamson denies denigrating science and disputes broader criticisms of her campaign, stating that her campaign focuses on addressing fundamental issues affecting Americans.
___
Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
