Harvey “Svi” Shapiro (71), a Democrat from Raleigh, NC, grew up in London and lived there until his early 20s. He was very involved in the Zionist socialist movement (Habonim Dror) and lived for a time in Israel with members of the group. He moved to the U.S. to attend graduate school. He is the author or editor of 11 books on educational reform, social change and the moral dimensions of education.
We are providing the unfiltered opinions of voters interviewed for this project. Those views are based on their understanding and perception of facts and information from a range of sources. In some cases, that information may be misleading or incorrect.
Who do you think should become the Democratic nominee?
I am struggling in my preference between my wish for a truly progressive Democratic candidate (like Warren and Sanders) and those who I think have a better chance to win against Trump. Biden would be the logical choice, but he seems out of touch, slow on his feet, and muddled in his responses.
Which Democratic candidate(s) do you think will give Trump the best chance for re-election?
Warren—I think she will be maligned as a socialist who will take away people’s health insurance.
Are truthfulness and honesty key qualities for you in deciding who to support?
After the corruption of the Trump era, we will need a return to integrity and a belief in truth and facts. Though I remain undecided, I see the current group of Democratic candidates as reasonably honest and truthful.
What are your thoughts on impeachment?
I have great appreciation for the courage and conviction of the government officials who risked their careers (and possibly their lives) to tell the truth on this issue.