obsessive opposition to Obama Fred Feldman Walter quotes the Militant: A March 18 speech on race relations by Barack Obama helped convince a broader layer of the U.S. ruling class that he is competent to be president for the next four years. It also opened a discussion on racism in the United States in the big-business media, on factory floors, and college campuses.
In the days following the talk, the Democratic Party leadership quickened its process of lining up behind Obama. The Florida and Michigan parties ruled out the possibility of redoing the primaries in those states, a maneuver that could have helped rival Hillary Clinton. Fred replies: I think this is wrongly presented as an example of "obsessive opposition to Obama." The statements are factual. In the end, THE WRIGHT STUFF HAS NOT BROKEN THE BASIC MOMENTUM OF THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN, which is reviving with the resilience it has shown from the beginning. Obama's speech did wun him more support than he had had before in the ruling class, I estimate. Clearly the Democratic Party is more and more, not less and less, accepting that he will be their nominee. The break of a dedicated anti-abortion Clintonite, Sen. Casey of Pennsylvania, and the latter's descriptions of the support he finds among his family members, indicate clearly that Obama is gaining, not losing, traction in Pennsylvania right now. The general tone of the Militant article is not obsessive about Obama. They do not treat him as the main candidate who must be fought tooth and nail because of the illusions he can create. They do not treat him, as Black Agenda does, as the greater evil who can single-handedly destroy the Black liberation struggle and suppress all discussion of Black oppression. (Has his candidacy really done that. As the Militant suggests, not really at all.) There is real "obsessive opposition" in the article. Not about Obama but Rev. Wright. Newton writes: Obama presented Wright as someone marred by "the anger and bitterness of those years" of legal segregation in this country. Obama's explanation belittled not only Wright but other demagogues like him who have built their careers on race-baiting and conspiracy theories. "For the men and women of Reverend Wright's generation," Obama said, "the memories of humiliation and doubt and fear have not gone away" Newton seems to be suggesting that Wright must be regarded not as someone motivated by anti-racism in any way, shape, or form, but, at least in an incipiently incipient way, an incipient fascism. His denunciation of Zionism and the oppression of Palestinians is place in this context, suggesting without proof that he is really an anti-Semite. Around the time of the discussions over the neoconservative trend, the Militant argued that criticism of them was "Jew hatred." And to demonstrate this beyond the possibility of denial, the Militant explained that all -- every last one -- middle-class liberals and middle class radicals were Jew haters by nature. Yes, that includes the thousands and even millions of Jews who fall into these designations. Obviously if they are all Jew haters, Wright must be a virtual Hitler. It is a fact that Hilary Clinton is still losing ground. It is a fact that John McCain is a candidate who stands on the record of the Bush administration, blames homeowners (but not banks) for their reckless investments, and promises to stay in Iraq for 100 years. And why not 1,000, by God! And this at a time when the United States may be unusually isolated in Iraq, as the only force fighting the Mahdi movement headed by Sadr. The economy has experienced a crash like 1929. The big question is whether the combination of the fed and the government, printing money like there was no tomorrow can prevent a 1931. And nobody knows the answer. The war in Iraq is stalemated at best. None of the original goals have been achieved. None of the substitute goals have been achieved either. The Iraq policy has failed. The Cuba policy has failed. The administration is too weak to take effective advantage of China's vulnerability on the Tibet issue. The Cuba policy is in shreds, with the successful transition from Fidel to Raul Castro. In addition to all his other survivals, Obama has survived the most devastating blow of all: Comrade Ruthless C.O.A.T. Exists' proclamation that "Obama is toast" because of his association with Rev. Wright. In all these circumstances, both the rulers and the masses have good reason to grope for something new. I think we are headed for an Obama presidency. Enjoy your trip, Walter. _______________________________________________ Marxism-Thaxis mailing list Marxism-Thaxis@lists.econ.utah.edu To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism-thaxis
