Author: Joel Wendland
First published 03/31/2008 21:52 by {article_topic_desc}
At its quarterly national committee meeting this past weekend, the Communist Party USA (CPUSA) called for a landslide in the November 4th elections to defeat John McCain and strengthening the Democratic Party majorities in Congress.
Needed: One Landslide on November 4th
Sam Webb, the CPUSA's national chair, delivered the main political report in which he argued that voters have confounded pundits and political predicters and have set the stage for a political victory in November for the people's movement. Democratic primaries signal a huge upsurge with record-breaking turnout and enthusiasm. "The high octane of this upsurge is simply breathtaking," he said.
With the undiminished role of the labor-led people's movement, Webb predicted the outcome could bring enormous change that puts people's need before warmaking, sleaze and policies that put profits before peoples need. Such an outcome is possible regardless of whether or not Clinton or Obama wins, he stated.
The Democratic campaigns and the possibility for change have eroded disillusionment and apathy. The main dilemma of the left is to not be left behind in this upsurge, he said. If we are not engaged in this struggle to advance the people's movement, we will be left behind.
Independent involvement is part of the upsurge, and people are inspired by the possibility that this election will result in real changes and improvements in their daily lives.
Webb talked about the fact that the nature of the support for the both candidates shows that working-class voters will vote for a woman and an African American candidate. Neither would have been swept to the place they are now with support from either women or Black voters alone.
To say that Clinton has garnered the vast majority of the working-class vote is simply wrong, he said. Black voters are overwhelming working class. The working class has divided its vote between the two. Trade union voters have given a slight edge to Clinton, but Obama has polled well and has won important union endorsements.
On the issue of demographics, "we should stay away form easy and static explanations," he said.
Obama's candidacy is unique in all of this excitement. It is transformational and new. It has brought new forces into the process and built new organizational forms.
"What makes it different is that it has the feel of a movement," Webb said. Obama speaks to people's desires and inspires them. "He is a fresh voice on the political scene. His courage and astuteness are obvious," Webb said.
His desire to overcome racial and religious and national and other divisions "strikes a deeply responsive chord far and wide."
For her part, Clinton would likely govern to the left of her husband, and she would be a formidable opponent for McCain, Webb asserted.
We have a chance to sweep the Republicans from power in a landslide. "It is an altogether new page in American politics," Webb said.
Webb went on to discuss the deepening economic and financial crisis. He linked Republican policies of the last 30 years and the ongoing decline of US capitalism and imperialism. What is needed to counter this and heal the country is a broad and ambitious program off housing relief, urban investment, environmental clean up and more, Webb insisted.
A favorable outcome of this election will give working people power to prevent capitalists from shifting the burden of this recession onto the backs of workers.
I don't even know what your talking about. Do you? I was merely pointing out the stong similarites Obama's platform has with the platforms of the Communist and Socialist parties. No where do I mention Islam.