The groundswell of broad support for Barack Obama (both among Blacks
and
whites) is a phenomenon that deserves a serious analysis and
understanding. It cannot be down played by passing it through the lens
of pure-and-simple lesser-evilism.
Some radicals dismiss the mass phenomenon, because Obama is a
candidate
of a ruling-class party. That simplistic rejection of Obama's campaign
and its mass support is sectarian: The issue isn't whether to vote for
a
Democrat, but rather our response to a development that is having a
wide-scale impact. How many times, in state after state, have we ever
seen citisens of all races line up for hours to hear an African-
American
man talk about =93hope'', on a platform that is fundamentally no
different
than his opponents?
While I do sympathise with those activists choosing the Green Party
campaign of Cynthia McKinney or the =93independent=94 Ralph Nader for
their
more progressive political program, I believe progressives and
socialists should focus our attentions on critically engaging Obama
supporters, identifying with their desire for a =93new type of politics
and direction for the country=94 =97 while explaining that Obama is no
answer to stop the aggressive wars of US. imperialism.
In that spirit of critical engagement, an objective evaluation of
Obama's support, and why it's grown, is instructive.
Full: http://links.org.au/node/399
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