Re: [Marxism] Answer to Mr. Lause's challenge

[Louis Proyect <lnp3@xxxxxxxxx>]

Shane wrote:
> But James has made the point... at that point in
> time time Browder and the party leadership were criticizing Roosevelt
> -- some even said that he was a "fascist." Of course later on the
> party switched its position (for the better, I think).

This was during the Stalin-Hitler nonaggression pact. I have a collection
of 1920s-50s political folk music with a fascinating Pete Seeger-Millard
Lampell song titled "C for Conscription":

Well, it's 'C' for Consciption
And it's 'C' for Capitol Hill!
Well, it's 'C' for Consciption
And it's 'C' for Capitol Hill!
And it's 'C' for the Congress
That passed that goddamn bill!

I'd rather be at home,
Even sleeping in a holler log,
I'd rather be here home,
Even sleeping in a holler log.
Than go to the army
Be treated like a dirty dog!

This song was inspired by the same politics as the movie "Woman of the
Year", which was written by CP'er Ring Lardner Jr. in 1942 but that still
reflected the Stalin-Hitler nonaggression pact state of mind. In the movie
Katherine Hepburn plays a rich, liberal "do gooder" who wants the USA to
get involved in the struggle against fascism. She is depicted as a loveable
ninny. Spencer Tracy plays a sportswriter who thinks the USA should not get
involved in overseas adventures. He was obviously echoing the CP line also
found in "C for Conscription".

After Hitler invaded Stalin, the CP line changed 180 degrees. From that
point on, the party was gung-ho. It even reached the point where people
like Ben Barzman, a Hollywood 10 victim and father of ex-SWP'er John
Barzman, wrote trashy, racist screenplays like "Back to Bataan", which
starred John Wayne and was filled with references to killing gooks.

Needless to say, this is not how Marxist parties should function. The CP
did very many good things, but this turning on a dime to satisfy the
foreign policy exigencies of the Kremlin was not one of them.


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