Re: [Marxism] Harlem Conference on Obama (FYI -- past)

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Here is the letter I sent to the comrade who sent me the report on the
Harlem debate about Obama:

I sent the parts of your message directly on the Harlem meeting to the
Marxmail list (removing all names of Solidarity comrades, with some comments
of my own. I am following this message with the CP's March 31 report on the
elections, which has a clear tilt toward Clinton as "a powerful candidate
against McCain" who is sure to "govern to the left of her husband" although
much general praise for Obama. 

This raises some questions for me about both speakers.  Did anyone besides
Nellie Bailey and her cothinker (the supporters of Obama) denounce Clinton
at the meeting? Did Monteiro? Did Ford?  Did any of the speakers clearly
indicate support for McKinney. I know Ford has given signs of this but how
did he put it? Did Monteiro?  Did Monteiro talk about the danger of McCain -
the fascist threat for this election round.

I note this because a tendency to present Obama as the greater evil -
because an Obama presidency would deliegitimze the Black struggle, end all
discussion of race, etc., has been a theme of some of  Black Agenda Report's
stuff on Obama. This approach doesn't necessarily point to independent
class/Black politics, and it can even be a radical cover for a covert
pro-Clinton, unity against the racist McCain position. At the same time, of
course, his positive statements about McKinney and the Reconstruction Party
point in the opposite direction.

I am not saying that either Monteiro or Ford is doing this, but I would like
more data to indicate otherwise if it is available. We should note that the
CP, with which Monteiro has been associated at least until recently, IS
tilting toward Clinton and that, in Harlem, appearing as a radical critic of
Obama is rather more credible than appearing as a radical supporter of
Clinton.

This would not eliminate the value of the debate over Obama, in and of
itself. I wish it could occur everywhere.  But it may introduce more caution
about the prospects it represents for a significant break with
imperialist-party politics in this campaign.

I think the Obama campaign is an important development and that a
significant part of what it represents is positive for the future.  Hilary
Clinton was counting on preference for the first 8 years of the Bush-Clinton
offensive over the last 8, but it looks like the voters have had it with
both halves.  This is an advance in thinking and should be appreciated.  The
calls for change are abstract but not meaningless.  In fact, they mean
different things to different groups, different things to the ruling class -
most of whom I think are also ready for change, the war and economic
policies of the last sixteen years having come acropper - and to working
people and oppressed nationalities. 

Also I think the white votes for Obama - which in spite of media
stereotyping do include many workers - also represent progress in thinking
that can benefit us in the long run. 

I think that what is happening in bourgeois politics needs more analysis and
attention from us, and less defensive sneering. 

If Obama is nominated, I think the McKinney campaign will not get many votes
and the Greens will lose their ballot rights in some states, but I think the
vanguard propaganda role of her campaign, the education and preparation for
the future will be even more important than if Clinton squeaks through
somehow. I think support to McKinney is very important this time, and that
getting out the ideas to working people and youth, regardless of who they
support this time around, through the McKinney campaign is very important.
We have to revive in our minds and hearts the importance of propaganda
through election campaigns, and that the main goal is not to pile up a big
vote in November but to prepare the future.  From that standpoint, Obama's
victory over Clinton and over McCain seems likely to be not the greater
evil, but to offer more opportunities for us in the long run. 

Which does not mean  support Obama but to start seizing the opportunities to
get out our ideas with a little more enthusiasm and optimism.

Fred Feldman



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