MB Civic

Democrats

This is the second in a series of articles that we will be publishing this summer. In them we will be discussing possible scenarios behind the current Presidential campaigns in the Democratic Party and the inherent dangers ahead. None of the opinions expressed herein are the official positions of either the Progressive movement – inside and outside of the Democratic Party – the Progressive Caucus of the California Democratic Party, any Democratic candidate for President or the California Democratic Party. They have been written by, endorsed by and published by the signers only. If you agree with our analysis please feel free to repost it everywhere you can. Sign your name to it as well if you wish. If you disagree then we look forward to your comments. This is the beginning of what we hope will be a tough-minded debate and an essential victory for the Democratic Party in the Presidential election in 2008…

ANOTHER INCONVENIENT TRUTH

Al Gore’s acclaimed and Oscar winning documentary, “The Inconvenient Truth”, exposed the dark reality of what’s to come for a carbon based society if radical and progressive steps are not forthcoming. Well, here is another inconvenient truth; Republicans and their conservative corporate supporters are favoring Hillary and at times Barack as the Democratic Presidential pick. What is it that they know that we don’t? Could it be that the Republicans would rather run against Hillary or Barack and if so, why?

Republican pundits, strategists and status quo editorial pages are lauding, if not anointing, Senator Clinton and at times Senator Obama as the Democratic Party front-runners. I guess that it’s not surprising since Senator Clinton and Senator Obama have raised much of their campaign money from Wall Street financiers who are not flaming liberals to anyone’s knowledge. It’s no secret, according to William Domoff, author of, “Who Rules America” that Wall Street contributes to both political parties with most of their largess going to the Republicans; but why are they so happy to support Clinton and Obama this time around?

Well here it is; they know America’s dark social reality. Yes, they know the reality of racism, commonly known as white supremacy, and sexism, the ism that has stifled female wage earners – no matter what their race – from organizing along common and natural interests with their male counterparts; thereby getting equal rights in the workplace and throughout society. Maybe that old saying is true; “the truth will set you free if it don’t kill you first.” Now, we know that many good white liberals and progressives alike may find this proposition uncomfortable and deplorable, with good reason. After all, there has been significant social progress for people of color and women over these past 230 years.

With the enactment of civil rights legislation and the implementation of equal rights policies, African-Americans have made tremendous gains in government policy, housing and education. An African-American woman is now Secretary of State and was formerly the National Security Advisor, a position that influences the decision making process of the most powerful public officer in human history. Furthermore, an African-American man served as Secretary of State and previously on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Women from all racial and ethnic backgrounds have made gigantic steps from business CEO’s to healthcare professionals, to public office holders. Currently, a woman sits two offices away from the Presidency. Yes, we as a society have made significant strides in social progress, especially since the Sixties.

It was just some forty years ago that peace, love and understanding, espoused by the Hippies, offered hope for America amid the war, assassinations and social upheaval of the Sixties. This was lucidly portrayed on the History channel airing of the documentary on the Sixties. The Hippies who gathered in cities, such as San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, celebrated and reveled in the goodness and potential of the human spirit. They believed that the artificially constructed social barriers of all types could be overcome through flower power. This, we affectionately refer to as a Hippie trip.

While we do share a profound belief in, and a deep affinity for, human kindness and generosity represented by the Hippies, the reality is that we are not there yet. We must come out of our Hippie haze and see our political and social reality for what it is; white supremacy and sexism are intricately intertwined into every facet of our social and political life.

Hence, Americans for centuries have come to view our reality through the prism of these concepts, whether consciously or unconsciously. One of the major tenets of the white supremacy mentality and mindset is the superiority of the white male. This was magnified in the fallout surrounding black athletes playing quarterback in the NFL. Just recall the controversy with black quarterback Donavan McNabb and right wing conservative provocative talk show host Russ Limbaugh who raised doubts about the mental ability of McNabb. The institutionalized message communicated was that the quarterback position required leadership ability, the proper temperament and the cerebral capability for abstract thinking. The benign overt message carried the malignant subliminal message that a black man could not play quarterback because he did not have the required skills, which his white counterparts possessed.

Another example is Al Campanas, executive for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who was candid and deliberate in his statement about the lack of cerebral ability in black athletes in high profile leadership positions. This assertion of white superiority is manifested throughout American history in the fields of science, culture and sports. Democrats should not be naïve and blithely assume things have changed. This concept will be exploited in the electoral process as long as it yields the results that those unscrupulous harbingers of hate like Karl Rove know are possible. Fear and hate are great motivators in a cowering and terrorized population.

The office of President of the United States, since its inception, has personified the aforementioned white male superiority mindset. The succession of Presidents has been overwhelmingly white males from the upper class of American society. While we have seen traditionally white male dominated positions both public and private undergo a transformation, the Presidency is the last bastion of white male superiority. With that being said, the question is: can a black man or any woman be elected President at this point in time? The answer, sadly, is – NO.

To buttress our point let’s look at the recent high profile election between DLC Democratic candidate Harold Ford Jr., a black conservative Democrat, running for the Senate in Tennessee against a white Republican. To win the race the Republican machine ran that age-old racist stereotype that D.W. Griffith exploited in the first movie blockbuster, Birth of A Nation, where black men were sexually accosting a white woman. This type of sexual liaison lies at the core of white supremacy doctrine and has precipitated many race riots and attacks on blacks – i.e. Emmett Till, a teenager in Mississippi, who was brutally beaten to death for whistling at a white woman.

Jessie Jackson, during his Presidential campaign also witnessed similar subliminal inferences and often openly racist statements about his ability to lead. Black Presidential candidate Congresswoman Shirley Chisolm of New York was subjected to this notion as well as the gender bias inculcated in the typical American voter. The sexist stereotypes that haunted Congresswoman Chisolm were also brought to bear against Vice Presidential Candidate Geraldine Ferraro, however, with Italian racist overtones. The efficacy of her ability was constantly being discussed within the context of the patriarchal framework; that she was not masculine enough to lead and make difficult decisions.

This is what corporate conservative Republicans will use against Hillary or Barrack if either one are chosen as the Democratic nominee. If either of these candidates is nominated, the Republicans will resurrect Lee Atwater from the grave to mount a campaign that will dig into the dark side of the American psyche. So, that raises the question, what would be the most logical and strategic choice for progressive, liberal and working class men and women? You got it – John Edwards. Senator John Edwards is the candidate whom corporate conservative Republicans fear the most.

Let’s look at the facts bluntly and honestly. Edwards would be their toughest opponent for all of the unfortunate reasons we have stated and the good reasons he has put forth in his policy positions and his work as a lawyer protecting citizens from corporate abuse.

The Republican machine has already made this assessment and that is why they working over time in both the print and visual media to persuade Democrats to support Hillary or Barrack as the Democratic nominee. This is the inconvenient truth we must come to terms with.

Endorsed and published by
Ahjamu Makalani, Jo Olson and Brad Parker
July 27th, 2007