Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

Obama is the candidate of the Democratic Party

On Tuesday, June 3, after having finished the three remaining primary elections, Senator Barack Obama became the Democratic candidate for the presidency. The Democratic Party establishment, from former President Jimmy Carter and figures associated with his administration like Zbigniew Brzezinsky, to the majority of national and local leaders, who comprise around 800 super delegates, have […]

Left Voice

June 7, 2008
Facebook Twitter Share

On Tuesday, June 3, after having finished the three remaining
primary elections, Senator Barack Obama became the Democratic
candidate for the presidency. The Democratic Party establishment,
from former President Jimmy Carter and figures associated with his
administration like Zbigniew Brzezinsky, to the majority of national
and local leaders, who comprise around 800 super delegates, have
decided to vote for Obama. Thus an unusually prolonged campaign for
the Democratic nomination ended, and the competition with the
Republican John McCain for the presidency has begun.

After 8 years of Republican administration, with two continuing
wars – Iraq and Afghanistan – and an economic recession in its
infancy that has already consumed hundreds of thousands of jobs, as
well as housing and consumer expenditures of thousands of people in
the US, expectations that Obama’s coming administration means a
progressive change, are high, especially in a big group of young
people and the African-American community. A change from Bush’s
foreign policy, characterized by unilateralism and militarism, is
also expected.

But Obama already began his election campaign by presenting himself
as someone who can better defend the interests of the US and its
allies in the world. A few hours after assuming his nomination as
presidential candidate, he gave a speech before the most important
lobbying group in US politics, AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs
Committee), where he reaffirmed its “unconditional alliance” with
the State of Israel and condemned Hamas as a “terrorist
organization.” And he criticized the war in Iraq only for having put
the security of the US and Israel at risk. Change towards a more
multilateral policy, if it finally occurs, corresponds to the fact
that a sector of the ruling class believes that is the best way to
recover lost ground and repair the situation of the US in the world,
which has deteriorated during Bush’s presidency.

Moreover, Obama has received financial support from the main Wall
Street firms, like JP Morgan, Chase, and Citigroup. Although there
are still five months until the elections, it hardly seems likely
that McCain will manage to overcome the bad image of Bush and the
Republicans. If Obama is actually elected President, the
expectations and illusions of millions of people in the US “who
believed in change,” will obviously be frustrated sooner or later.

Translation by Yosef M.

[For a deeper analysis of the situation in the US, see Claves Nº
3 “Estados Unidos al fin de la era Bush.” (Spanish)->http://www.pts.org.ar/IMG/pdf/claves_3_web.pdf]

Facebook Twitter Share

Left Voice

Militant journalism, revolutionary politics.

Archive

The Unknown Paths of the Late Marx

An interview with Marcello Musto about the last decade of Marx's life.

Marcello Musto

February 27, 2022

The Critical Left in Cuba

Frank García Hernández discusses the political and economic situation in Cuba and the path out of the current crisis.

Frank García Hernández

February 27, 2022

Nancy Fraser and Counterhegemony

A presentation from the Fourth International Marxist Feminist Conference.

Josefina L. Martínez

February 27, 2022

Who is Anasse Kazib?

Meet the Trotskyist railway worker running for president of France.

Left Voice

February 27, 2022

MOST RECENT

All That's Left, the podcast from Left Voice.

#AllThatsLeftPod: What the Historic UAW Victory Means for the Working Class

In this episode of the podcast, we discuss the historic UAW victory, its shortcomings, and the tasks for the future.

Left Voice

December 5, 2023

The New Hollywood McCarthyism Emerging Around Palestine

Over the past week, a new Hollywood McCarthyism has emerged: multiple people in Hollywood have jobs and representation over their support of Palestine. We must denounce and fight these attacks which weaken the movement and scare supporters into silence.

Sybil Davis

December 3, 2023
A UAW sign is held next to a "Free Palestine" sign

The UAW Has Called for a Ceasefire. It’s Time for All of Labor to Stand Up.

The UAW International union has joined calls for a ceasefire and is exploring how to divest from Israel. This is a step which should inspire union activists to take up the fight to bring their union into the fight against Israel's attack on Gaza and the struggle against imperialism.

Rose Lemlich

December 2, 2023

Robert Habeck Wrote a Play Praising a Right-Wing Mass Murderer

Germany's Green vice chancellor strikes many as an idealist who has been struggling with the tough realities of government. Yet before he was a national politician, he wrote a play that opens a window into a dark soul.

Nathaniel Flakin

December 1, 2023