Black Agenda Report - Obama: What Blacks and Progressives Have Bought Into

http://www.blackagendareport.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=553&Itemid=1

The editor of the so-called journal of African American political thought and action has an interesting commentary that should be a reality gut check and wake up call for those among us who might be prone to drink the "Kool Aid" that is being liberally dosed out. Guess what folks? Obama is just as much of an entrenched politician as is Clinton. So if you are expecting him to get elected and significantly change things - I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you. Sorry to burst your bubble. Reality bites! And by the way, for those who may think that this is a personal attack on Obama it is not. With some notable exceptions (Rev. Wright as an example), I think he has run a very smart campaign. I have been around politics and politicians for too long to look at them with rosey colored glasses.

snip:
Our primary concern is the effect this electoral season has had on masses of Blacks and those non-Blacks that consider themselves progressive. We have witnessed a capitulation to the DLC-inspired Obama campaign on the part of white so-called progressives. African Americans are now near-universally in the Obama camp. Both groups imagine they are witnessing a "movement" in the making, when in fact there is no such thing as a movement being born in a hundreds-of-millions of dollars electoral campaign. Rather, progressives of all races have abandoned movement politics, thus ensuring that Obama remains unchallenged by the Left, free to move further to the Right as a general election campaigner and in the White House.

This wholesale surrender to Clintonism with a Black face and winning smile cannot be justified on any substantive political basis. Therefore, progressives find themselves with no choice but to "hope" that progressive "change" will somehow occur, despite the fact that Obama has laid out positions that are anti-progressive by any measure. Especially among African Americans, there is a virtual refusal to allow issues to intrude on Obama's parade.

2) Take him to task on progressive policy

It won't work in reverse.

It hasn't. ;(

As I just said in another thread, I have to hope that the relative newcomer to Washington can learn. Or has less to unlearn. Or something.

That's all I need to know, really.

As you said, they're pretty similar.

I'm 100% positive I've made the right choice for myself.

cocaine into black communities all over America in the 80s and 90s?

I think the Clintons have proved most DEFINITELY that they will ALWAYS side with BushInc and the powerful elite over the black community, the Dem party and this nation's constitution.

While his initial path isn't substatially different enough from Clinton's, it's in a totally new direction and breaks the hold several lobbies have on the Democratic party.

Glen Ford is a good analyst but he's mad people aren't supporting a new party. I agree with building up a new party but it's not built up enough to make a good difference yet.

Obama is a nightmare for the serious Left. He's not fooling that many of us but we're willing to support him for the "intersection" to a different direction.

Also, Obama is mostly beholden to ordinary citizens for his success. If he wants to get reeletected in 2008, he has to keep us, the majority of voters happy for at least 4 years. That gives us a lot of time to get things done.

Just as Bush ushered in a criminal era by appealing to the worst instincts of the America people, by appealing to our idealism and desire to work together to change things, I think Obama is opening the door to revolutionary change.

If Clinton steals these primaries, Glen will get his wish of seeing a stronger 3rd party because she permanently lost the independent, progressive and Black vote.

That's a great bit: Obama is an intersection. I think you're absolutely correct on that.

but then I was like :/