[Marxism] Emanuel choice: a product of Zionist principle orpractical politics?

[S. Artesian]

Interesting points from Joaquin.  As a known ultra-leftist, I'm sure it will 
surprise some that I agree with the point about McKinney and her 
congressional seat.  Every socialist organization should have defended her 
and endorsed her return based on the attacks that led to her loss of the 
seat.  Those attacks were based on her deviation from ruling class political 
demands.

Her reelection would have counted as a real, if isolated, victory for 
African-American people.

So we can take the "ever/never vote Democrat"  question off the table. 
Temporarily. And turn instead to the substance of the two campaigns, 
McKinney's and Obama's.  It is the difference in substance that made 
McKinney's reelection an opportunity for victory; and that makes Obama's 
victory without substance.

Obama represents and represented no deviation from ruling class political 
requirements.  There is no questioning the emotional impact his election has 
had.  But without trivializing the event, it reinforces, not changes, the 
hegemony (a word I hate but others seem to like) of the ruling class and its 
ideology.  That's what "hope" amounts to-- a belief in the possibilities, 
potential, of the current structure.  Necessity, not hope, drives radical 
revaluation of all existing values.

A victory?  Again, without trivializing the event, this is as much a 
victory, on a larger scale, but without larger real content, as the election 
of Washington as mayor of Chicago, Dinkins as mayor of NYC, AND Jackie 
Robinson breaking the color line in baseball.  Actually I think most 
appreciations of that last event underestimate its significance, not, or not 
alone, for its emotional and substantive impact on African-Americans, but in 
maintaining and expanding the revenues of the industry, which reasons are 
the same reasons US capitalism has turned to Obama..

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joaquin Bustelo" <jbustelo at gmail.com>
To: <sartesian at earthlink.net>
Sent: Saturday, November 08, 2008 12:55 PM
Subject: Re: [Marxism] Emanuel choice: a product of Zionist principle 
orpractical politics?