Is He a Socialist?

By Manuel Ballagas.

Calling President Barack Obama a Socialist –or for that matter, any other name- can get you labeled a racist these days. It ranks up there with questioning his place of birth, his faith, or –God forbid- his truthfulness.

Why is that? Socialist is not such a bad word. Dozens of political parties and politicians the world over proclaim themselves as such. It hasn’t prevented them from being successful. Some socialist leaders have even become chiefs of state. So why would it be so demeaning to call Obama a Socialist? Certainly, he would be in good company.

To be sure, these days Socialism can be hardly considered a viable political movement in this country. But it had a strong following back in the early 1900’s, when Eugene Debs, a charismatic union organizer, founded the Socialist Party of America. Debs was its presidential candidate in 1912 and 1920, having won nearly 1 million votes in each of those years.

Norman Thomas, who headed the party after Deb’s death, shared some of his predecessor’s popularity. He won more than 900,000 votes in the 1932 presidential election. But, over time, the socialist movement had become split by internal disputes, and by the mid 1940’s, FDR’s New Deal had co-opted and put in place as law some of the Socialists’ long-time demands. Their ideology slowly began to lose its appeal among the “masses.”

Over the years, the growing American middle class and the unions moved away from Socialist causes and class struggle, in favor of a more pragmatic, less doctrinaire approach to politics. Also, the rise of the Soviet Union as America’s number one enemy during the Cold War cast the Communists and other leftist groups in an unpatriotic light, even if not all of them turned to Moscow for guidance.

While the 60’s brought with them a surge of radicalism, with the Civil Rights Act enacted, the foundation of LBJ’s Great Society established, and the Vietnam War being over, the movement again had to catch its breath.

So what are Socialists to do when few Americans seem to care –or even know- about their ideology, and many reject it altogether? Well, blend with the political mainstream, of course, in the hope of gaining influence there.

And that’s exactly what the Democratic Socialists of America, one of the heirs of Deb’s original organization, has been doing since the early 80’s without and within the Democratic Party.

Michael Harrington, a writer, political scientist and founder of the DSA, once held the position that “the left wing of realism is found today in the Democratic Party.” This view is now echoed in a DSA declaration of principles, available in its web site.

“Electoral tactics are only a means for democratic socialists; the building of a powerful anti-corporate coalition is the end,” the Where We Stand declaration states.

This would be the way, according to that program:

“Much of progressive, independent political action will continue to occur in Democratic Party primaries in support of candidates who represent a broad progressive coalition. In such instances, democratic socialists will support coalition campaigns based on labor, women, people of color and other potentially anti-corporate elements.”

Another passage from this declaration makes this low-key, gradual approach toward achieving Socialist goals more transparent:

“Through control of the government by the Democratic Party coalition, led by anti-corporate forces, a progressive program regulating the corporations, redistributing income, fostering economic growth and expanding social programs could be realized.”

To be fair, the DSA has also stated that it does not consider President Obama one of its own. Even so, it lent explicit support to his candidacy in a document issued during the 2008 election:

“While recognizing the critical limitations of the Obama candidacy and the American political system,” the statement said, “DSA believes that the possible election of Senator Obama to the presidency in November represents a potential opening for social and labor movements to generate the critical political momentum necessary to implement a progressive political agenda.”

Were the Socialists right in their assessment? Possibly. Consider this for a moment. Hardly nine months after being sworn in, the Obama administration:

- Has acquired a large stake in major US corporations through the stimulus/economic rescue packages.
- Has moved to exert a stronger control of banks and financial institutions through various emergency measures.
- Has vigorously promoted a health care reform package in which a “public option” will play a very important role.
- Has included leftists and even known radicals among its officials in different positions, where some have held authority as “czars.”
- Is considering some sort of “rescue package” for weak media corporations, which would give the government a measure of control of the public discourse.
- Follows a foreign policy of appeasement and “dialogue” with some of America’s staunchest foes while it erodes support for its strongest allies.

Does any of this make the President a Socialist, or even an unconscious puppet of certain forces at work within and without his party? Certainly not. But his policies do seem to play into the hands of those who would like to change the course of this country, and have it institute, gradually and quietly, what they call a “progressive agenda.”

One 20th century leader who followed such strategy of political stealth was none other than Cuba’s Fidel Castro, who repeatedly denied being a Communist and even declared himself anti-Communist both before and shortly after taking over the island.

By the end of 1961, safely in place as Cuba’s top banana, Castro showed his true colors and declared himself “a Marxist-Leninist to the end of my life.” The Cuban dictator argued that the reason to conceal his ideology was to avoid facing the “prejudice” his people had against Communism.

I’m in no way implying or predicting that Obama will declare himself a Marxist dictator anytime soon. That surely isn’t the strategy or the goal of the Socialists either. But, given the facts, I’m sure as hell worried about his policies… and some inside his own party.

Manuel Ballagas is a media consultant.

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