The Communist Party USA’s newspaper is defending Democratic presidential
candidate Barack Obama against potential defectors on the left, saying
his candidacy represents a “broad multi-class, multicultural movement.”
In a July editorial, “Eye on the Prize,” the People’s
Weekly World, the official newspaper of the Communist Party USA, admonished
anyone on the left who might consider abandoning Obama.
“Barack Obama is not a left candidate,” the editorial said.
“This fact has seemingly surprised a number of progressive people
who are bemoaning Obama’s ‘shift to the center.’ It’s
sad that some who seek progressive change are missing the forest for
the trees.
“But they will not dampen the wide and deep enthusiasm for blocking
a third Bush term represented by John McCain, or for bringing Obama
by a landslide into the White House with a large Democratic congressional
majority,” it added.
The editorial, though never using the word “endorse,” expressed
excitement about his candidacy. It also used numerous slogans from the
Obama campaign such as “hope,” “change” and
“third Bush term.”
“The struggle to defeat the ultra-right and turn our country on
a positive path will not end with Obama’s election,” the
editorial said. “But that step will shift the ground for successful
struggles going forward.
