Reports: Obama Was Member of Socialist Party
Several reports published today in the blogosphere make a strong case that Barack Obama, presidential nominee for the Democratic Party, was a candidate of the New Party in Chicago, which, it seems, can be quite accurately described as left-wing, even socialist.
This even though Obama’s campaign and American socialists denied it earlier this year.
One such report explains:
n June sources released information that during his campaign for the State Senate in Illinois, Barack Obama was endorsed by an organization known as the Chicago “New Party”. The ‘New Party’ was a political party established by the Democratic Socialists of America (the DSA) to push forth the socialist principles of the DSA by focusing on winnable elections at a local level and spreading the Socialist movement upwards. The admittedly Socialist Organization experienced a moderate rise in numbers between 1995 and 1999. By 1999, however, the Socialist ‘New Party’ was essentially defunct after losing a supreme court challenge that ruled the organizations “fusion” reform platform as unconstitutional.
After allegations surfaced in early summer over the ‘New Party’s’ endorsement of Obama, the Obama campaign along with the remnants of the New Party and Democratic Socialists of America claimed that Obama was never a member of either organization. The DSA and ‘New Party’ then systematically attempted to cover up any ties between Obama and the Socialist Organizations. However, it now appears that Barack Obama was indeed a certified and acknowledged member of the DSA’s New Party…
From the October 1996 Update of the DSA ‘New Party’:
“New Party members are busy knocking on doors, hammering down lawn signs, and phoning voters to support NP candidates this fall. Here are some of our key races…Illinois: Three NP-members won Democratic primaries last Spring and face off against Republican opponents on election day: Danny Davis (U.S. House), Barack Obama (State Senate) and Patricia Martin (Cook County Judiciary).”
Beyond the archived web page from the Socialist New Party is the recognition by the “Progressive Populist” magazine in November 1996 that Obama was indeed an acknowledged member of the Socialist Party.
“New Party members and supported candidates won 16 of 23 races, including an at-large race for the Little Rock, Ark., City Council, a seat on the county board for Little Rock and the school board for Prince George’s County, Md. Chicago is sending the first New Party member to Congress, as Danny Davis, who ran as a Democrat, won an overwhelming 85% victory. New Party member Barack Obama was uncontested for a State Senate seat from Chicago. “
Link To The November 1996 Progressive Populist Article
The Democratic Socialist Party of America published in their July/August Edition of New Ground 47 Newsletter.
“The Chicago New Party is increasely becoming a viable political organization that can make a different in Chicago politics. It is crucial for a political organization to have a solid infrastructure and visible results in its political program. The New Party has continued to solidify this base…
the NP’s ‘96 Political Program has been enormously successful with 3 of 4 endorsed candidates winning electoral primaries. All four candidates attended the NP membership meeting on April 11th to express their gratitude. Danny Davis, winner in the 7th Congressional District, invited NPers to join his Campaign Steering Committee. Patricia Martin, who won the race for Judge in 7th Subcircuit Court, explained that due to the NP she was able to network and get experienced advice from progressives like Davis. Barack Obama, victor in the 13th State Senate District, encouraged NPers to join in his task forces on Voter Education and Voter Registration.”
From another such report:
1. Barack Obama attended and participated in meetings of the Chicago New Party and the Chicago DSA, the local affiliate of the Democratic Socialists of America.
2. Barack Obama sought the endorsement of the Chicago DSA which required rigorous scrutiny by the party’s Political Committee as well as Mr. Obama’s signature on a contract promising “a visible and active relationship with the NP.”
3. Barack Obama actively used the endorsement from the Chicago DSA.
4. Barack Obama won his DSA-endorsed and -backed campaign to secure his seat in the Illinois State Senate.
5. Barack Obama continued his involvement with the Chicago DSA — including directly asking the group to join “his task forces on Voter Education and Voter Registration” — and received their endorsements in subsequent campaigns.
Aside from it being quite troubling that Obama may have been a member of such an organization, the main problem Obama may face in the coming days with regards to this subject was his initial denial. If proven true, if proven that he was a member, or at least active supporter, participent, etc. it will hurt him more now than if he had been forthright and honest months ago. As happens more often, it’s not the fact itself that’s problematic (well, membership of a radical left-wing party is problematic of course; it could help Republicans and others make the case that Obama is not a moderate but, instead, one of the most far-left leaders of the Democratic Party) but the cover-up.
For now, though, it is unlikely that this issue will cause him much harm. Obama’s campaign has been very talented at dealing with criticism and potential controversies. As far as I am concerned, this ‘controversy’ may blow away tomorrow, leaving no impression whatsoever on voters. Additionally, one could very well argue, of course, that Obama’s past affiliations do not necessarily reflect on what he believes today. Most people, I gather, may have been members of one party or another at a certain point in time, only to turn their back on that party years later. The same may have happened to Obama; perhaps he was more radical ten years ago. Or he joined forces with the socialists, of course, because he thought it would help professionally in the short term.
Then again, I’ve been wrong several times in the past and the issue is certainly worth looking into more; there seems to be something going on here, something Obama may not have been honest about. And that is always news.
The report comes from the absolute unhinged nutjobs at No Quarter, which makes it automatically suspect, to me. A look through the so called "evidence" that he was a member appears to prove that he was a Democrat who communicated with them, and attended some of their events when a state senator.
If true my judgment is that he likely did so in the same spirit as Sarah Palin did to secessionists; as pandering often done by minor politicians to try to gain support for their goals politically or policy-wise.
Oh he could be a socialist in exceptionally good disguise, just as Sarah Palin could be a secret secessionist, but I find both options to be highly unlikely.
I agree with Claudia. Everything I’ve read indicates that while they may have helped him, he was never a member. It doesn’t make sense that he could have won the Illinois Senate seat as a NP member if he ran as a Democrat.
Don’t forget, Michael. By Libertarian Party by-laws, I’m a member of that party, though all I did was donate. Yet, I still consider myself an Independent, and my voter registration says that too.
Why are the people allowing Obama to lead them like sheep to the slaughter? People, wake up from your Kool Aide infused sleep. Obama intends to change our great country to one more of his liking. It’s not going to be pretty.
Obama led the country into an unnecessary war?
Obama increased the deficit by more than the 42 POTUS combined?
Obama discarded the Geneva Convention?
Obama is going to be worse than Bush 43?
Rudi, Rudi, Rudi…Haven’t the last eight years taught you anything?
When Democratic politicians get us into unnecessary wars and spend billions of taxpayer dollars in the process, it’s called “nation building.” And when Republican politicians get us into unnecessary war and spend billions of taxpayer dollars in the process, it’s called “being patriotic.”
When Democratic politicians run up the deficit spending billions of dollars on unnessary and counterproductive government programs, it’s called “socialism.” And when Democratic politicians run up the deficit spending billions of dollars on unnessary and counterproductive government programs, it’s called “capitalism.”
Whoops… that last line should read:
Regardless of the source reporting this link (regardless if they are biased or unhinged)
The evidence shows he was involved with the new party, and he was a New Party member in 1996:
http://web.archive.org/web/20010306031216/www.newparty.org/up9610.html
“Three NP-members won Democratic primaries last Spring and face off against Republican opponents on election day: Danny Davis (U.S. House), Barack Obama (State Senate) and Patricia Martin (Cook County Judiciary).”
How can that be ignored?
Talk about a cult of personality!