posted at KeyWiki & New Zeal, 6/11/2010

Excerpts from a special report to the recent 29th National Convention of the Communist Party
USA, by Joelle
Fishman. Joelle Fishman role in the Communist Party's Political
Action Commission, which gives her responsibility for organizing Party
support for "progressive" Democratic Party candidates at the state,
congressional, senate and presidential level. She is also, incidentally,
the daughter - in - law of late Soviet spy, Victor Perlo


Fishman acknowledges that the Communist Party supported Barack Obama in 2008 - though certainly
not for the first time.

The 2010 elections are at the center of the struggle for working class relief from economic crisis, poverty, inequality and environmental devastation. Why? Because
this election will either solidify the progressive breakthrough of 2008,
or send the country reeling backward. Barack Obama's election
as president was a victory won by an amazing broad alliance of which we
were a part. Our contribution focused on building unity, challenging
racism and expanding voter participation.

She then quotes party chairman Sam Webb and goes on to
stress the pivotal nature of the 2010 mid - term elections.

This was an extraordinary expression of political independence from the extreme right wing. As Sam's report reminds us, five years ago our major
battle was entirely on the defensive under George W. Bush. The question
of how we expand and build on this political independence has been a
big part of the pre-convention discussion.

The 2010 mid-term elections represent the next step of our continuing project to
decisively defeat the extreme right-wing and expand democratic
rights, including ridding the federal government of entrenched corporate
interests. All 435 House seats and a third of senate seats are up for
election. A shift of 45 seats in the House and six in the senate would
give Republicans the majority. Top battleground states for the
Senate are California, Florida, Illinois, Missouri and Ohio. We
are up against a rabid right-wing that refuses to accept the election
of the first Black president.

Republicans in Congress thought they could bring down the presidency by blocking health care
reform. The Tea Party was birthed by media extremists and racist
elements to break up the unity of 2008. They were able to change the
debate and peel off some Democratic votes, but they were not able to
stop the legislation. Newt Gingrich is attempting to frame the 2010
elections with a new Contract on America to whip up hysteria that
government spending for social needs is against the interests of working
people.

This election is about the ability of families and youth to make it through this economic crisis. In the first place it is about
the federal government investing in job creation targeted to the
highest poverty areas with training for displaced workers and young
people. It is about relief for cities and towns, education and youth
programs, housing and health care. Working people are angry and
searching for solutions. Voters' anger can be turned into
collective action for a pro-worker agenda or it can become manipulated
by right-wing populism. So far there are examples of both
taking place.

Our focus is on building up the strength of the labor movement, racially oppressed, women, youth along with LGBT,
environment and peace allies as part of the broad electoral alliance
This goes beyond any one election to the need for organizing a
lasting movement and building working class leadership in our country
that can reorder priorities and change foreign policy.

Fishman then goes on to trumpet the successes of the labor movement in
countering the "Tea Party" movement, the Republicans and "moderate"
Democrats.

The election of President Obama opened a door. The challenge to us and the labor and people's organizations is to walk through that door in the millions with mass
struggle for jobs and relief. The anger of workers was turned
into unity against the financial institutions in big mass actions during
May Day week. Joint labor - immigrant rights marches and civil
disobedience protests against the Arizona law represent the kind of
unity that can increase workers' strength in the elections and improve
the balance in Congress.

In Western Pennsylvania, Republicans poured $10 million into capturing the seat that was held by Rep John
Murtha, but they did not succeed. Workers responded to the
message of their unions. They rejected slanders against Democrat Mark
Critz and attacks on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Obama.

A strong challenge to conservative Democrat Arkansas Sen Blanche Lincoln
has forced her into a runoff election after she voted against health
care reform. This campaign shows it is possible to enlarge the
number of Democrats in the Congressional Progressive, Black, Hispanic
and Asian Pacific caucuses and change the dynamics against the
ultra-right within Congress.

Yet the Tea Party is making in-roads within the Republican primaries, spreading their poison with
big money at their disposal. Richard Trumka's leadership of the AFL-CIO
is providing clarity and maintaining unity by showing how racism hurts
all workers and by exposing corporate greed.

Showing that the money is there for jobs and community needs by taxing the rich
and corporations, cutting the military budget, and ending the wars is a
further contribution to unity. Helping develop labor's
infrastructure to educate members and bring out the vote is at the
center of political independence.

This is a training ground for union leaders to run and win election to public office. It
is the foundation for a future labor and people's political party.
The Hill reported on a survey (5/12/10) showing 80% of people see
problems with the two party system. A progressive labor and
people's electoral structure like Working America, or Working Families
Party must be clear and present or the only visible alternative will be
the right-wing. The Communist Party must also be plainly
visible on the issues, utilizing our websites, e-mail, social
networking, the downloadable print edition and other materials. Each
will strengthen the other. A Pew survey last week showed that
half of young people think socialism is better than capitalism.

Fishman then urges the party to register and turn - out voters in the November elections.

Turnout will be key in the 2010 elections. This includes registering new voters and reaching out to voters in every area. On the weekend of
June 5, Organizing
for America will hold kickoff canvasses across the country to
visit the 15 million first time voters who took part in the 2008
elections. Elections are won and lost in precincts, wards, election
districts. Every need at the local level depends on the results of the
2010 election.

We should take a look and see in what congressional districts with key races we can bring our publications,
establish a new club, or build up an existing one and participate with
labor and other community groups. In a close election a
few votes can make the difference. A lasting organization can
make an even bigger difference. This approach can also open the door to
more Communists running for public office on whatever ticket as part of
grass roots coalitions.

Fishman gives two recent examples of what can be achieved by communists working through the
Democratic Party , with union and "community group" support. Communist
Party members Rick
Nagin and Rudy
Lozano, Jr. both almost won elections in Cleveland Ohio and Chicago
Illinois in recent months, running as Democrats.

Rick Nagin's campaign in Cleveland last summer and the Chicago campaign at the beginning of this year were an early start to the 2010 elections. These
campaigns were also walking through the door opened by the Obama
election victory, projecting a people before profits approach to local
issues.

Fishman ends will a call to action in the weeks remaining until November.

We should revisit the initiative from our last convention and create a network of Communist and left elected officials to share problems,
experiences and play a role in bringing the grass roots to the fore.
Let's leave here at full speed for the 24 weeks between now and
Election Day November 2, 2010.

While Fishman's party is only a few thousand strong, it has significant influence in
the labor unions, the Democratic Party at all levels,
churches and organizations such as ACORN and United
for Peace and Justice and dozens of other many thousand strong
organizations.

The Communist Party is the backbone the Democrats have long since lost.