Obama , Capitalisms Che ?

[Coggeh]

I don't know how serious this topic will really be so if someone wants to chit chat it , fair enough .

Anywho , has anyone drew the parralels yet of obama being the new face of capitalism and the bourgeois , the same way che attracted millions to the left being the new face of socialism . Showing that you didn't have to be 8ft tall and russian anymore .And now Obama attempts to portray that capitalists aren't all behind the scenes deal makers etc etc

Thoughts?

[Comrade B]

Obama is not a pure capitalist, he believes in modified capitalism, the hard cores hate his guts. He has made western democracy look less unappealing to many, but he really has little to do with representing capitalism in the eyes of his supporters.

[CHEtheLIBERATOR]

he's a little of both he's more a social democrat (mid center) mixed with capitalism(right).

[Davie zepeda]

he's a liar the same of the same he keeps breaking his promises down and changing the policies that got him elected. Soon enough those who once supported him will see there precious braka destroy most revolutions left.

[RedHal]

Obama is not a pure capitalist, he believes in modified capitalism, the hard cores hate his guts. He has made western democracy look less unappealing to many, but he really has little to do with representing capitalism in the eyes of his supporters.

the hardcore cappies don't hate Obama's guts. Don't mistaken the right wing shock jocks as the hardcore cappies, they are for show. The hardcore cappies are the CEOs and they love Obama, they gave more financial funding to Obama's campaign then any candidate in history.

I agree, Obama is the fresh likable face for "humane" capitalism and american empire. It's kind've sad seeing the ppl of Africa going crazy for Obama, sadly even if Obama wanted to end the brutal exploitation of the South, the corporate entities will not allow it.

[Lacrimi de Chiciură]

I absolutely think Obama is a sort of icon for "new" capitalism. That's what the bourgeoisie want him to be, that's what he's trying to be. I think either they'll fend off the economic crisis sufficiently enough to prevent the collapse of capitalism, in which case we'll be stuck with years more of boring neoliberals, or things will really go to shit, in either case hopefully there will be a rise in class conciousness when people realize that Obama is just the new mascot of the same old system that is exploiting and killing people all over the world.

[Davie zepeda]

Revolution!

[Angry Young Man]

They've both been used (Che presumably unconsensually - image-rape) to represent a vague sentiment of change, compassion, altruistic politics and courage to people who can't really be arsed to analyse politics in any depth. Plus the Obama 'progress' print looks very like the Che 'hasta' in both pose and shading, the only difference being the introduction of blue for Obama.
Since I saw the title, thinking about it logically, the progress print was so ripped from the Hasta.

[Circle E Society]

Obama is every other president in black face. Plain and simple.

[Charles Xavier]

US capitalism needed a fresh new face, and when they were desperately looking for one, Obama apppeared. The new face of US imperialism.

The Che Hasta? you know hasta means Until right?

[Angry Young Man]

I was attaching a badge to the photo, it's the first word of 'hasta la victoria siempre' and yes I know it means until.

[Charles Xavier]

Che's Until photo?

[FreeFocus]

What the left needs to learn is that perception is all that really matters. What Obama and the rest of the bourgeoisie has accomplished is, admittedly, nothing short of amazing: taking just about universal condemnation of a state and turning it into goodwill towards imperialism and injustice. Don't be mistaken, this idea, this ill-founded "hope," this perception will last for at least two decades, not just what will presumably be his eight years in office.

We always lose the propaganda wars. And it's a shame.

[Pawn Power]

Obama is not a pure capitalist, he believes in modified capitalism, the hard cores hate his guts. He has made western democracy look less unappealing to many, but he really has little to do with representing capitalism in the eyes of his supporters.

Hell, capitalists don't believe in pure "capitalism." Regardless of the trillion dollar bail out they asked for and received they have been working the government since its existence for regulations which favor their industries and interests- i.e. tariffs, land rights, monetary assistance, etc.

[dmcauliffe09]

Obama is considered by the right to be a "tax-evading socialist wimp." Of course, one can assume that simply because of his political affiliation with the Democratic party, all rightists would automatically hate him. But leftists, I implore you, look at what Obama is doing. He is a good leader, but his office is inherently corrupt, as is the whole capitalist system. The only way out of this recession is economic revolution, by which I mean a complete eradication of the free market system. Anyway, Obama is instituting major plans (such as the salary cap on the CEOs and other bigwigs who earn over $500 thousand) that will aide in realizing this revolution, but these plans can reach their full potential only if they are instituted in a socialist economy/society.

[Wakizashi the Bolshevik]

Obama is by no means a "capitalist Che".
He's a Keynesian capitalist, who does want to modify capitalism to European norms, but it's still right-wing and capitalist.

[BIG BROTHER]

I don't know how serious this topic will really be so if someone wants to chit chat it , fair enough .

Anywho , has anyone drew the parralels yet of obama being the new face of capitalism and the bourgeois , the same way che attracted millions to the left being the new face of socialism . Showing that you didn't have to be 8ft tall and russian anymore .And now Obama attempts to portray that capitalists aren't all behind the scenes deal makers etc etc

Thoughts?

I think its a good observation, like you said Che was a fresh change from the Stalin image...Obama is the same a fresh change(in image, but of course same imperialist class) from the ugly and easy to hate George Bush.

[Crux]

Obama is considered by the right to be a "tax-evading socialist wimp." Of course, one can assume that simply because of his political affiliation with the Democratic party, all rightists would automatically hate him. But leftists, I implore you, look at what Obama is doing. He is a good leader, but his office is inherently corrupt, as is the whole capitalist system. The only way out of this recession is economic revolution, by which I mean a complete eradication of the free market system. Anyway, Obama is instituting major plans (such as the salary cap on the CEOs and other bigwigs who earn over $500 thousand) that will aide in realizing this revolution, but these plans can reach their full potential only if they are instituted in a socialist economy/society.
The democrats aren't right wing? Also "these plans" unfortunatly has nothing at all to do with revolution, even though they in some ways reflect a pressure from below.

Oh and also, no Obama is no keynsian, at least not more than, say, George W Bush.

[dmcauliffe09]

The democrats aren't right wing? Also "these plans" unfortunatly has nothing at all to do with revolution, even though they in some ways reflect a pressure from below.

Oh and also, no Obama is no keynsian, at least not more than, say, George W Bush.
The Democrats are right wing only because in America, they are usually still capitalists. The United States is one of the few nations whose leftists are not socialists but are still considered "left leaning." Their views are, for the most part, liberal, and much more leftist than rightist. And the plans to which I was referring to indeed have to do with the revolution. Do you think that capping the salaries of CEOs who make over $500,000 is not a step in ending their corrupt capitalist rule? Sure, it is a small step, but it is a step nonetheless. And like I said, these changes are good, but they need to occur more drastically and in a socialist economic system.

[Angry Young Man]

FFS why are you being so fucking anal about this? The meaning is clear: Che Guevara was a charismatic leader who could inspire loyalty in followers and was consequently good looking, giving him appeal beyond politics. Obama is the same. The parallel isn't fucking brain surgery.

[brigadista]

Linton Kwesi Johnson gives a good summation of where Obama is coming from...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pY0hdmDn_cI