Barack Obama and the History of Fusion Politics

[freshwest]

Are we going through the 3rd Reconstruction?

Published on Jan 28, 2013

Rev. Dr. William Barber provides a seven minute reframing of American history that is surprisingly, even shockingly timely in the context of America's present-day battle over voting rights.

In his view, we are currently going through the third reconstruction. The first Reconstruction took place after the Civil War. Fusion politics — a governing coalition including Lincoln Republicans, freedmen and former slaves, and populists — made it possible for former slaves to become business, community, and political leaders. But fusion politics was snuffed out by a violent backlash, and replaced by Jim Crow laws that blocked African Americans from voting through poll taxes, impossible "tests," and terrorism.

In the 1960s, there was another attempt at reconstruction, better known as the Civil Rights Movement. The progress we made was met with another violent backlash, culminating in the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy in 1968.

Dr. Barber identifies the possibility of a third reconstruction, one that could actually succeed, with the launch of Barack Obama's campaign for president in 2008. Once again, this attempt at fusion politics has been met with a hateful backlash. The backlash against integration, equality, and trans-racial governing coalitions has, in all three instances, included attacks on voting rights of African Americans and other minorities. Rev. Barber believes that change is inevitable because of demographic shifts in America and the effectiveness of fusion politics.

Help us continue our work:

http://www.storyofamerica.org/reconstruction3

https://storyofamerica.nationbuilder.com/donate

Video by Eric Byler & Annabel Park
Music by Jason Shaw
Special Thanks: Devin Burghart

I found this going through links from DUer Egberto Willies (I think he's in Texas) who has a blog and does a call-in talk radio show Coffee Party Radio (versus the Tea Party).

http://egbertowillies.com/2013/04/27/coffee-party-radio-politics-done-right-wegberto-willies-bombing-fraudulent-economists-sequester-sat-122pm-cst/

I hope we can help him spread the work of Fusion Politics for the 3rd Reconstruction we know is building behind the media curtain in the USA. I found this through his OP:

Coffee Party Radio: Politics Done Right w/Egberto Willies– Bombing, Fraudulent Economists, Sequester

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251302059

I have been listening to his show through iTunes, which you can find described as well as the links to listen to here:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/coffeepartyusa/2013/04/27/politics-done-right-with-egberto-willies

I get DUer Steven Leser's podcasts through iTunes automatically updated, you can catch the links here:

Making Sense with Steve Leser

http://steveleser.blogspot.com/

We need to transform American politics and bring back the progressivism discussed in this video and learn the true history of the South and America. This is the quiet revolution that will not be touted in major media. It is much needed and the positive solution to our dilemmas.

[BethanyQuartz]

1. Bush Jr. stole the election in 2000 with race-based disenfranchisement in Florida

So this backlash didn't start in 2008 with Obama. It started in 2000, if not before. I can't find anything else to disagree with in this video, though. I'm going to go google and bookmark so I can listen to more of what Rev. Dr. Barber has to say.

[freshwest]

2. It doesn't say it started in 2008, it got reinvigorated. His analysis is sound.

[graham4anything]

3. It's going to be an 80-20 nation with Barack Obama's agenda leading the way. Great post/links.

[freshwest]

4. The new majority will not be celebrated in major media, either. Hope you can find the time to listen

to Egberto Willies' show and read his blog. He has awesome links for progressives.

The video speaks of the South I lived in where progressivism was considered All-American, part of our heritage from the New Deal. That was before Reagan and the great leap backward which hasn't stopped yet for some people.

This will happen behind the scenes, unheralded by corporate cable networks and radio.

It's invisible to most people, even here on DU. It'll be a tight race as the regressives aren't going to pull any punches.

[DevonRex]

5. I love Steve Leser.

His last show on genocide was fantastic, too. I learn so much from him. It's an honor to know him a little and that he's one of our hosts.

[sheshe2]

6. Thank you, freshwest.

Excellent post and links.

I have only had a chance to watch the videos at the first link. I will get to the rest, I have only gotten home from work a short time ago. Rev. Dr. Barbers is a fascinating man. Again, thank you.

she

[Cha]

7. Thank you for all this interesting looking research on Fusion Politics,

Freshest!

Going out now but. will check it out when I return.

Aloha~

[freshwest]

8. Left out an important link. Be sure to read Egberto Willie's awesome blog here:

http://www.coffeepartyusa.com/

It has many subjects and links, and is where I found the video for the OP. It's worth the read.

[Cha]

9. I saw that Vid right after the election, freshwest.

Thanks for posting.. it was good to see it, again. that one guy they interviewed who said it's "bureaurocracy and it's always disorganized".. didn't have a clue.

Good to know there are people out there like Dr Barber, trying to bring the country together as opposed to those who are tearing it apart.

[freshwest]

10. The NAACP's Barber speaks of Fusion Politics in N.C. and America.

Civil Rights Battle Reinvigorated--North Carolinians Say No to Return to "Jim Crow" Voting

Voting Rights Arrests in North Carolina - Press Conference Q&A with Rev. Barber

Published on May 7, 2013

http://www.storyofamerica.org/molly

The North Carolina government seems to want to prevent the People's voices from being heard at the polls, but, they are hearing from them anyway.

Annabel Park and I were filming until 3:30 am last night in Raleigh, North Carolina where a broad coalition of concerned citizens is using civil disobedience to stand up to outrageous restrictions on voting targeting students, people of color, and the poor. There are also new laws attacking education, health care, and unemployment insurance.

The arrest total at the North Carolina capitol is now at 48 as citizens practice civil disobedience in the face of new restrictions on voting rights, and attacks on education and the poor.

Video of last night's arrestees coming soon.

Eric Byler

More info:

http://www.wral.com/more-arrested-as-nc-legislature-protests-continue/12417802/

Cross post from jeremyfive's OP in the Video & Multimedia (Forum):

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017118712

He explains how people of all kinds are uniting against laws with 'racist results.'

[struggle4progress]

11. +

[Mc Mike]

12. Rec. Thanks, fresh.

There are a ton of good people trying to move our country forward. Rev. Dr. Barber has a great perspective, and delivers the info in a very compelling way.