This blog entry is specifically about the hate-on for Barack Obama by certain elements of the left in Canada that’s been on since he became the, what’s the word they use, presumptive nominee for the Democrative party.

What the Canadian left fails to notice is that this is a remarkable moment in history. He’s not a raving right winger, and the first Black presumptive nominee in the US certainly could have been. No, he’s not perfect, and yes, he will probably disappoint and fail to live up to all the expectations that have been heaped on him.

He’s a Black man. In the U.S. Running for President as a Democrat. And he may very damn well win. This is fucking huge.

On Facebook I see many smart, political, radical people of colour among my friends there, joining the group “Barack Obama”. They couldn’t all possibly be deluded. They aren’t.

So, here’s my rant.

The Canadian left, known for it’s over-abundance of white folks who haven’t examined anything, ANYTHING to do with how racist and exclusionary they are in their own movement that purports to be “inclusive”, is dumping all over Obama. I will concede that I would likely be in agreement with some of the facts, if not the tones, of their problems with Obama. Taking money from military contractors? Not good! Backing down on his stance on abortion access? Not good!

However.

There is a huge difference between making those comments in acknowledgement of what it means to have Obama in this position to be criticized, and to simply make them as if this is just another day and he’s just another Democrat to critique. A small point, perhaps. But the more I read the left’s obsession with how “not progressive” Barack Obama is, the more I crave an integrated anti-racist analysis, coming from POC who understand the hugeness of what it means to have him here in the first place, and to detail his flaws from that perspective.