The Electoral Arena: Challenges and Opportunities for the 2008 Presidential Election and Beyond

With Linda Burnham, activist and author of "Obama and Clinton: The Tightrope and the Needle" and James Tracy, Bay Area housing organizer and co-author with Steve Williams of "The Left and Elections"

Thursday, July 17th, 2008 - 7 PM
65 Ninth St. (between Market and Mission-closest BART Civic Center), San Francisco
wheelchair accessible
Co-sponsored by the Center for Political Education and Left Turn

The 2008 elections have created unusual interest and momentum: the first African-American candidate by a major party; a woman, with a strong campaign and the Democratic machine largely behind her, who failed to secure the nomination; and discussions of the possibility of significant shifts in the U.S. political terrain.  Will the elections result in more of the same?  Or will there be "Change", a major slogan during the campaign?  What kind of change?  Can the momentum and opening of political space generated by the Obama campaign be an arena for left and progressive forces to build an on-going movement?

Two Bay Area activists will address these and other questions at this lively forum for discussion.  Long time local activist James Tracy will discussion what the election means in terms of movement building and creative ways to use the elections to strengthen progressive forces.  Linda Burnham, author and activist, will talk about race, gender and class aspects of the elections and questions and challenges the campaign poses for the left. 

Check out the two articles by Linda Burnham, "Clinton & Obama: The Tightrope and the Needle" and James Tracy and Steve Williams, "The Left and the Elections" published in Left Turn Magazine

$5-$10 donation requested, no one turned away for lack of funds