I’m a Communist and a Democrat. Also Woke and stuff. I’d posted a few things here a long time ago- ultra-left argumentative stuff. I’ve evolved past that in the 15 years since, and at least part of my evolution to a more realistic and less moral purity type of politics has actually been, believe it or not, joining the Communist Party.
This probably seems surprising because the idea in most Democratic Circles seems to be that this is like the most far left wild, pie in the sky thing you can be. But coming out of the ultra-left, I chose this party precisely because that’s not what it is. Coming from that world, joining the Communist Party is seen as about as reactionary as becoming a Trad Cath. CPUSA is largely panned by the far left because we are NOT wreckers or ultra-leftists.
In that world, CPUSA is a dirty word precisely because so many of us work for Democrats in elections, work with Democratic aligned interest groups and coalitions, and prioritize the defeat of the MAGA right as the essential lynchpin on which world history now rests. Just go look through posts about us on social media: we ‘only tail the Democrats,’ work with ‘Settler-Colonialists’ who fly the ‘flag of genocide,’ have Betrayed the Left and Sold Out to the Democratic Party etc.
I understand my trajectory isn’t exactly mainstream, but it is a bit surprising coming from the far left world that as far as most liberals in the Democratic Party are concerned, being a Communist means you may as well be dropping feces in the ballot box.
Specifically. since coming back to this site (which at this point in my life I pretty much agree with most of) lots of people seem to use ‘communists’ as a slur to describe ultra-left people who don’t support the Democratic Party in elections, or who enable MAGA or who just want to burn everything down.
This is fairly understandable, since there are like 10+ different radical ‘socialist’ or ‘communist’ parties, and so you’ve probably met some ‘communists’ who are completely against electoral politics, or think the Green Party is about to happen for real this time. But CPUSA remains the only American Party recognized by the international communist movement as the legitimate Communist Party in America, through the International Meeting of Communist and Workers Parties (a looser more fraternal successor to the Comintern). This is the organization which include the Communist Parties of Cuba, China and Vietnam. Globally, hardly a fringe thing. Maybe it wouldn’t be a terrible idea to see what we say and do before concluding what ‘communists’ are up to?
Now, as a party we do not directly endorse Democratic candidates, only Party candidates (which are mostly nonexistent at present). Many are very critical of aspects of the Democratic Party, and we are pretty unequivocal for example on Gaza. But personally I canvassed for Harris, and many others did as well.
Our priority as a party is not at present a communistic Big Rock Candy Mountain but rather the Defeat of the MAGA Right- which is going to entail mobilization of the progressive forces in the Democratic Party. Oh, and a requirement of membership is to vote. So although we do not directly support the Democratic Party we DO directly support the organization of the progressive elements OF the Democratic Party. We may not love the DNC, but we do love the NAACP, the Human Rights Campaign, the AFL-CIO, the Poor People’s Campaign, the Education Department, Black Lives Matter, the UAW etc. Downstream, yes, our critics are right, this does benefit the Democratic Party somewhat indirectly. But as I said, an awful lot of us work directly with the Democrats in elections as well, such as in the Obama, Clinton, Harris and Biden campaigns.
Another thing we do is explicitly forbid wrecking behavior. We do not show up to demos or to volunteer to canvass or organize for the goal of recruitment. You may have had experiences like this with other socialist orgs, but when we show up our goal is always to help build the broad anti-right coalition by being, you know, genuinely helpful. I often don’t bother wearing Party insignia or anything. If someone seems interested, sure I’ll talk about Communism with them, but the goal is to build the broadest possible solidarity, cooperation and class consciousness in the multi-racial, multi-gender, diverse working class.
For example, when we show up on a picket line, we aren’t there to argue for the need for immediate revolution or spout slogans or generally be a dick in any way. We’re there to provide material support with whatever meager means we have, physically walk the picket line using whatever slogans and goals the labor movement itself has chosen. We aren’t here to argue with everyone or primary everyone or preach a magic utopia. We’re here to do the real work as best as we are able.
I’m not writing this to ask you to join the Communist Party, but I am writing to ask you to stop assuming we’re your enemy. More and Better Democrats is a goal I personally share, and stopping the MAGA right by whatever means necessary is a goal the Party shares. So when you meet one of us in person (increasingly common you may find… the American Left in all flavors is rebuilding quickly), or online, please be kind. We’re not here to attack you or screw up your projects. And when you discuss ultra-left insanity, maybe don’t assume the correct word for the people you’re describing is always ‘communists?’
Saving our democracy is going to take all of us- the broadest, deepest possible coalitions and alliances united against this wannabe orange dictator. In many locations, although small we do have enough members to actually be a very useful and helpful piece of the movement. It doesn’t take millions to make a difference in most political work. Instead of always punching left, maybe occasionally reach out a hand. You might be pleasantly surprised to find it taken.
