Click here to read any commentary in this BC series

The 2012 presidential election is approaching; you don’t have to be a genius to know it. The thought of putting up with almost two more years of political gyrations and lies by the hard Right, their mindless protection of the filthy rich and their vicious attacks on working people and people of color is revolting. Combine this with the Democratic Party’s lame responses and passivity and a president who has become a specialist in dashing hope, and we arrive at a place where Leftists and Progressives are challenged as never before.

Progressives emerged from the 2008 election daring to “hope” and believing in the possibility of “change,” but have been disappointed and underwhelmed over the past two-and-a-half years by this new administration. They “hoped” that by volunteering for the Obama campaign and casting their vote at the ballot box, the nation’s problems would be approached from the Left, by a president who, if not firmly on the Left, at least leaned toward their beliefs of peace and social and economic justice for all.

Yet, on a host of issues, from ditching universal, single-payer health care, followed by conceding the public option, to keeping Guantanamo open and extraordinary rendition alive, to extending the Bush tax cuts for the richest Americans, Progressives are left scratching their heads and asking themselves what happened to the Obama they thought they had elected?

The recent public debate between Dr. Cornel West and Rev. Al Sharpton on whether Obama is doing enough for the black community is further proof that something is wrong.  

Unless President Obama soon shows himself to be more decisively Left, Progressives and others on the Left will do nothing more in the upcoming election season but whine, complain and entertain themselves by making fun of the nitwits on the Right.

In an effort to grow a greater Left influence within the Democratic Party in general, and in the policies and actions of President Obama in particular, BlackCommentator.com is hosting a discussion, based on these three questions:

1 - What will it take to bring Obama home?

2 - Is there any room in the Democratic Party for people like us?

3 - Can the USA be moved Left?

We are calling on those who regularly write for BC, readers of BC and Leftists and Progressives of organizations and publications everywhere to join in the conversation. To begin, we will gather responses to the first question and then proceed in order, publishing something by a different writer or writers every week beginning next week. As we go along, you will be able to read the series in its entirety on a special series page on BlackCommentator.com.

There is no length requirement for a submission, however, commentaries of about two thousand words fit best into the BC format. Click here to read a complete list of requirements and for the form to use when emailing your commentary.

There is, however, one very important requirement for taking part in this discourse. Whatever you propose or argue, you must back it up by including at least one thing that can and should be done. We have long since passed the point of rhetorical arguments – it’s time for action!

Click here to send a comment to all the participants in this BC series.

Click here to read any commentary in this BC series

BlackCommentator.com Executive Editor, David A. Love, JD is a journalist and human rights advocate based in Philadelphia, is a graduate of Harvard College and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. and a contributor to The Huffington Post, the Grio, The Progressive Media Project, McClatchy-Tribune News Service, In These Times and Philadelphia Independent Media Center. He also blogs atdavidalove.com, NewsOne, Daily Kos, and Open Salon.

BlackCommentator.com Managing Editor Nancy Littlefield, joined BC in 2005, after a lengthy career in corporate finance. She holds a cum laude BA (Music and Psychology) from the University of Massachusetts and a Masters in Business Administration from Northeastern University. She is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma and Gold Star Families for Peace.

BlackCommentator.com Publisher and Chief Technical Officer Peter Gamble, is the recipient of a national Sigma Delta Chi award for public service in journalism and numerous other honors for excellence in reporting and investigative reporting. The “beats” he covered as a broadcast journalist ranged from activism in the streets to the State Department and White House. The lure of a personal computer on his desk inspired a career change in 1985 and an immersion into what he saw as the future of communications. The acquisition of computer programming skills made it possible for Peter to achieve an important level of self-reliance in the technology of the 21st century and to develop BlackCommentator.com.