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BLOG TALK RADIO
Mike Caddell of RADIO FREE KANSAS, Airs Interview of the Socialist Party USA Presidential Candidate for 2008, Brian Moore, Friday, March 20, 2009
Mike's website (http://fightincockflyer.blogspot.com/2009/03/meet-brian-moore-on-radio-free-kansas.html) has the name of "Fightin' Cock Flyer," and it is part of Radio Free Kansas, via blog talk radio. Mike recently interviewed Ray McGovern, former CIA agent and social activist; and Cindy Sheehan, antiwar activist.
Brian's interview was initially aired Thursday evening, March 19th, at 10 PM Central Time, and will be on Mike's website for the week of March 20 thru the 27th. Anyone can call in to Mike's show every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, from 10 PM to 12 midnight, Central Time, by dialing 646-716-8652.
Fightin' Cock Flyer: Meet Brian Moore on Radio Free Kansas! By Michael Caddell, March 20, 2009 If you missed last night's segment on Radio Free Kansas, check it out by clicking the play button. Brian Moore ran for president in 2008 on the Socialist Party, USA ticket. A group in Kansas took up his campaign, click here. ... Fightin' Cock Flyer - http://fightincockflyer.blogspot.com/ |
Technical notes: Brian's interview begins at 5 minutes and 40 seconds, then is interrupted at 13 minutes and 20 seconds. The interview has to be restarted at 15 minutes and 40 seconds. If you move ahead to minute 23, the interview can continue, without having to listen anew to the start. The interview ends at 57 minutes and 25 seconds. The actual interview length is about 42 minutes long.
Historic Socialist Notes: Kansas' involvement with socialism began in the 1890's, with the collapse of the Populist Movement. It was mostly popular in the southeastern part of the state. In 1901 the Socialist Party of Kansas joined other socialist parties nationwide to form the Socialist Party of America at a unity convention in Indianapolis. The Kansas group was already known worldwide as a hub of socialist activity due to a weekly Socialist newspaper published by Julias Wayland, in Girard, Kansas. The paper was called "Appeal to Reason," and had the largest circulation of any weekly in America, with 760,000 readers. Eugene V. Debs, Upton Sinclair, Helen Keller and Jack London were its regular contributing writers.
Highlights of the 42 minute interview:
(Minutes 9-13 ff) Brian spoke of his entry into the party, and his knowledge of the socialist party's history. He acknowledged that socialism gained publicity in the 2008 campaign due to government bailouts, the red-baiting and fear-mongering of McCain and Palin and Joe the Plumber, along with Obama's comments about "re-distributing the wealth." (Minutes 23 ff) Brian criticized Obama extensively as a "capitalist," taking large amounts of contributions from Wall Street and the finance community, has plans of retaining 50,000 troops in Iraq and increasing American troops in Afghanistan by 17,000 more initially.
Brian also spoke of capitalism being selfish, based on greed, and that it operates at the expense of our natural resources with "self-interest" being the motivating factor. He summarized socialism based on a communal sharing and the workers determining the products and services to our fellow man for equal benefit. (30 minutes ff) Brian spoke of ballot access for minor political parties and candidates as "the civil rights issue of the future."
(40 minutes ff) Brian criticized the Democratic and Republican parties, President Obama and the corporate and special interests of controlling America with their wealth and power. (42 minutes ff) Brian spoke of the history of "radical reform that came from the Midwest, and from farmers who migrated from Europe, and brought their social ideas with them." Brian said there was "no reason to fear radical ideas" or radical thought. Radio Host Caddell spoke of seeing "No recovery in sight," and thought that the "Bailout won't work." Brian concurred, and said that the Socialist Party "needed to develop specific plans to prepare" for any transition from capitalism to socialism in order to "avoid the country falling into the hands of dictators, right wing or left wing."
(45 minutes ff) Brian spoke of Cuba and its economic rights in the areas of health, education and housing and how it is putting the United States to shame, especially "in light of the Cuban Embargo that we have imposed such economic hardship on Cuba for the last 50 years." Caddell stated that Cuba appears "more self-sufficient" than America. (50 minutes ff) Mike Caddell quoted a Dr. Palmer Johnson who sees the American empire as imploding, along the closing of military bases overseas, and an imminent economic collapse. Brian concurred and stated that the Socialist Party's platform reflected those same thoughts. Brian gave the Socialist Party USA website, name of its monthly publication, the "Socialist," and informed the public that the SP's national office was located in New York. Brian urged people to Google the Socialist Party USA in order to find the website as well.
Brian said it is "difficult for minor parties to win electorally in our system, but still possible." Some Socialists, Brian stated, believe "the only road to socialism can only be achieved through violent overthrow of private corporations through the workplace, and not through the electoral process."
(Minutes 52 ff) Radio Host Caddell spoke of "aid to the elderly" in America, in the early part of the 20th century, as "only coming from charity organizations and individuals." Brian stated that "It was not until 1935" did our country institute a social security system," thanks to the socialist ideas and advocacy." Brian said there is "no reason to fear a radical transformation of our society," calling for the need for "More Americans to have radical tendencies, without fear or trepidation." Mr. Caddell concurred, and said he defined the word "radical" as "a study of the root of the problem."
Brian again addressed the need for more third parties in America to overcome the power of the media and private corporations, and to "change the judicial court decisions that have given equal powers to corporations as much as to citizens."
The interview ended at 57 minutes and 25 seconds. Mr. Caddell then continued the program with news from Radio Pacifica in Berkeley, California, with news about Israel and the Palestinians, an interview with Ray McGovern and a story on the power of the Israeli lobby group, AIPAC.
Brian thanked host Mike Caddell for the contributions the state of Kansas has made for Socialism in America.
[Note from Brian: Radio host Mike Caddell's wife is a practicing physician, who was one of a small group of physicians across the state of Kansas to provide abortions when a fellow Kansas physician was murdered by an anti-abortion fanatic seven years ago. Recently Dr. Caddell returned to medical school for training in another medical specialty].
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*Translation provided by babelfish.altavista.com