C-SPAN callers jam CPUSA switchboard

By Judith LeBlanc

This article was reprinted from the January 10, 1998 issue of the People's Weekly World. For subscription information see below. All rights reserved - may be used with PWW credits.

The first day of January is usually spent on reviewing New Years resolutions and football. This year hundreds of thousands also celebrated with the Communist Party via C- SPAN.

The cable public affairs network aired their videotape of the CPUSA's Dec. 21 annual holiday party at Winston Unity Center in New York three times on New Years Day. Hundreds decided to pick up the phone and get connected with the Party on the toll-free 800 number. They called from Maine, Montana, Hawaii, Texas and everywhere in between during and after the broadcasts.

Members of the national and New York district of the CPUSA and the People's Weekly World staff celebrated New Year's Day by answering the phones all night, only pausing for bacon and eggs at 4 a.m.

The phones were ringing off the hook within minutes of the broadcasts. One caller said, "I will watch the whole program, but I want information sent now."

Many of the hundreds who got through a jammed switchboard at the CPUSA's national office in New York City called to say, "Good to know the Communists are alive and well." They called to join the Party because, "The program on C-SPAN was very inspiring" or to ask, "How can I get a Communist Party in my town."

The holiday reception, itself, had attracted a standing- room crowd who feasted on home cooked food and delicious pastries. There was a visit by Santa Claus who greeted the throng and then disappeared upstairs to distribute gifts to scores of children.

The high point of the afternoon was a speech by CPUSA National Chairman Gus Hall. Hall offered a class struggle vantage point on current events and presented awards for the past year's great working class victories as well as awards for the lowest, worst and most dastardly acts of the corporate world. Few corporate crimes were spared and awards for excellence were given to labor and people's leaders.

This year Hall's speech stirred up an unusually large outpouring of questions and tapped into the urgent desire among the American people for basic change, for socialism.

A war veteran from New York said, "Me and my buddies don't like what's going on in this country." Another caller from Florida said, "In Miami, when you have a different opinion, they call you a Communist. I saw the show and I guess I am."

From Arkansas, a caller responded to Hall's comments on the need for Black-white-Brown unity with, "White and Black built this country together."

Some callers knew a little something about history and the Communist Party. They said, "Sure am glad to see Gus Hall out there still fighting! One viewer said, "Gus is my cup of tea. We need him."

Some said, "I didn't know you all still existed. Send me information about joining." Another said, "I believe in socialism. How can I join?"

The calls mirrored today's United States, troubled by the crisis of a system that cannot meet the needs off its people, economically, politically or spiritually. A laid- off painter troubled by the ultra-right's agitation on "reverse discrimination" called to talk out his questions about the Party's strong support for affirmative action. A young fast food worker called saying, "I feel I have no future."

Many called to talk about questions they've had for some time: "I just wanted to find out what's really been going on since the [Berlin] Wall came down?" one said. Another, from the Midwest, was interested in Communist candidates in the elections and what the Party will be doing in the new millennium?

But most of the callers asked the practical questions which present the biggest challenge to the Communist Party: "Do you have meetings in my area? How can I get involved now? What do you have going on?"

The media are also calling in for interviews because they, too, "channel surfed" on New Year's.

The calls continue to pour in. Packets of material are being sent out, plans for a new member monthly newsletter are being made. Life will never be the same for the Communist Party because the hundreds who have called are a reflection of the thinking of the vast majority who believe capitalism isn't working. They believe the Communist Party can offer a way out of the crisis.

Indeed for everyone that calls, thousands haven't but are still thinking about what they heard on C-SPAN. Over and over viewers said," Thanks for being on television."

As a caller from San Antonio said," It's raining here very hard. I'm looking out the window. This call to the Communist Party is making me see a rainbow now!"