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President Obama’s reelection this month was seen by many as a victory against conservative forces as represented by the GOP’s Mitt Romney. But the US presidency has far greater repercussions both domestically and internationally than most of us generally think about. For example, the direction of the current fiscal talks depends upon how strong a stand Obama takes on one of the major issues that helped him win the election – promising to increase taxes on the rich – a position of mass popular appeal.

In the wake of talks on the so-called fiscal cliff breaking down this week, new reports suggest Obama may be willing to compromise on tax increases for the rich. Labor leaders who greatly helped Obama’s reelection, are fiercely lobbying the President against caving on the tax increases and ensuring that the social safety net is preserved.

Internationally, Obama’s reelection maintained moral and financial support for the State of Israel in its recent bombing campaign of Gaza. Obama and his administration, despite having spoken out against illegal Israeli settlements in the past, stood firm in their unwavering support for Israel’s right to bombard the Gaza strip.

International women’s rights and human rights activist Selma James, who is currently on tour in the US has much to say about President Obama’s reelection. James, whose recent book “Sex, Race and Class – The New Terms of Unity” lays out her historical political evolution on such varied topics as feminism, labor, welfare, and militarism, will be speaking in Los Angeles on Saturday December 1st. The event, from 11 am to 2 pm, is at The Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring Street in Los Angeles.

GUEST: Selma James is author of Sex, Race and Class – The New Terms of Unity. She is also founder of the International Wages for Housework Campaign and coordinator of the Global Women’s Strike.