FARMINGTON – The chairman of the Communist Party USA in a presentation at University of Maine at Farmington Wednesday criticized the Bush administration for steering the nation toward “perpetual war.”

Sam Webb, a native of Hallowell, was the guest speaker at UMF’s sixth annual symposium before a crowd of students and faculty.

Narrowly focusing on the United States involvement in Haiti, Venezuela and Cuba, Webb criticized President Bush.

“The president has led us to a crossroad,” said Webb.

“His direction is headed toward perpetual war and the stripping of the public sector, whereas the other direction is leading toward peace and economic security.”

Webb spoke about his affiliation with the Communist Party as well as its future goals and aspirations.

“Socialism is a better social system to address problems and concerns of the tens of millions of people across the world,” said Webb.

He went on to attack the growing health care problems, education reform, the “hyper-aggressive” foreign policy and United States involvement in Iraq. “We’re reaching a point of irreversibility and it seems that the current administration is so resistant to addressing all the crises in today’s society,” he said.

While not entirely choosing sides, Webb also pointed out that his party still has substantial differences with presidential hopeful John Kerry of Massachusetts.

“We’re trying to maximize the anti-Bush vote,” said Webb.

The Communist Party was founded in 1919 and Webb made a point of wiping away all past stereotypes of his party’s controversial history. “We’re trying to expand our views as a party,” he said.

Webb briefly touched on the war in Iraq, but still managed to speak on his belief that the current U.S. government is producing its own type of terrorism in the region. He said that the troops should be sent home and if anything, further U.S. involvement will produce fertile soil for terrorists.

Webb grew up in the 1960s in what he deemed a “cauldron of social activity.”

“The civil rights movement, Vietnam and women’s rights were all things that shaped how I thought,” said Webb. From an early age, he was involved with the Communist Party and even served as the state leader for Michigan. Currently, Webb resides in New York state, where he continues to play a vital role in the progression of the Communist Party.

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