Thomas was a six-time Presidential candidate representing the Socialist Party.

     "The American people will never knowingly adopt Socialism.  But under the name of Liberalism, they will adopt every fragment of the  Socialist Program, until one day, America will be a Socialist nation, without knowing how it happened.  I no longer need to run for the Socialist Party of America, the Democrat Party has adopted our platform."  

Norman Thomas was the modern day predecessor to Saul David Alinsky who ultimately became a committed Communist. Alinsky eventually wrote two books "Rules For Radicals" and "Reveille For Radicals"" These books became the guiding light for today's Democratic Party. In fact, one cannot fully comprehend the Democratic philosophy without considering Rules for Radicals.  The Alinsky  book produced such Democratic Party radicals as Bill Ayers and Barrack Hussein Obama, and Hillary Rodham Clinton. Hillary's college thesis was based upon Alinsky's work. Perhaps we should have paid closer attention.