Why Would Any True Progressive Still Support President Obama?

[GoLeft TV]

Ring of Fire’s Mike Papantonio and Sam Seder discuss how President Obama has apparently abandoned so many progressive principles to become a pure corporatist.

[Merryland]

1. His endorsement of Wasserman-Schultz to me was a pathetic FU to progressiveism

He didn't need to do that, but he did.

[1StrongBlackMan]

2. I'm pretty sure "True Progressives"don't ...

but, would offer, a Progressive that lives in, and understands, the messy, messy real world, might.

[JoePhilly]

4. + 1

[tk2kewl]

5. "progressivism" has been divorced from economic justice

Obama's endorsement of DWS proves it

[1StrongBlackMan]

6. Funny ... progressivism (as reflected on DU) is ONLY about economic justice ...

and from my view, it isn't even about economic justice, so much as taking from the wealthy to put more money in the pockets of the almost wealthy, with a few sprinkles for the nowhere near wealthy.

[tk2kewl]

7. how do you explain endorsing someone who's on the side of payday lenders?

[1StrongBlackMan]

13. That does not require explanation (from me), since that is an economic issue.

[dogman]

8. How about social justice?

The death penalty, the war on drugs, limits to choice?

[1StrongBlackMan]

14. Lip service, in my view ... Far behind the battle against the "oligarchs, et al."

[dogman]

18. What a dim view.

But it's yours.

[1StrongBlackMan]

19. I call it like I see it (as represented on DU, these days).

[LonePirate]

12. You are certainly correct about DU defining progressivism only in economic terms.

I said yesterday that Bernie was not a true progressive because of his comparatively weak stance on gun control. My comment was not warmly received.

[1StrongBlackMan]

16. I'll bet ...

your first mistake was attempting to suggest that Sanders is a less than perfect progressive.

[dogman]

20. Probably because it's not true.

The NRA sees it as D- compared to F. Comparatively close.

[LonePirate]

26. Except it is true. He is to the right of Clinton on guns who is to the right of O'Malley.

That D- grade means he supports something the NRA supports otherwise he would have received an F like Clinton did. He certainly doesn't champion the progressive European or Australian views on gun control. There is no way Sanders is a progressive on gun issues and I say that as someone who voted for him. He is a centrist on gun issues.

[dogman]

29. That is what I wrote.

My point being that D- to F is comparatively close. If he were a centrist he would have a C rating. D- is closer to F than C. They are one issue apart, that is the liability of manufacturers for weapon use beyond their control. The point being that if the manufacturers were liable for the use of weapons beyond their control, they would have to close. While that might be attractive to some, it does not represent the wishes of his constituency in Vermont.

[LonePirate]

30. So it's OK for a politician not to be progressive if their constituents don't support it?

I was unaware that cafeteria progressivism even existed.

[dogman]

36. 1 issue that doesn't meet your standard.

Do you agree with the death penalty? do you agree with the war on drugs? do you agree with limited choice? do you agree with corporate welfare? Combine those as opposed to limited liability for gun manufacturers. It looks like they have a lot more choices in her cafeteria.

[LonePirate]

37. Ah, so there's a required number of issues that determines if someone is a progressive?

Do you have that number or know who decides what the number is?

[dogman]

38. No, but math tells me what more and less is.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. I was awfully disappointed when he endorsed DWS.

That came across as a huge kick in the pants aimed at progressives. The thing is, he really didn't have to endorse her at all since it's a primary election. But he did. Why? I'm really steamed.

[redstateblues]

9. "True" progressives=The Purity Party

[katmondoo]

10. Who is or was a true progressive?

[1StrongBlackMan]

17. LOL ...

Who is or was a true progressive?

Anyone that agrees with me with respect to policy approach and priorities.

But since this is primary season ... anyone the supports Bernie and/or demonizes HRC, DWS, and the DNC.

{I'll get around to further culling of those that are insufficiently in agreement with me ... after the primaries.}

[Fuddnik]

11. He's right.

Obama doesn't and never has given a shit about us.

Google his speech at Robert Rubins Hamilton Project when he was a Senator. "Make no mistake, I AM a New Democrat".

Corporate toadies. The lot of them.

Republicans used social wedge issues to divide the country, Democrats use them to divide the party, and put on a progressive facade.

[BumRushDaShow]

15. Oooooo. Obama bashing season again!

Whoo hoo!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

21. I've stuck up for Obama over and over

but this move deserves bashing. Sorry if that offends you.

[BumRushDaShow]

27. His entire time in office

has been a major DU bash-fest, with dozens of fictional scenarios concocted about what he would do that over and over again, were proven wrong.

Sorry if I don't go for that Clint Eastwood universe that too many on DU live in.

[liberalnarb]

22. I still support President Obama because he created the Healthcare system that may save my life

one day.

[Nitram]

23. "Pure corporatist?" What total BS.

Obama accomplished so much more than anyone expected he could under the circumstances. But are ya'll happy? No. Throw him under the bus because he didn't wave a magic Bernie wand and make everything perfect. We need more progressives in Reality Land.

[Maedhros]

24. Because DoubleThink? [n/t]

[The Polack MSgt]

25. So, anyone know where

I might find a Democratic forum I could read?

TIA

[zeemike]

28. Jury results.

EASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

I understand this is a post by a news source not a single DUer, but this has no place here.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Thu Mar 31, 2016, 12:07 PM, and the Jury voted 1-6 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: Can we have one day without the purity council proclaiming regular Democrats to be evil Republican tools?
No? Hide this crap anyway
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: I strongly disagree with this post but it is expressed civilly and is a fairly common point of view here. When I asked a couple of days ago who would have supported Bernie if he had primaried Obama in 2012, many DUers said they would have. The fact is that DU is well to the left of the Democratic party in general; Hillary's policies are similar to Obama's and she is routinely labeled "not progressive" and a "corporatist" here. If all such posts got hidden there wouldn't be much left.
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: If you think censoring decent makes this a better place you are mistaken. It makes us look like a cult.
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Here. have a Kleenex.
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: It's OK to criticize our dear leader.

[21st Century Poet]

32. I can't believe someone alerted this.

I disagree with what the video says but I cannot believe that someone found it rude or offensive. People's predilection to alerting comments and posts makes it hard to have proper conversations in here sometimes. Some people get offended way too easily.

[mountain grammy]

34. True!

[21st Century Poet]

31. Obama's job is to be President not to be a True Progressive

If True Progressives wanted a more progressive nominee than Mr Garland, they should have voted for a Senate majority which is Truly Progressive. The President's job according to the constitution is to nominate someone who is acceptable to the Senate. A Democrat President and a Republican Senate majority will get you centre-left Supreme Court nominees. It's not the president's fault if True Progressives are a minority or if they are too lazy or indifferent to vote. A Senate majority which is Truly Progressive would have got you a Supreme Court nominee who is Truly Progressive. President Obama is doing his job according to the Constitution. Don't try to shift the 'blame' from the voters to the President. The President is just doing his job and his job requires his choices to reflect how the people voted. Vote for a Truly Progressive Senate next time and you will get Truly Progressive Supreme Court nominees.

[MisterP]

39. Obama's DNC head lost 11 Governors, 13 Senators, 69 Reps, 913 state seats, and left the party

with 26% of the electorate

[iandhr]

33. What has Obama done for us Monty Python style.

These "Progressives" are stupid.

[TIME TO PANIC]

35. Give em' hell Pap!

Obama is center-right; he said so himself.

Anyone who's fine with this is right-wing.