Rant: Obama’s Shifting Message and the Pulse of the Country [View All]

[Yael]

In the last week from the media and the campaign, we have been blasted with a fundamental shift in Senator Obama’s message. Apparently, the key to his campaign is now what he refers to as “Obamacans”, shortened for “Obama Republicans”, again invoking St. Ronnie and the Reagan Democrats.

As a progressive liberal (and yes, I use that term with pride), this is very frustrating to me.

I see what is happening to this country and I see the pitfalls the neo-con administration is leaving us with (on their way to Dubai and Paraguay with the proceeds of the US Treasury in tow). I know that economies do not repair themselves from this kind of damage and that intervention is needed. I know I am not alone -- anyone who has been paying attention sees what is coming and KNOWS it is going to take more than a wing and a prayer to resolve it.

The rest of the country? Not so much, and this strong right turn the Senator is taking is a huge drink from the clue hose for me.

On the left, we are demanding drastic, FDR-style, New Deal-ish, demand-side changes. It is going to take a STRONG policy shift from today’s culture of predatory practices and the unfettered “free market” in order to reverse the supply-side-focused course Reaganomics and Bushonomics has put us on. Yet all of this is being met with a ho-hum reaction from Joe Sixpack who simply can’t be bothered with things he doesn’t have control over or fully understand.

What I am hearing from the Senator’s new message:

1. People are sick of the * Cabal and want them and their ilk out of power. Check.

2. He doesn’t need to worry about his ‘base’ as they will vote for a turnip if it has a (D) beside its name. Check.

3. The focus has since moved to the Independents and the moderate Republicans. Check.

4. The voice of “change” has been tailored to what these “Obamacans” want to hear. St. Ronnie is invoked and people are reassured that we can all hold hands, it will all “work out”, the “loony left” and “neocon right” will both be pushed out of the picture (too drastic and “fringe”) and middle America can go back to watching American Idol without a care in the world.

Add to frustrated -- I am saddened by this.

This unfortunately, is what it is going to take to win this election, thanks to our system of caucus’ viability and Media coronations pushing out the Bidens, Dodds, Edwards and Kucinich’s of the world – you know, those people who are and were willing to stand up and tell America not what she WANTS to hear, but what she NEEDS to hear.

Coming soon to a voting booth near you, we have Election 2008, aka The battle for the Independents and moderate Republicans, likely starring Senator Barack Obama vs Senator John McCain. Supporting roles will be played by Mr. and Mrs. America -- whose only line in the production will be, “which lemming line do we stand in for the cliff jumping contest”?

Unfortunately, they will be taking down all of us with them.