The done deal: Can Obama shatter the tacit covenant of American politics?

[babylonsister]

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/14102

The done deal: Can Obama shatter the tacit covenant of American politics?
by Robert C. Koehler | April 17, 2008



If politics is the art of saying nothing, then Barack Obama is sure blowing it, isn't he?

His latest "gaffe," to proclaim at a private fundraiser in San Francisco (of all places) that small-town Americans are bitter and cling to guns and God in lieu of financial security -- these words purveyed to the American public by way of a scratchy, Osama-quality recording -- triggered such heartfelt hypocrisy from his opponents.

"It is hard to imagine," said John McCain, "someone running for president who is more out of touch with average Americans."

I almost agree with this. Obama is definitely out of touch with something. However, it isn't "average Americans" -- who, it turns out, really are bitter in large numbers -- so much as what I would call "the tacit covenant of presidential politics."

snip//

I know this much. He's not courting the "Reagan Democrats" in the manner of three decades of Democratic candidates, and in the manner of Hillary, by jettisoning the values of his party and trying to lure them back with pathetic Republican-lite verbiage that doesn't fool anyone.

My hope is that Obama continues to stand up to history and speak with impolitic courage -- on race, on economic justice, on war and peace -- where others have tried to wriggle off the hook. My hope is that he challenges the historically left-out and ignored to shed their bitterness and help him undo the done deal of American politics.
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[rwheeler31]

1. Exactly on point and we will help.

[monmouth]

2. Great article. Thanks for posting...n/t

[LSparkle]

3. Amen! "All I want is the truth; just gimme some truth" (J. Lennon)

[Cant trust em]

4. The crux of our political landscape is enclosed here

"While real Republicans can drift, unchecked, to the dark side of empire and neofascism, Democrats are supposed to campaign and govern as moderate, "responsible" Republicans."