We Need a Progressive Primary Challenge

[NorthCarolina]

By Robert Anschuetz
OpEdNews

We Need a Progressive Primary Challenge to Obama in 2012!

In the crucial debt-ceiling negotiations just completed, President Obama has once again displayed a seemingly instinctual preference for political compromise over a vigorous, even if unprevailing, defense of progressive principle. Given that demonstrated predilection, it seems progressives now have little to regret and possibly something to gain in backing a primary challenge to the President in 2012. I recognize that such a candidacy has little to no chance of producing the Democratic nominee, nor even to push the inherently cautious Obama further to the political left. As I hope to explain, however, it could well contribute effectively to a national consciousness-raising about what it is political progressives stand for.

The need for such an educational mission hit home with me earlier this year, when I happened to catch a panel discussion on C-SPAN's "Book TV" about the impact of "extremist views" on the American political discourse. Unsurprisingly, the panelists -- who included both self-acknowledged liberals and conservatives -- agreed that extremist views, though protected by the First Amendment, are by their nature beyond the pale and both hinder and distort the development of rational policy. What did surprise me, however, was the panelists' facile, and unanimous, assumption that what they called "extremism" in America exists on both the left and right wings of the political spectrum. For them, apparently, Noam Chomsky, the late Howard Zinn, or even Dennis Kucinich are as irrational as right-wing radio hosts, and the influence of each is equally to be regretted.

It was precisely this assumption -- shared by putative political experts -- that set me on a course that has brought me now to support a progressive primary challenge to Obama.

<snip>

Link: http://www.opednews.com/a/137858?show=votes#allcomments

OK, I know...yes it's another one of "those" articles (cue the eye rolling from our GD: P crew), but this is quite a profound piece, well worth reading whether you agree OR disagree. Put your predispositions to the title aside, and follow the link.

[WhiteTara]

1. No, we don't. We need to start working INSIDE

the party. Standing on the outside throwing stones won't do a damn thing! Get involved.

[FLAprogressive]

3. Isn't a primary challenge, by definition, working inside the party? A third party campaign would be

working outside the party.

[txlibdem]

11. +1, a primary challenge would FOCUS Obama's attention on who elected him

In other words, Mr. President, start governing the same way you campaigned -- as a strong Democrat, not the Capitulator-in-Chief.

If Obama loses even a few percent of the Progressives and just a single percentage point of Independents it could cost him the election in November. He is in danger of losing one heck of a lot more than just a few percent if he doesn't grow a spine and doesn't quit giving the Republicans 98% of what they wanted as he has lately.

Primary challenge is 100% needed. I can only hope that it will turn President Obama back into Campaign Obama before he leaves office.

[banned from Kos]

12. He would ignore the challenger completely

And only a weakling non-serious challenger would even try - like a Kucinich.

[WhiteTara]

14. You would be in such a minority (22%) who

want a challenge. Sounds like it is working against the party from within. Sort of the Koch Bros did in the 90s with the DLC

[brooklynite]

2. It's not insightful...it's lazy

Becuase neither the author, nor anyone here is going to actually undertake any of the hard work to find a candidate, convince him or her to run, raise the money, get on the ballot etc. White Knights only appear in Fairy Tales...

[Blue_Tires]

13. and that's the bottom line...

[RC]

4. +1000 Right on!

The farther to the Right this country goes the faster it circles the drain. Negotiating with the Party of NO! is fruitless when their primary acknowledged goal is to bring the Obama Presidency down. To make Obama a failure, even if it means destroying the country in the process. And yet Obama does not seem to learn as he continues to compromise with the self-appointed enemy of the United States, the Right Wing Republicans.

[OHdem10]

5. I agree with you in theory but we have a more serious problem.

The Centrist(DLC, Third Way, Blue Dogs) run the party.
In reality they only differ in Degree from the Republican
Party. It is hard to say "We believe as the Republicans
but we will be kinder and gentler."

Progessive/Liberal voices have not been allowed and certainly
no Liberal approach was ever allowed until we finally
got MSNBC.

How much influence can Noam Chomsky really have. I do
not believe he has been seen on MSM since the 60s???
Yes, he is influential with some on the left but they
must make an effort to see and hear him.

When I say MSM I mean the 3 broadcast networks and
cable television.

You see we have serious problem with a divided party.
I fear this will eventually be the demise of the Democratic
Party. Only one part alwwys rules.

[RKP5637]

6. +1, n/t

[NorthCarolina]

16. I agree with you in general, but I also believe the

power of the web as an organizing force is just starting to be realized, and that avenue will continue to grow and chip away at the MSM lock on the distribution of information.

[unblock]

7. no, for 2012, we need to support obama and fight for a more progressive congress and state leges.

after 2012, it's open season, and we can fight hard at the presidential level. if we're a strong force by 2016, that would be fantastic.

but challenging obama now will serve only to shorten his coattails, or worse, lead to a republican victory. it's a lose-lose proposition for progressive. there's just no way we're going to get a progressive president in 2012. we haven't built the foundation yet.

[MineralMan]

9. Yes. Exactly.

That's what I'll be doing over the next year. I hope that everyone does the same. If we do, we'll win. If we don't, the Republicans take over for what could be another decade. Seems pretty simple to me. Win in 2012 and fine-tune later. The alternative is unthinkable.

[MineralMan]

8. Then I suggest you find one and convince her to run.

So far, nobody has stepped up. Nobody who could possibly win wants to do it.

I think you'll have to come up with another strategy, really.

[Wait Wut]

10. No, we don't.

No argument is justification for weakening the chances of the Democratic Party retaining the Presidency.

Next.

[swilton]

15. I don't like the article's rationalization -

as if we need some three dimensional chess form of an explanation. The author's arguments are too timid and wishwashy.

we need a primary challenger because.....

Obama has failed to represent the 2008 Democratic Party's platform which represents core Democratic Party values.