Obama's Way: Peacemaker

[illinoisprogressive]

Great op ed in Huffington Post making a case with obama as peacemaker and misunderstanding the man and the candidate

In a recent piece longtime activist Bill Fletcher Jr. contends that Sen. Obama "permits people to see and assume in him what they want to see and assume." He goes on to compare the Senator to a certain Star Trek creature, the kind that appears to the viewer as he wished to see it.

I see where Mr. Fletcher is coming from. Every time I've heard the Senator speak, or have read his work, there seems to be food for everyone. I read Dreams from My Father and The Audacity of Hope back-to-back, and I noticed a certain pattern emerge. He would take a tough subject, such as immigration (as he does in the "Race" chapter in The Audacity of Hope), and allow all parties to sit at the table. He states one case, tells us why they have a point, moves on to the next party, tells us why they have a point, until he gets all the way around the table, without taking a stand that excludes or shames anyone seated.

He does not say everybody is right. He lays out their arguments, giving validation in the process, so that hotheads can cool down and common ground can be sought.

He does not absent himself either; he interjects personal observations and anecdotes liberally. He lets you know that he's willing to walk in your shoes, and yeah, those shoes can be painful.

For those of us who feel passionately about one principle over the other, this can be maddening. We want someone to say that we're right and they're wrong. This may be soothing for the ego. But is this good for progress?

Sen. Obama's way is how conflict gets diffused and consensus gets built. Sen. Obama was clear to say this morning on This Week that he is not naïve to think that he's going to get the whole country to hold hands and sing Kumbaya. Instead, these are the skills he needs if and when he brings warring DC parties to the table -- a table that, as things stand now, is practically burnt to the ground.

I would argue that Sen. Obama's desire to damp-down difference is part of the peacemaker's way. The leader who brings adversaries to the negotiation table is smart to validate points of each argument, to give confidence that she or he knows opposing concerns are legitimate and worthy of discussion. The leader instills confidence that everyone will get a fair hearing. We've had six years of my-way-or-the-highway. A strong peacemaker stands the best chance of creating progress at home and salvaging what's left of our good name abroad.

Yet, we demand a president to be someone who will say "I am this, and I am not that." We demand the candidate to differentiate himself or herself deeply, to cut connections from others so there is little ambiguity, so that the candidate goes from being a complex individual to an icon we can hang on the wall.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stacy-parker-aab/obamas-way_b_48373.html

[FrenchieCat]

1. I watched Obama this morning on Stephonopoulous and was impressed!

Obama really did a superb job IMO.

[TwilightGardener]

2. He was on his game for that interview--I was very pleased.

[Colobo]

3. Hopefully, he'll kick ass on the next debate.

He needs to bring his A game.

[TwilightGardener]

7. I think he'll be ready. The first is a warm-up, the second one should

be easier.

[illinoisprogressive]

4. Actually, the people polled for Obama on the debate. The pundits floated the myth of Hillary

winning when she was thought to be the most robotic and unauthentic.
the pundits are pushing Hillary and trying to put up the strawman that obama is too young.
He is 45. 3 presidents were younger when they ran and won.

[Colobo]

5. He needs to look impressive enough

To make pundits say: "He did well." :)

[Ethelk2044]

6. Hopefully

he will do well. This is a great write up on him.

[rufus dog]

8. didn't see him this morning

I have to admit I am heavily leaning toward him and thought he did well in the first debate. A couple of weak answers but that didn't bother me.

My take on Edwards is that he is the Romney of the Dems, slick and will take whatever position is politically beneficial at the time. IMO Hillary will never be able to unite the Country.

I agree with the point of seeing what we want to see. There is a bit of faith and transference that I personally afford Obama.

Anyway this Country is in serious need of healing and guidance. I am the anti Obama in manner and maybe that is why I appreciate his style. Rather than my in your face, how could you be so fucking stupid style, he builds consensus.

As an experiment I signed up for the Hannity.com discussion forums and have trying to engage the hardcore righties into discussion. So far the Obama style is working, I just respond to their name calling with attempts at open dialogue. No converts yet, and I don't expect any, but the style is three for three in letting them rant, providing alternate viewpoints followed by them going away. That to me is a victory, if they just shut the fuck up that is a win.

p.s. No one over there has called me a "Libtard" which is bumming me out.

[Adelante]

10. Welcome to DU, rufus dog!!

:hi:

[Voltaire99]

9. It's called standing for nothing and splitting all differences.

Triangulation, by any other name. Always impressive to those without principles and extremely useful to the corporate money that is flooding into Obama's campaign: they know a pol for sale when they see one.

[Ethelk2044]

11. Your comment is anything but the truth

That is the very reason why he refuses to take money from lobbyist like other candidates.

[CTLawGuy]

14. wrong

triangulation is a cynical process whereby a politician mechanically plants himself in the middle of two sides.

What Obama is about is diplomacy and acknowledging that the other side, while he believes they are wrong, has a legitimate position.

This is not the same as Lieberman's "bipartisanship" which is basically agreeing with whatever the other side believes.

[Laurab]

12. I agree with the author - amazingly enough, I was talking

to a RW friend, who is a long-time friend. I actually stopped talking to her for a couple of years, and then we decided to talk, but never about politics. She's really the only Right Winger I know well, and she basically makes her choices based on what her husband thinks.

So, we're talking, and somehow we get on the subject of the Republic candidates, none of whom she likes. She hates Rudy, hates McCain, and Romney she really doesn't think much of, either. She also hates Hillary and Edwards. I started talking about Obama - I've read both his books, and told her some of what's in the OP, and she was VERY interested, and said she had to tell her husband about it. She had not one bad thing to say about Obama, and in fact, it appears that he was the only one they actually liked. I was shocked, really. It was the only time we'd ever talked politics that didn't end up in an argument.

I believe she and her husband associate with other right wingers, and that this must be a common feeling - I don't know for sure, I'm just guessing, but if he can pick up their vote, that says a LOT to me.

The poster who accused him of pandering or being "bought" obviously hasn't read his books, and probably didn't read the article in the OP, either.

Basically, Obama seems to be like Bill Clinton was - he surrounds himself with smart people, listens to all sides of an issue, and makes his decisions thoughtfully and intelligently. He welcomes the input of others, and that is something sorely missing from the current administration. He may be what this country needs. Time will tell, but I think he has the crossover appeal to win the general, and some realistic ideas about repairing our country.

[FrenchieCat]

13. You made a key statement, and I want to elaborate further......

you stated, "Basically, Obama seems to be like Bill Clinton was - he surrounds himself with smart people, listens to all sides of an issue, and makes his decisions thoughtfully and intelligently."

But further, he, Obama, is as intelligent as Bill Clinton was. He weights the issue at hand and appears to make judgement calls that are sound in nature and in construct. A very important quality required by a POTUS, IMO.

[Tellurian]

15. Obama is bombing big on msnbc..

The consensus is he's picking on US Automakers holding them up to scrutiny and demanding the government mandate fuel efficiency. When he should be picking the right issues Americans want to hear about. Solutions...He long on telling us what we need and should do but short on recommending alternative solution to the problems.

His lack of experience is showing dramatically- It will no doubt be reflected in the polls.

[Bullet1987]

Who cares about MSNBC!!!

Laurab: You hit the nail on the head. Obama attracts crossover and independents votes....that's one of the positives he has. Something Hillary won't do (no Repug is ever going to think twice about voting for her). This is why the recent polling is lopsided, and he does so much better in General Election polls. Most of these polls are only counting Dems and not independents and Republicans.

[Tellurian]

17. The first race IS the Primary..

If he doesn't win there, he's OUT!

If she doesn't win it there, same for Hillary-

[Egnever]

19. thats true

Of course look at what happened in the last primary. The concensus till the end was a Dean victory according to the polls but in the end it was kerry who won the election based largley on the belief he had the best chance to win in the general.

I wouldnt get too confident based on polls this far out theres a lot of race left and things can change rapidly.

[Tellurian]

24. Out of the two..I liked Dean.. afterward supported the Dem nominee..

Dean was inexperienced as well. He had the heart but not the savvy to play the game well enough to stave off the dirty tricks. And that is what ruined his chances. Republican dirty tricks. They sneak up on you like a thief in the night. They handed him another microphone that didn't modulate his voice from a scream over the madding crowd. They have special microphones that will block out background noise and modulate the speaker's voice to a normal tone. Of course, it was done on purpose. They then labeled him a "Wild Eyed Liberal" remember?
It was his death nell- They frightened everyone away from supporting him..when Dean failed people turned to Kerry..they got him too with the Swifty attacks..It's a dangerous game. And people think it's done with heart and words..It's way more than that, as we'll see what they try to pull in this next cycle and on whom. For every problem there is a remedy. Only problem is, it has to be swift and effective to neutralize the attack successfully.

[elizm]

16. As more and more people hear Obama...

...And 'listen' to him, more and more people will turn to him. I have seen it happen from personal experience right here where I live. It is going to be an uphill battle, but I see the greatness in him...and I am confident others will too. I am ignoring the critics who are grasping at whatever they can find to try to shoot him down. Obama will rise above it all....I am quite confident! :)

[Tellurian]

18. If you want to believe in him, thats fine..

Jack Kennedy had 14 yrs in the Senate before he ran. They've compared Obama's intelligence to Bill Clinton. The difference is BC is handling Hillary's campaign because he has first hand expertise in campaign strategies and enough background to know what issues are important to the American people. I believe Obama has bitten off way more than he can comfortably chew. He won his last two election by default. He's never experienced the complex magnitude of running a campaign for president, never even worked in a presidential campaign.. He's making foolish errors unheard of in a presidential run. The whole point is, he's lacking command of the facts because he hasn't the time to make up the years it takes for familiarity with all aspects in politics. I guess, we can all wait to see how he fares in the June debate.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/novak/382813,CST-EDT-novak13.article

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18564159/

[Egnever]

20. wow you are quite the Obama stalker arent you?

Good work!

[Tellurian]

21. Really, provide the proof.

[elizm]

25. It doesn't take long to figure that out...

I just ignore.

[Ethelk2044]

22. Obama is doing

Just fine. If Clinton was running such a good campaign. They would not be taking lessons from Obama and trying to go after the average citizens instead of big corporations. They were shocked that he raised so much money they started copying his campaign to try to bring in more money. They thought they were going to raise more money than him by a large amount. They were fooled and had to change they way they were handling her campaign strategy to try to catch up with him. If she is the front runner why does she have to use Bill. She can not run by herself she can not get votes on her own. Everyone knows that. She has to try to use Bill to pull out the votes. She is using him very early. It just shows you she can not make it on her own.

[Tellurian]

23. What was a month or two ago is all over..politics are a funny animal..

There are plenty of investors in the beginning. It's a gamble like a horse race to predict the winner. So they watch and wait and speculate who will surface as the strongest candidate. In the beginning they backed Obama and Hillary almost equally. The defection from one candidate to another will be obvious from their campaign totals this next quarter. That will be the first indication of the falling away of support.

The way I see it, Obama has one more chance to pull himself up..If he aces the next debate, he will make up some lost ground and again be on even ground with the front runner, Hillary. But then it starts all over again...any mistakes or wrong moves count as demeriting points as reflected in their campaign contributions. It's a long hard grind for another year. Time will tell if OBama is up for the test. I know one thing for sure--Hillary is prepared, fully prepared. With her husband by her side, he won't allow her to falter. Like it or not, Bill Clinton is one of the best campaign strategists in the World...and Hillary has proven she can stand on her own as she did in the debate and produce stellar results. That is exactly what they were waiting to see..and why her poll are continuously rising. Believe me, ethel, I don't want to diss Obama or tear him down, he's better than that. He's just not ready for prime time is all!

[Ethelk2044]

26. Obama

Does not have to pull himself up. Obama answered the questions well. The media tried to Slant his answer. However, it is not working. She has again turned to bill by using him on the web in a video. It is not two months ago. It is yesterday. She is in trouble with the voters and they know it. That is why they are using him early to try to put a band aid on the hurt. They have more competition than what they counted on. They thought it was going to be a land slide victory. It is not.