Rant: Obama’s Shifting Message and the Pulse of the Country

[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.

[Metric System]

1. With his talk of unity...

I wondered just how he would unite Democrats and Republicans. A tough task to be sure. I wondered, would Republicans really embrace progressive ideas put forth by a President Obama? Now I guess I know the answer- they won't have to! He's pandering to the right and creating an army of Obamacans in the process. Ugh. You just know that the only way right-wingers will support Obama is if he makes concessions to them so I don't see how he could be a progressive President without angering his base, ie, Obamacans.

[sandnsea]

11. People support a social safety net

People support good public schools. They support cities that function. They support equal opportunity and an end to discrimination. Basicall people support what produces results and it's clear conservatism doesn't do that. If you get someone who doesn't talk in the frames of the 60's, you might get the people to rally around progressive ideas again.

[boston bean]

2. Honestly, I can't figure you out, who do you support? nt

[ChiciB1]

4. Oh, PLEASE Don't Tell Him/Her!! I Agree With You About Obama...

he's getting closer and closer to having an "R" behind his name. Or maybe it's an "Independent Democrat!"

[Yael]

5. Well, it certainly is a secret what with the JRE avatar and "why I support JRE"

post linked in my sig since like July.

:P

[BenDavid]

3. Now I look forward to January 2009. WHY? Well for one thing

Obama can have himself a great day on Monday, January 19th, 2009 but Hillary Rodham Clinton will have a greater day on January 20th, 2009.

[water]

6. To be honest...

Democrats will need to win moderate Republicans, libertarians, and centrists. Obama is probably the only candidate able to do that!

Yes, a President Obama won't be able to govern from the left (unless he wants to lose re-election and lose is "uniter" moniker), but he's the best chance we have to kick the Republicans out.

[Yael]

12. So you throw the base under the bus to focus your message on them?

I thought the point was to bring them around to our way of thinking, not reform a progressive party to be more conservative.

I must have gotten on the wrong train.

[avrdream]

7. You may be right with your rant.

There does appear to be subtle evidence coming out.

[THUNDER HANDS]

8. heaven forbid we try to get republicans and independents to vote for us

that's craaaaaaaaaaaazy talk. We can win if we just tailor our language to the people who are already committed to voting for us.

Remember, liberals are outnumbered in this country by conservatives 2-3, so those are good odds, right?

[Yael]

10. "liberals are outnumbered in this country by conservatives 2-3"

Really?

[THUNDER HANDS]

13. yes

when asked how they identify themselves - 50% of the people say they're moderate - 30% say conservative and 20% say liberal.

that has nothing to do with party affiliation.

[sandnsea]

9. Because they reject Republcans

and everything the Republicans have done. He criticizes triangulation and centrist appeasement. He is talking about uniting the country around a new path of social accountabilit to each other.

"Others pursue a more "centrist" approach, figuring that so long as they split the difference with the conservative leadership, they must be acting reasonably -- and failing to notice that with each passing year they are giving up more and more ground."