The “circularity” of hope: The Nation endorses Barack Obama

[Joanne98]

In an editorial in its latest edition, dated February 25, the liberal magazine The Nation has given its endorsement to Senator Barack Obama in the contest for the Democratic presidential nomination.

The brief commentary makes no attempt to demonstrate that Obama’s political program represents a significant shift to the left by the Democratic Party, or even that he is more liberal than Hillary Clinton. Instead, the endorsement is based on the bare assertion that Obama has a better chance to win the presidential election and expand the Democratic majority in Congress.

The Nation editorial admits that Obama’s political record in the US Senate is anything but radical: “This magazine has been critical of the senator from Illinois for his closeness to Wall Street; his unwillingness to lay out an ambitious progressive agenda on healthcare, housing and other domestic policy issues; and for postpartisan rhetoric that seems to ignore the manifest failure of conservatism over these past seven years.”

This conventional right-wing orientation is offset, in the eyes of the magazine’s editors, by Obama’s exhibiting “a more humane and wise approach to foreign policy, opposing the Iraq War while Clinton voted for it...”

Even more important, The Nation says, is that Obama’s rhetoric about “unity ... embodies a savvy strategy to redefine the center of American politics and build a coalition by reaching out to independent and Republican voters disgruntled and disgusted with what the Bush era has wrought.” They conclude that the Obama campaign “represents the best chance to forge a new progressive majority.”
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/feb2008/obam-f15.shtml

[TexasObserver]

1. Katrina vanden Heuvel is one of my favorites at The Nation.

Now, more than ever.

[intaglio]

2. Just a little

:kick: and R

[Blue_In_AK]

3. Pragmatism seems to be the best reason

I can think of to support an Obama candidacy, which is what I think The Nation's endorsement is saying. I really don't see that much difference between the policy stances of the two candidates, but I do believe that Obama stands a better chance against McCain simply because of the perceptions and misperceptions of Hillary that have been around for all these years now. He is new, he is different, and the contrast of his youth, vitality and optimism against McCain's complete lack of those qualities couldn't be more stark.

[babylonsister]

4. Yay! I've been waiting to see who The Nation endorsed-thanks! Gobama! nt

[shenmue]

5. What unity? What coalition?

Whom has he approached? And what foreign policy has he even talked about?

His rhetoric about unity is just that. Ask him if he has changed his mind about how everyone has gay friends in the red states, now that Donnie McClurkin says he was rescued out of homosexuality by God. Ask him what his plan is on national health care, when Sen. Clinton has been advocating for it for over 15 years. Ask him why he's ignoring these issues. Ask him why his campaign has so little substance and why he offers so little experience.

I have two words for you college popularity-mongers:

Howard Dean.

[Orangepeel]

8. Howard Dean? What happened to Howard Dean shows the strength of Obama

I was sure that Obama would crash and burn in Iowa precisely because of what happened to Dean. Dean came in 3rd in Iowa despite what seemed to be widespread political support because it is damned hard to get new people involved in the political process. Young people don't vote. People who never voted in the past don't vote. That's the political targeting point of view that Kerry used to get a majority and it the political targeting that Clinton tried to use.

But Obama has shown that he CAN get young people and new people to the polls. Part of it is him and part of it is the times. But it is a rare, rare ability and I'm damn glad he seems to be able to do it.

[Laurab]

10. What a ridiculous post : "college popularity-mongers".

I find it insulting, actually. I'm 50, don't care about his popularity, and made my choice long ago - the old fashioned way - RESEARCH. I also researched "your girl". I'm VERY comfortable with choosing Obama. If you don't know his stands on issues, go to his website - or, watch the debates, or, read interviews, or listen to some speeches, and then you will. Actually, I know you won't, because you really don't care.

I would like to have a dem who can first of all, get elected, and secondly, get things done, and that person is NOT Hillary.

[AtomicKitten]

6. Yeah!! Another Obama endorsement for change.

[bunnies]

7. I could have sworn the Nation endorsed Obama weeks ago.

Man. Im confused.

[Blackdog4241]

9. Who cares....

The Nation is just like any other MSM rag.
They ignore the votes of their readers that voted overwhelmingly for Dennis Kucinich.
Gee,We'll wait until it looks like We have a possible winner before We endorse somebody.
Maybe if some of these rags endorsed Kucinich or Edwards a long time ago We might have a much different race.:mad:

[sloppyjoe25s]

11. “[Obama] represents the best chance to forge a new progressive majority.”

Bingo!

[Cha]

12. The money quote!

You got it!