You should be proud of being called the "most liberal" Senator

[557188]

Liberal in the American context anyways.

The fact that Obama runs away from that label really pisses me off.

[NJSecularist]

1. So does Hillary.

The fact is that liberal is a dangerous term in politics right now. They need to appeal to the center in the GE.

We can thank Michael Dukakis for that, as honorable as he was.

[557188]

3. This isn't about Hillary

And Hillary didn't just say that shit in this debate.

[bluethruandthru]

2. It's time to be proud!

Someone needs to point out to Timmy that if you quizzed the people of the US about how they felt about specific issues...about 80 percent of the country is "librul".

[flor de jasmim]

4. Not when the term is so distorted -

He disagrees with the LABELS - and he stays away from them in general. It isn't that he rejects being liberal--he also does not demonize others, and he is fully aware that by accepting the label the demonizing begins.

[557188]

5. NO

Given the American context of the word, even if it is wrong, you should embrace it. As your fucking base I want to see someone embrace that term and not run from it.

If you want to run from it, since the term liberal is used wrong in America, call yourself a progressive. Don't pull the shit Obama just did.

[sandnsea]

6. He has liberal values

if he can get America to support them, what the hell difference does it make what they're called.

[K Gardner]

7. Perfect response after that stupid question: "So?"

[Thrill]

8. Because Repukes have successfully made it a dirty word

Face it. It has successfully beat Democrats for yrs

[557188]

10. So you run from it

Cowardly and the Republicans will use that against Obama.

Embrace your positions.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

16. "Embrace your positions!"

Who the fuck are you?

[557188]

21. Oh thats right he doesn't have any...

Obama would've won points with me if he gave another answer to that type of question.

Instead he may have lost my vote in the GE.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

24. Sounds like you had already made up your mind.

[557188]

26. Not really

A lot of shit Obama has said has made me very critical of voting for him in GE, if he got the nom, but this totally pushed me over the edge.

It shows a clear philosophical difference between where Obama wants to go and where I want to go.

[Thrill]

27. What did you want him to say? Yes I'm liberal?

Like I said. Thats an automatic lost

[LittleClarkie]

9. They always try to label our candidates as the most liberalest ever.

Maybe he wouldn't run away from it if it were true.

They based it on a year where he wouldn't have had as many votes because he's running for president.

Surely we have more liberal Senators.

[bluethruandthru]

11. I'll bet if Timmy had asked the same question

during a repuke debate and said "you have a more conservative voting record than John Boehner"....the candidate would be high fiving the audience!
That's how we've let Rove and the right wingers define who we are!

[557188]

13. Exactly!

[Forkboy]

12. I embrace it.

And being compared to Ted Kennedy is no bad thing.

[jackson_dem]

14. Obama is going to "transform" politics but runs from a label?

Reagan, who Obama cites as the last "transformative" president, never ran from being called a conservative. This year the rethugs were pissing all over each other trying to claim they were the most conservative.

[557188]

17. EXACTLY!

This is my main problem with Obama.

Obama basically proved he isn't running as a Democrat but for his own ego with that answer.

I don't think I can vote for someone like that in November.

[MariaS]

15. A small Newspaper

in Northern Wi had a column writen by a woman who refered to Obama as the most liberal senator in congress. This coming from a woman in a state with the greatest Liberal in the senate who I proudly claim as my senator, Russ Feingold.

[Ichingcarpenter]

18. I understood the psychology he used to answer that

and that is why I think he is unique.

He answered in a way that turned the question of liberal or
not to a meaningless discussion on doing what is right.

I did not get this at first on how he does things
but now I do and it is brilliant strategy.

[557188]

20. I will turn it around

Is a Republican voting for Obama good?

Because they'll still vote for Republican in local, congressional and senate races. Those races are more important than one single office.

I don't think its wise to encourage them to vote period.

[jackson_dem]

25. It is a good, albeit old, Democratic political tactic

It is not what one who claims he will "transform" politics and America would do. He would, well, transform the definition instead of running from it and doing what Kerry and a long line of Democrats have done since the 80's.

[NDambi]

19. I'm middle of the road..I liked his answer

[Orangepeel]

22. well, it also isn't true. He isn't more liberal than, say, Bernie Sanders the socialist

:shrug:

[557188]

23. Well duh

But you don't run from being called that. You turn it into a positive.