Don't Slam Obama just Yet...he was Backed into a Corner

[Bullet1987]

Obama has said that if he becomes President, he'd repeal the Military-Commissions Act (another bill Dems caved on). Part of the problem running for President is to APPEAR in line with the Party even when you don't agree with them. The last thing Obama wants is to start creating divisions with Party Leaders...that's the realist point of view. Democrats have caved on another bill, and we have to hope that if Obama becomes President...he can repeal some of these things. That's the best case scenario right now. I know we don't like it...I HATE it with a passion...but it's reality.

How many of us didn't SERIOUSLY know Obama was going to move to the Center? I know I did. Even Bush had much more neocon policies than he ran on. He had to run to the center because no one seriously wants a Neo-conservative President (Bush wouldn't win SHIT in an election today).

[Solon]

1. Obama was already in the center during primary season, this is just him moving to the right...

whether he'll stay there after the election or not is the question.

[babylonsister]

3. He's a very smart man; I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. Did I ever

share this with you, from 2006?

http://obsidianwings.blogs.com/obsidian_wings/2006/10/barack_obama.html

[Solon]

4. I have yet to be surprised...

pleasantly or otherwise, and Obama seems to prove me right, unfortunately. As far as that blog post, its nice and all, but frankly nothing that's isn't already in the DLC or Moderate handbook. The only thing he hasn't done is that he hasn't demonized the left, yet, but I expect him to do that in a few weeks or so.

Frankly, I was always more interested in policy rather than personality, and Obama has proven, time and again, to be a typical moderate Democrat.

[babylonsister]

12. And you've proven yourself an idiot who has pre-conceived notions

that have nothing to do with reality. Read a bit, dear, and you would be shocked!

This is also pretty old, but if you care about the truth, you might read it. And BTW, that obsidian link rawks! I know you didn't read it; you never do. Your opinion is all that counts. Well, poof!

http://www.blackcommentator.com/48/48_cover.html

[Solon]

13. I remember when that happened, and I applaud Obama for doing it...

however, like I said, its his policies that he's similar to them on, just because he's not a member of the organization isn't proof that he's not a Moderate Democrat, you can be one without being a DLCer.

I can provide examples from his own website, if you wish.

[dkf]

2. I hope he knows what he is doing.

I won't accept another unaccountable executive branch.

[anonymous171]

5. I knew he was going to run to the center as soon as he clinched the nomination.

But I just wish he hadn't done so with this bill. :(

[chimpymustgo]

24. This isn't "running to the center". This is collaborating with the fascists to eviscerate the

Constitution.

[Eric J in MN]

6. Obama should oppose the bill, and the party can get in line with him...

...if consistency between nominee and party is so important.

[bjobotts]

7. Makes me wonder about NAFTA and why he has "Chicago Boys" economic advisers

[bjobotts]

9. Or why he backs Bush enabler (dems are cut and run)John Barrow over progressive

primary challenger Regina Thomas state senator from Georgia. Mind boggling. But I believe my lying eyes and take the "promises" with great suspicion.
Standing up for the rule of law and our constitution is not a political calculation...it's the right thing to do.

[nsd]

8. I'm willing to follow Obama's lead on this.

Over the last several months, we've learned a lot about Obama. I admire his intellect, I respect his judgment, and I trust that his heart is in the right place. If Obama has decided that backing the FISA bill (with or without immunity) is necessary in this political climate, I for one am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

It's easy -- as an anonymous poster on the Internet -- to voice your ideological purity and express your outrage (we must defend the Constitution!) about anything and everything. But the real world isn't so black-and-white. Obama is navigating not the Internet but the real world of politics. He's doing what he needs to do to win this election. That's fine by me. We need him to win.

[bjobotts]

10. Don't believe your lying eyes or 129 dems against then. especially Kucinich.

[nsd]

11. Fine, I won't.

I admire Kucinich's character very much, but I'm more doubtful about his judgment. He could never be elected president.

ETA:
None of the 129 Democrats who voted "no" is running in a national election. The vast majority have safe seats, often in Democratic-leaning districts. They can afford to take an uncompromising stand.

Obama could too -- if he were running for reelection to his Senate seat. But he's not. He's running for president. He's trying to become the next "commander-in-chief". To do that, he has to convince independents, conservative Democrats, and disaffected Republicans in places like Ohio and Virginia and Colorado that he's tough enough to be trusted with national security. The political climate he's dealing with is much different than for those 129 House Democrats.

[Benhurst]

17. Yeah, who needs a silly old Constitution or the Bill of Rights when

there is a big-hearted man in the White House?

The Leader will know what's best for us all.

:sarcasm:

Obama hasn't voted yet, just issued a rather ambiguous statement. Surely he won't turn his back on the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

We're in big enough trouble with Pelosi & company deserting the Constitution once again. There is no reason to assume Obama will do the same.

[Skip Intro]

14. Please. If he is for change, then he should stand up and be counted as such. Excuses are bullshit

Seen it so many times before...

[depakid]

15. Obama's record speaks for itself

Most of us know the lesser of two evils, though my guess is that many who make excuses are coming to terms with the fact that what one wants- what one wished for isn't nearly what one's going to get when policy time comes round.

It'd have been nice to have a bit more debate and representation at the convention, eh?

[FrenchieCat]

16. Notice all of the Obama haters coming back out in their Glee

Amazing how that works.

Folks who have yet to voice support for the Democratic Nominee, come in to throw their jabs.

[Maureen1322]

20. He's wrong on FISA. I feel no glee.

[davidpdx]

22. Too True Frenchie

[FourPieRun]

18. if he actually becomes president he will have to *stay* in the center if he wants to get re-elected,

which of course he will. anybody who seriously thought that obama was going to be some radical 'change agent' does not know how politics and the real world work.

[dempartisan23]

19. we cant win by being as far left as possible

personally, i wish obama had agreed to drilling for oil as an issue to move to the center rather than FISA or this act. either way, obama has to do more than just make us happy to win and we need to understand that.

[HereSince1628]

21. But, a president can't repeal a bill by himself can he?

A president can sometimes strangle enforcement of a law by preventing the flow of administrative resources needed to support it. We've watched the Cheney administration do that a lot with environmental and safety laws and regulatory rules.

Repealing a law requires another bill suppressing the first be passed into law.

What is going to change the minds of Dems in Congress to reverse their votes? What makes everyone willing to believe that an Obama presidency will have congress-critters eagerly notching more flip-flops into their voting records?

Trust me folks, the skys will not part, there will not be a voice from Heavan declaring that all civil rights stealing bills passed in the stampede to "security" are repealled. The FISA vote was a mistake and we are gonna struggle to get out from under it.

[barack the house]

23. He'd be smarter to search these stories underobama too.