Why the Left Doesn't "Get" Obama (Huffington Post)

[NYCGirl]

MUCH MORE AT LINK


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-clothier/why-the-left-doesnt-get-o_b_111704.html


We progressives need to get our left and right brains working together, and to do this means first recognizing the conflict, which amounts to a significant "left brain" misunderstanding about what Obama stands for.

Obama believes it is less important to defeat Republicans on every issue than to repair government so that good ideas can begin to flourish again.

Obama is no Kucinich, no Ralph Nader, no Michael Moore, and has never tried to be.

Through his flexibility on FISA and his nuanced positions on gun control and capital punishment, Obama is gaining credibility with the right. Instead of yelling at them, he is uncovering areas of genuine common ground. This is Obama's way forward, and it's the kind of politics he has been championing from the beginning -- the kind of politics, let's remember, that had us all deliriously chanting, "Yes, we can!"

And Obama believes it is the kind of politics that will finally lead to real movement on the root causes of so many of our challenges: jobs, health care, education, social security.

To put it more concretely, Obama's hard-line stance on the 2nd amendment might lead to a softening of his relationship to the right, and that new relationship is what will lead Republican lawmakers to begin to lay down their arms in certain cases. Ultimately, Obama's willingness to upset progressives on some of their pet issues may be what allows progress on the larger goals on which virtually all progressives can agree. Would you soften your stance on gun control, in exchange for more economic opportunity in inner cities, that in turn greatly reduces the incidence of gun violence? I certainly would.

The biggest question mark about Obama has been: is his candidacy about more than words? At this juncture in the campaign he is making those words come to life, and he is being hit for it from the left.

[grasswire]

1. similar to Bill Clinton, then?

Is that the idea?

[wyldwolf]

27. Classic third way - interesting to see HuffPo endorse it.

[Zenmaster]

2. I Don't know why anybody ever thought any differently.

"most liberal Democrat in the senate" is a GOP meme, no serious Obama supporter should have ever believed he was running on anything other than changing the way government is run and reaching out across party lines.

That's why he was so strong with Independant, and crossover, voters during the Primary.

[Triana]

18. Exactly - I think people projected a lot of their own stuff onto Obama which...

...has little to do with his actual policies and attitudes - both progressives and Repigs. He is no Kucinich - but then, I never expected him to be.

[GoldieAZ49]

35. Which is EXACTLY what he wanted them to do

From the Audacity of Hope:

"I am new enough on the national political scene that I serve as a blank screen on which people of vastly different political stripes project their own views. As such, I am bound to disappoint some, if not all, of them." (p. 11)

http://www.time.com/time/2007/candidates_books/obama/

[Triana]

39. and he said he'd disappoint .... did anyone read that?

I did. I've mentioned it here before. I've heard him say it, I believe, or maybe I just read it. But I didn't plaster all my hopes and dreams about President Perfect on him to start with.

What I'm saying is - isn't the problem as much with people's PERCEPTIONS (projections) of Obama - as it is with Obama himself?

[hfojvt]

3. I don't get it

It sounds like triangulating to me. This is gonna move Republicans to the left? How did that work for us in the 1990s?

Something that will move Republicans to the left - a massive, overwhelming defeat at the polls at all levels.

Quoth the Picard - "make it so"

[Zenmaster]

6. The 90's worked out pretty well for us.

Assuming you want a Democrat in the White House

[hfojvt]

20. I would prefer a Democrat who moved the country in the right direction

instead of pushing for NAFTA, and welfare 'reform' and tax cuts for the rich. You know, basically all the reasons I opposed Clinton this time.

[Zenmaster]

22. Don't worry. John McCain is that Democrat.

The Primary is over. Barack Obama is the Democrat, period.

If you wanted a left-winger, you should have voted for Kunnich in the primary. You shouldn't be now trying to force Obama into a shell that he never claimed to fit into.

This issue isn't only about what the left wing "doesn't understand about Obama", its perhaps what they don't understand about the Democratic party. The most liberal candidate isn't going to win. He/She isn't even going to get out of the primary, because not only is not most of the country, far left, most Democrats aren't far-left.

[Solon]

30. Kucinich isn't even that far left...

He's barely center-left, a left leaning moderate. The fact that he's called left wing just shows how far the perception of the "middle" has shifted to the right over the years.

[eridani]

41. While losing Congress, state legislatures and governorships

Without enough of those in the pipeline, the party is over.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

17. No, sweetheart. This is what he has to do to get into the White House...

Further, Obama was NEVER liberal. I repeat again, he was NEVER and is NOT a liberal. He is a moderate Democrat. Please don't compare him to Bill Clinton. That's DLC. Obama is not DLC!

[eridani]

42. Independents and apoliticals don't like wusses n/t

[blogslut]

4. Exactly

It's why I have supported Obama all along.

The left and the right fight, fight, fight and nothing gets done. We've had over 20 years of stagnation. The partisan wars must end or America is over.

[SidneyCarton]

5. This is key.

It isn't about political attrition warfare, it's about fixing a broken government, which can only be done when we control it.

K&R

[NattPang]

7. I'm glad a few others with a real platform

see what I see,
and think what I think.

[Clovis Sangrail]

8. he's being hit for it because he deserves to be

the constitution isn't something to be bartered away in the name of moving forward.

At this point I plan on voting for Obama because McCain would be so much worse.
I don't have a lot of "hope" that he will be a strong leader.

If he wins Obama might do some really great things, like (quasi) universal health care or straightening out our foriegn policy, but those are gimme issues... they don't require a whole lot of 'leadership' as the public will is already there.

*sigh*
I do really like some things about Obama ... but taking part in eviscerating the constitution to immunize the Bush cabal kinda rubs me the wrong way.

[Ichingcarpenter]

9. I agree..... I'm about as left as they get but know the realities

of this crappy corptocracy we live in and that we are up against. The politics
of this nation are ruled by the media, the corporations and the rich that play
against the fears and ignorance of the populace.

Obama is playing to win within the rules set up by these powers and hopefully
will make the changes necessary after elected. Its not pretty, that reality, I described
but it is true.

[high density]

10. Perfect

"Obama believes it is less important to defeat Republicans on every issue than to repair government so that good ideas can begin to flourish again."

[PVnRT]

11. Yep, it's always those evil stupid lefties

Most of whom have already pledged their vote to Obama. Can't they just shut the fuck up and quit whining already? :sarcasm:

[NYCGirl]

14. No one is telling you to "quit whining." What they are doing is presenting a

different viewpoint, one that maybe you haven't yet considered.

[NattPang]

15. I think Obama had stated over and over

That he wasn't a perfect man
and that he wouldn't be
a perfect candidate,
and that there would be times
when we would disagree.

His vote did not stop or make the bill pass.

The constitution
was gutted with the passage
of the Patriot Act.

Being outraged this late in the game,
will not restore it.

[ClassWarrior]

16. So how long have you had this inferiority complex?

NGU.

[PVnRT]

44. Is that the best you got?

I seem to remember it was the silly idealistic liberals who were supporting Obama in the primaries. Now the silly idealistic liberals are the ones trying to torpedo his campaign. Which is it?

[Marrah_G]

12. .

:eyes:

[Political Heretic]

13. A lot of people will hate this article, but this is what I want in a president . It really is.

[Brigid]

21. I do too.

Don't forget we're dealing with a cool-headed poker player here, when we're more used to crap shooters. I don't play it, but I do know you have to do the best you can with the hand you're dealt. It is very tempting to want revenge for all the abuse we've taken from the right, but being too busy with that will only distract us from the work that will need to be done once we're rid of Bush. Of course obam isn't perfect. Have any of you ever agreed with any other person about everything? We're lucky to have a candidate who is one of the most gifted politicians I for one have ever seen. And he is doing his best to put those gifts to good use. And what is Mc Cain doing? Treating the presidency as if it were some sort of reward for his years of service to his country. It isn't. It's a job, and one McCain is not physically or mentally capable of handling. That is why my choice is Obama, and I am not going to fret over every little decision he might make along the way that I don't necessarily like.

[wellst0nev0ter]

19. Never Saw Obama As Way Left

So I'm not quite sure what the author is talking about.

[anonymous171]

23. What the hell is wrong with his gun control stance?

I've never really understood what the problem was.

[MarjorieG]

33. He found common ground with the decision that saw localities-Cheyenne v Chicago-differently.

We still need background checks and regulations. That's Dem policy supporting hunters etc, not sounding strident.

[OwnedByFerrets]

24. If ANYONE believes that

republicants are going to move left on any issue, they are idiots.:silly:

[NattPang]

25. We will have to see about that.

It really depends on the mood of the country
and how much pressure can be exerted on
the politicians.

I don't think you totally understand
what is about to happen.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6449952

[LWolf]

26. I don't consider the 4th amendment to be a "pet' issue. n/t

[NYCGirl]

28. kick

[Solon]

29. Is nuanced another word for wrong in this article?

it seems to me like Huffpost is trying to spray air freshener on a fresh piece of shit here. It may cover up the smell for a short while, but not for long.

[Better Believe It]

31. Flexibility On Our Constitution And Bill Of Rights: Ya, that's what we need more of!

If the American politicians of the 18th Century had displayed such flexibility vis a vis King George, we'd still be a colony of Great Britain!

[Solon]

32. Actually, not to get too off-topic, but we probably would have been better off that way...

Look at Canada as an example, we would have been "spun off" from the Home Country in a similar manner, probably sooner rather than Canada did, but it would have happened.

[ShaneGR]

34. Anyone who read his book knew he had moderate positions...

And he also plays to win.

[followthemoney]

36. I feel so silly now.

I remember yelling "Yes, we can!" but now I can't remember what it was I thought we could.

[Enrique]

37. lefties who saw Obama as a radical were fooling themselves

"Barack's nomination is the death knell of the DLC!" :rofl:

[cookie monster]

38. Well thought article

I highly recommend it.

[ToeBot]

40. "...will lead Republican lawmakers to begin to lay down their arms..." - Pure Delusional Bullshit.

When have the Republicans EVER laid down their arms? But whatever, the whole article is just spin anyway.

[FredfromSpace]

43. I think I had his number from the start.

He and Clinton were my absolute last choices.

Turns out I was right.

Unfortunately.

PS I never "deliriously" chanted ANYTHING.