Papantonio: What A Strong Progressive Should Look Like

[GoLeft TV]

Run time: 08:14 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGltgM0iHFk   Posted on YouTube: March 05, 2011 By YouTube Member: golefttv Views on YouTube: 2   Posted on DU: March 05, 2011 By DU Member: GoLeft TV Views on DU: 620

 
A lot of progressives in America are more than irritated about the lack of strong, progressive leaders in Washington. They’ve become disillusioned with Obama for bowing to the right wing instead of standing up and fighting like he promised he would. But there is still some hope in Washington. Congressman Bruce Braley is leading the charge against the Tea Party Republicans with his House Populist Caucus, and he spoke with Mike Papantonio recently about what it takes to be a strong progressive leader in politics today.

[RBInMaine]

1. Was Clinton left enough for you? He won two elections and his Presidency is 60%+ approval.

To win NATIONALLY, you must win the center. The economy will be in a better place in 2012, and Obama will win the center. Dems will stick with him because the TeaPukes are evil incarnate. Bash Obama as a "capitulator" if you have to, but he will WIN in 2012. He has to lead the WHOLE country, not just those who subscribe to your brand of ideology. And we have certainly had the most PROGRESSIVE accompishment under Obama of any president since LBJ. So please get real.

[provis99]

2. more DLC nonsense.

Most people don't vote based on issues, especially the moderates; so this baloney about having to move to the center is just that: baloney. Reagan won despite his far right policies; LBJ won despite his far left policies. Winning elections has more to do with pretty slogans, neat soundbites, and happy tv commercials than ideology, and the sooner the Democrats figure that out, the better.

[Ramulux]

3. Seriously

You are the reason the democratic party feels no need to pay any attention to its liberal activist base.

Obama won the fucking presidency by running an extremely liberal campaign. He won the presidency while saying that he would support a massive restructuring of NAFTA, that he would absolutely repeal the Bush tax cuts for the super wealthy, he supported a single payer health care system and he said he would walk on the picket lines if unions were in danger of losing their rights. He won the presidency while being very honest about all those liberal beliefs. There was nothing moderate about Obama the candidate. He won independents by huge margins, not by pretending to be some sort of centrist loser, but by actually making the case for progressive principles. He did this and he won by massive margins, so dont give me that bullshit that all presidents must be centrist/moderate douches to win the presidency, Obamas own campaign directly contradicts that assumption.

Obama is no longer that person, over the past 2 years he has changed his beliefs on pretty much every single issue that helped win him the presidency and he has been able to do it because people like you refuse to acknowledge reality and seem intent to defend him regardless of how horrible his decisions are. Seriously dude, nothing is going to change as long as so called democrats like you refuse to hold Obama's feet to the fire and constantly defend conservative positions that Obama adopts. Obama is a lying, manipulative scumbag who doesn't give a shit about abusing the trust that millions of people across this country had in him after the election.

[AnneD]

4. Let me repeat myself....

for all you Obama apologists and DLC types. I donated time and money to candidate Obama and got this bait and switch DINO and you are telling me to shut up and vote for him or God knows the GOP will win and I might get Palin.

Well let me tell you.....if I don't get a real progressive DEM like this guy, I am casting my vote for Ron Paul. I want the FED audited and I want criminals prosecuted. I want habeous corpus and the bill of rights back. I want the budget cut starting with homeland security and these endless wars. Ron Paul will be the turd in the DC punch bowl.