Obama Administration's centrist strategy isn't working

[Harmony Blue]

I strongly feel that the Obama Administration is stuck in some kind of time warp, where they still believe the political landscape is still 2008. It is the year 2011, and the country is even more polarized than even under the Bush Administration! The difference is the left was united, but now is fragmented, and this fragmentation is the result of this core centrist strategy promoted by the Obama Administration. The right is fragmented as well with the Teabaggers, but the difference is it doesn't matter as they already have dragged the country further to the right. Anyways, with how far right the country has been dragged, does it make logical sense to take a centrist position on issues and debt talks? Some would argue the centrist approach of the Obama Administration appears to give a sense of reason, and order. But what it exposes is, that, why does the center matter, when the new center is to the far right? The Obama Administration can dismiss the far left liberals, and progressives, but we have a reached a point where Democrats are being dismissed along with core principles of the Democratic party.

When Bill Clinton was in office, his centrist strategy worked because it was a different economic period, transitional period when it came to the internet, and technology. The Obama Administration is trying to use the same blueprint again, but it seems pointless given the realities of today. It baffle me as to why some people defend the Obama Administration's centrist strategy as sensible by any means? Democracies work with opposing sides expressing contrasting views, and then slowly working to the center in unison for a compromise. When one party starts at the center, and the other to the far right, the only way to meet a common ground at that point is to meet somewhere to the right.

If the Obama Administration wants to rejuvenate the base they need to start to the left. If they want to drift to the center down the road, they can, but start to the left. At least give people a chance to see you are willing to go out on a limb for the sake of the entire Democratic party.

[TheWraith]

1. Fragmented? Obama's 84% approval rating by liberals speaks a different tale.

The only people who are "fragmented" are mostly those listening to the Republican-sponsored narrative of the Naderites and FDL crowd telling them how horrible Obama is and how they should just stay home next election.

[AtomicKitten]

5. Exactly. All the negative speculation falls flat with those numbers.

Cheers.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[robinlynne]

19. link to where your approval ratings come from. I dont know more than a handful of

people who approve his policies. .less than five. 2 to be exact. I know thousands of liberals.

[KittyWampus]

23. "Everyone I know voted for McGovern".

[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ClassWarrior]

81. That's a Democratic presidential candidate who you're ridiculing.

And one MAJOR humanitarian.

Are you comfortable with that?

NGU.

[Enthusiast]

41. You are totally wrong.

Obama is LEADING the charge to dismantle social security. LEADING. He appointed the radical deficit commission leaders. The outcome of this commission was pre-ordained. This was no mistake on Obama's part. This was an orchestrated attack on the New Deal. Critics of Obama give him far too much credit.

[Name removed]

50. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Enthusiast]

51. Redefine it anyway you want.

It will not change the truth.

[Name removed]

61. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Enthusiast]

63. I stand by everything I said.

No lie. Obama did appoint the commission. He even cut the dedicated funding mechanism for social security, further placing it in jeopardy. Ignore it if you wish but that doesn't change the facts.

[Mimosa]

52. Oh baloney!

The majority of 'liberals' (which includes me) will answer polls and say we 'approve' of Obama (in general) because we don't want to give comfort to the enemy.

But the latest polls indicate the liberal base is very unhappy. Now to get some links because I don't keep them close at hand.

Here you go:

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Monday shows that 24% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as president. Forty-two percent (42%) Strongly Disapprove, giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -18 (see trends).

Forty-eight percent (48%) of Democrats Strongly Approve while 69% of Republicans Strongly Disapprove. Among those not affiliated with either major party, 17% Strongly Approve and 46% Strongly Disapprove.

Sixty-four percent (64%) say Republicans in Congress are acting largely in a partisan manner rather than seeking to govern on a bi-partisan basis. Virtually the same number, 62%, say the same about Democrats in Congress.

Fifty-four percent (54%) continue to favor repeal of the health care law passed last year. That figure is unchanged from when the law first passed.


Overall, 45% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the president's performance. Fifty-four percent (54%) at least somewhat disapprove.
----------------------------------------

Gallup isn't much different. Approval ratings lower: http://www.gallup.com/poll/148394/obama-averages-approval-june-par-2010-2011.aspx

[robinlynne]

59. i think you are probably referring to the week after he killed Osama Bin LAden.

he had high approval during that week, and his first week in office. That's about it.

[PassingFair]

74. Yeah! (Except for all of those people in 2010) nt

[BeFree]

2. Not working? WTF?

He's gonna get reelected. That's huge. That's working.

The problem is: congress is not working.

[TheKentuckian]

4. Elected to what end. Election is a means.

[BeFree]

8. What end?

Who knows for sure? Could be the next 4 years brings the promise.
Whatever, Obama has the support of most of the people and that means he has a shot at another 4 years. So, it's working to (cough) keep hope alive.

[Enthusiast]

43. We must judge that accomplishment on the quality

of his opponents. Never in the history of this nation has such a horrible slate of Republican candidates been assembled. They are frighteningly bad.

[uponit7771]

49. The Obama haters wont even ACKNOWLEDGE congress not less admit they play a role in their disappoi

...disappointments

[ClassWarrior]

68. Why do RWers urge us to chase "centrist" voters, yet fail to take their own advice?

Because it's a trap. It can't be said often enough. "Centrism" is a myth.

No Center, No Centrists
by George Lakoff

"Centrism" is the creation of an inaccurate self-serving metaphor, and it is time to bury it.

There is no left to right linear spectrum in the American political life. There are two systems of values and modes of thought -- call them progressive and conservative (or nurturant and strict, as I have). There are total progressives, who use a progressive mode of thought on all issues. And total conservatives. And there are lots of folks who are what I've called "biconceptuals": progressive on certain issue areas and conservative on others. But they don't form a linear scale. They are all over the place: progressive on domestic policy, conservative on foreign policy; conservative on economic policy, progressive on foreign policy and social issues; conservative on religion, but progressive on social issues and foreign policy; and on and on. No linear scale. No single set of values defining a "center." Indeed many of such folks are not moderate in their views; they can be quite passionate about both their progressive and conservative views.

Barack Obama has it right: Get rid of the very idea of the right and the left and the center. American ideas are fundamentally progressive ideas -- the ideas this country was founded on and that carry forth that spirit. Progressives care about people and the earth, and act with responsibility and strength on that care...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/george-lakoff/no-center-no-centrists_b_60419.html

NGU.

[TheKentuckian]

3. I think they've been stuck in the mid 90's since after the election.

Everyone re-fights the last war, I reckon but I don't think their political strategy got to 2008 after being elected. They went straight to tacking toward the mystical "center" which no one has ever defined and immediately acted like they got in by the skin of their teeth with 43% of the vote and in the full shadow of Ronald Reagan rather than by the largest margin for a Democrat since LBJ and a modern landslide in a country exhausted with Bush and the failed Republican ideology.

[jaxx]

6. Sometimes people dis themselves.

Hair shirts on sale at Walmart this week.

[Uben]

7. Well, everyone has an opinion......

...but I think you are dead wrong. I think his strategy has worked quite well, for him, and for us, as a nation.If you had told me before he was elected we would be where we are today, I would damned sure have voted for him, and I'm voting for him again. I was a Clinton supporter in the primaries, mainly because Obama was an unknown to me. But now, he's my man.

I seriously doubt leaning more left now will get him re-elected. The election will be won by whoever wins over the fence-sitters, and most of them aren't progressive or even left of center. Preachin to the choir doesn't win elections. Ask republicans.

[Ikonoklast]

11. You got that right, especially about giving in to the fringe of a political party.

The Republicans let the Teabaggers grab control of the narrative, thinking they would ride that back into power but still keep those noisy annoying voices in check.

Now that the Teabagger Frankenstein's Monster is lurching around Congress with little hope of the leadership being able to control it, that Devil's Bargain they made with the far-right fringe of their party looks like it is coming back to bite them in the ass.

It isn't the first time that radicals of any political party, once taking control of it, have destroyed it from within.

[madfloridian]

17. Do you think there are a lot of "fringe" folks here?

What are the criteria you choose to decide who is "fringe" and who is not?

When we opposed the Iraq invasion in 2003, the centrist think tank leaders called us "fringe activists".

So many of us are used to it. But could you list the standards by which you make your decisions?

[uponit7771]

48. Been around long? most Obama haters go to the point of ignoring congress all together

[ClassWarrior]

21. So are you saying the left "fringe" is just as wrong as the right "fringe?"

That progressive values are as wrong as "conservative" ones?

NGU.

[Ikonoklast]

40. When one goes so far around the bend, you bump into Teabaggers...

you may be part of the fringe.


"Destroy it all!"

"Both parties are the same!"

"All politicians are crooked!"


This kind of stuff comes from both extremes.

[ClassWarrior]

45. Wow, so a handful of trolls are able to get under your skin?

Cuz I don't know any real Dems who talk like that. Do you?

NGU.

[Ikonoklast]

56. Look around DU, as of late.

Threads such as these are easy to find.

Sadly, I don't believe for one second that they are posted by trolls, just some very misguided posters who actually want to see this government fail, and chaos ensue.

Oh, and they call themselves "Real Dems", so who am I to argue?

[ClassWarrior]

66. True, I don't believe all are posted by trolls either.

Just some very misguided posters who actually don't give a damn about progressive values, as long as their hero gets re-elected.

Oh, and they call themselves "Real Dems," so who am I to argue?

:shrug:

NGU.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Hawkowl]

12. Reference the 2010 midterms

The midterms were the wake up call that Obama did not heed. Democrats lost all over the country because of a lack of faith in the Democratic Party leadership, i.e; Obama.

It wasn't just the House that the Democrats lost, it was many state legislatures that will do the most damage as the gerrymander their districts.

And to those of you who say, Obama is not responsible because he wasn't running, I say nonsense. He personally campaigned for many candidates and his campaigning did not help one whit.

As evidence that the center-right strategy was a disaster, all you have to do is look at the decimation of the Blue Dogs, and how well progressives in general held on to their seats.

Romney is going to clean Obama's clock simply because Obama is a fake Republican and Romney is the real deal. After all, Obama did adopt his health care program.

[CarolinaIndependent]

14. I agree to an extent..

You fail to account for the fact that progressives held on to their seat because progressives are located in highly liberal areas to begin with. Blue dogs are in swing districts, so they would have fallen whether center-right, center, or liberal..

As for Romney cleaning Obama's clock, I doubt that. It will definitely be a close election with Romney as the nominee, and I give them each a 50-50 shot of winning.

The centrist strategy, as far as re-election, is definitely a very BAD idea for Obama. Centrists are located in areas Obama likely won't win - the mid-atlantic area such as PA, OH, WV, IN, etc. Obama needs to ensure he wins his base states (northeast and west coast) while cleaning up with latinos (new mexico, nevada) and then winning with a coalition of liberals and african americans in the "New South" (Virginia, North Carolina). None of these areas require centrist democrats for the win - he won NC and VA without centrists in 2008 because centrists in these states are more to the right. What he needs to win NC and VA is heavy AA turnout (which he will get) and heavy turnout from the liberal urban areas of these two states - Fairfax, Richmond, Charlotte, Raleigh. Heavy turnout here would negate the rural "center right" areas. He needs to be liberal and fire up his base in these areas to do that.

[ClassWarrior]

22. Really? Progressives only win in "liberal areas?" So how does that explain...

...eighteen-year U.S. Senator Russ Feingold's overwhelming support in so-called "red" areas of his state for his first three elections?

:shrug:

NGU.

[CarolinaIndependent]

29. And now...he's out..

I mean right now - as we're very polarized. Feingold is a perfect example as he lost in 2010 for the very reasons I'm highlighting.

Plus Wisconsin does not equal NC and VA. Sorry.

[ClassWarrior]

33. No he didn't. He lost because he was targeted by great gobs of unmarked corporate money...

...and a self-financed corporate tool opponent.

Sorry, but you're plain wrong. Folks are folks, and with rare exceptions their brains are all wired the same, whether they're in WI or VA or NC or Katmandu.

Read some Lakoff.

NGU.

[Enthusiast]

44. Feingold is out because

of well applied corporate money.

[Harmony Blue]

64. Indeed, it was a warning shot

I know many Democrats, and Independents that didn't bother voting in Mid Terms, which is shameful giving the damage the Tea Party has done in such a short period of time. But this apathy didn't appear out of nowhere as it has been built up by the Obama Administration taking the centrist approach to nearly everything sapping the huge momentum the Democratic party had from the 2008 elections. Obama and his team may think it gives them a better public relations image to look like a neutral arbiter, but the Mid Terms clearly showed people want opposition not the status quo. Democracies work best when there is clear and distinct opposition, and different perspectives are clearly laid out. The Obama Administration is in danger of not being able to distance themselves from the previous Administration, which is the ironic tragedy in all of this.

[MissDeeds]

13. K&R

[Palmer Eldritch]

15. You are in the minority in this opinion. Why do you think that is?

[robinlynne]

20. Actually, you are in the minority.

[babylonsister]

26. Link? Thanks. nt

[robinlynne]

58. response 53 has several links. There is no 80% approval rating. anywhere.

[Palmer Eldritch]

53. I am part of the 80%+ of Liberal Democrats who approve of President Obama.

That's called an overwhelming majority.

[robinlynne]

57. according to what poll do 80% of Dems approve of the Pres?

[Palmer Eldritch]

60. That's 80% of Liberal Democrats

The number is even higher among Democrats in general.

Just do a search in this forum if you need evidence.

[robinlynne]

62. just saw the stats. 40+% of Democrats. the number among liberals will be much lower.

[Name removed]

78. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ClassWarrior]

24. Prove it.

NGU.

[ClassWarrior]

27. Didn't think so.

NGU.

[Palmer Eldritch]

55. think again, friend.

;)

[Palmer Eldritch]

54. Check any recent poll and you will see that over 80% of Liberal Democrats support Obama.

That's a majority.

That's called proof.

[ClassWarrior]

67. So what about the so-called "centrists?" I thought we were talking about a "centrist" strategy.

What does that have to do with liberal Dems?

:crazy:

NGU.

[Name removed]

69. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

83. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Harmony Blue]

84. I am perfectly fine with my opinion being in the minority

The biggest lesson Socrates ever gave to the young Athenian Democracy was that self reflection is the ultimate in what the human mind can accomplish. Socrates was executed by the Athenians because his opinion was in the minority, and that was, they lost their way which showed such great promise. Democracies indeed rely on the majority to accomplish anything yes, but the minority also have a voice in it, which is what makes this new governing system so revolutionary to humanity.

I took a lot of flack for opposing the Iraq war because I was in the minority, but I prefer to be on the right side of history IMVHO. For those wondering, Socrates had a chance to save his life, but he chose not to because he wasn't about to back down from his opinion. Just because it wasn't shared by the demoralized Athenian population, giving that they were looking for someone to blame when they should have blamed themselves at being defeated by the Spartans.

[harun]

85. It is better to be right than to be in the majority.

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ClassWarrior]

18. That's because "the center" is a myth.

No Center, No Centrists
by George Lakoff

"Centrism" is the creation of an inaccurate self-serving metaphor, and it is time to bury it.

There is no left to right linear spectrum in the American political life. There are two systems of values and modes of thought -- call them progressive and conservative (or nurturant and strict, as I have). There are total progressives, who use a progressive mode of thought on all issues. And total conservatives. And there are lots of folks who are what I've called "biconceptuals": progressive on certain issue areas and conservative on others. But they don't form a linear scale. They are all over the place: progressive on domestic policy, conservative on foreign policy; conservative on economic policy, progressive on foreign policy and social issues; conservative on religion, but progressive on social issues and foreign policy; and on and on. No linear scale. No single set of values defining a "center." Indeed many of such folks are not moderate in their views; they can be quite passionate about both their progressive and conservative views.

Barack Obama has it right: Get rid of the very idea of the right and the left and the center. American ideas are fundamentally progressive ideas -- the ideas this country was founded on and that carry forth that spirit. Progressives care about people and the earth, and act with responsibility and strength on that care...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/george-lakoff/no-center-no-centrists_b_60419.html/george-lakof...

NGU.

[Name removed]

28. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Maraya1969]

30. Some people forget what he is up against. "I want..to make Obama a one-term president"

That is the republican goal and people are still blaming the president for doing whatever he can to get something done. When has this ever been the case for an American president before?

The only reason he has moved to the middle is to try and deal with this wall of opposition he has been under since day one, (remember the filibusters?).

Let's look at the whole picture rather than pieces of it.

Sen. McConnell: "Making Obama A One-Term President Is My Single Most Important Political Goal"

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/sen-mcconnell-making-obama-a-one-term-president-is-my-single-most-important-political-goal/

[ClassWarrior]

31. So the way to deal with opposition is to give in to it?

Wow, what a brilliant strategy!

:eyes:

When has THIS ever been the case for an American president before?

NGU.

[ClassWarrior]

34. No answers?

NGU.

[Maraya1969]

37. I just saw your post and replied. I don't always spend every waking moment

on DU. Geeze.

[Maraya1969]

36. No let's do it your way. Fight it with no support and get ZERO done.

Obama is not a king or a dictator. Everything needs to go through congress and the senate first.

That is why there is no public option. Obama wanted it and said so many times but the republicans fought it with all they had. So as a concession he and the rest of the democrats dropped it and hopefully will be able to pick it up again in the future IF THEY MAINTAIN THE MAJORITY. But if it with help like what you are proposing they will get nothing done because the republicans will gain more and more seats.

The republicans gained seats because they started years ago with a plan. You have to look to the future to get things to go your way in this society. If you cry and turn your back at every failure you are just lessening your party's power.

[ClassWarrior]

65. No, there's no public option because the "grand negotiator" took Medicare for All off the table...

...before the negotiations ever began.

But thanks for playing.

NGU.

[robinlynne]

73. The poin t IS: The way to get a public option would have been to fight for single payer!

The way to get nothing is to make a weak public option the goal. We dont have the public option BECAUSE OBAMA moves to the right, what you call the center over and over and over again. No he did not fight for it. We would have it if he fought for it. HE had FULL public support, plus a democratic house and senate.

[Maraya1969]

75. And Nancy Pelosi had nothing to do with it. Oh and neither did that guy

who spit on one of our black congressmen. None of that mattered. It was all up to Obama.

[ClassWarrior]

76. Who ever claimed that? Why do you feel a need to make stuff up?

Is your position so weak that now you feel a need to randomly accuse people of piling on Obama?

NGU.

[Name removed]

77. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[robinlynne]

72. Thank-you Classwarrior!

[robinlynne]

71. And moving to the middle consistently makes everything worse.

[CrazyBob]

32. Centrism = first GOP house majority in 40 years

Centrism is the path to defeat for our policy preferences. But if you're interested in being president of a divided government, then centrism is one way to get where you're going.

[Armstead]

35. I Don't think he cares about that.

[ProSense]

38. The title of the OP is ironic in light of

this statement:

"When Bill Clinton was in office, his centrist strategy worked because it was a different economic period, transitional period when it came to the internet, and technology. The Obama Administration is trying to use the same blueprint again, but it seems pointless given the realities of today."

Bill Clinton's strategy resulted in a government shutdown, something President Obama was able to avoid.

Oh, and Mitch McConnell blinked big time.

Beyond that, this President has accomplished more than any other President in decades, some of these involved undoing Clinton's damaging policies.

[NorthCarolina]

39. "Centrist" is a bit of an understatement isn't it? Seems fairly well Right-of-Center to me. n/t

[Name removed]

42. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[blkmusclmachine]

46. "Centrism" is doing exactly what it's supposed to do:

Give the "Democrats" cover in getting GOP legislation passed.

[Enrique]

47. corporate profits are doing very well

and rich people aren't paying a lot of taxes. Maybe it is working.

[Jakes Progress]

70. Who says it's not working?

That depends on what you think he's working for.

Wall Street doing OK. Banks richer than ever. Top 1% richer than ever. Pharma, Insurance, Oil. All record profits.

These guys know it's working just fine.

[DCBob]

79. I think Obama-bashing strategy by the disgruntled left isnt working.

His approvals numbers are still holiding well despite the monumental mess this country is still in.

[Hand_With_Eyes]

80. Keep telling yourself that

Latch onto poll numbers for comfort.

Obama's 'centrism' is ruining the Democratic party and the country.

[ClassWarrior]

82. So how is advice on recapturing swing voters an "Obama-bashing strategy by the left?"

That strikes me as a very paranoid statement...

NGU.

[quaker bill]

86. Simply wrong

In a growing economy a President (Clinton in this case) can do pretty much as they like, (something Clinton put on display with Ms. Lewinski). In a struggling economy a President is both lucky and quite skilled to be able to do anything.

Nothing with even a vague hint of left about it has any chance of passage since 2010. So what you are saying in effect is that you would feel better if this President wasted his time discussing ideas that have no chance of ever being law.

[krabigirl]

87. I agree, but I wouldn't call it centrist, rather, corporatist.

The "center" is tired of the endless wars, and so on, but doesn't look like the wh is listening. They listen to their corporate masters, that is all.