President Obama in Detroit on Labor Day defies the laughable myth that his "base" has deserted him

[ProSense]

President Obama in Detroit on Labor Day defies the laughable myth that his "base" has deserted him

by Eclectablog

Detroit's a special place. On Labor Day, it doesn't just have one labor union parade.

It has two.

Yes, in Detroit both the building trades union and the AFL-CIO both held simultaneous parades to celebrate workers in general and union membership specifically. The theme of the day was "Labor and Community: We are One". Thousands of union members walked along the streets of Detroit, streets that are showing surprising amounts of life and resurgence despite the tales of gloom and doom we read about on a daily basis. Detroit's quiet reemergence from the desperate economic straits we're in was reflected in the quiet dignity of the union members who walked today. In their faces you could see hope, resolve and an acknowledgment that they are stronger speaking with one voice than they could ever hope to be alone. Out of many, they are indeed one.



<...>

Here's a look at the crowd a full hour before the president even arrived.



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[Logical]

1. So you predict Obama will raise more money from individual donors this time than last?

[ProSense]

2. I don't know, but

is the thought of that happening an upsetting one?

I'd love to see it!

[Logical]

23. I hope it does! But I do not see it.

[vaberella]

39. They reported two months ago that he already did. He raised 2x more money.

He beat his own number.

[Whisp]

3. damn unpopular President you got there

I think he should be primaried.

:rofl:

[ProSense]

7. When you see the President out and about,

you realize that the bullshit spin isn't working.

[Enrique]

4. his base hasn't deserted him, that's true

a lot of people have his back, that's true. Given the state of the economy, and some of Obama's actions and non-actions, that's some pretty remarkable loyalty. I hope Obama and his supporters see that.

[ProSense]

5. "I hope Obama and his supporters see that."

That's important to note!

[WhiteTara]

11. You don't support our President? n/t

[ChairmanAgnostic]

6. No, we haven't deserted him. it has been he who has

deserted his base, all too often. All that could change in a shake, if he continues to show spine and calls out the GOP for its terrible ways.

[zalinda]

9. The problem seems to be that he calls out the

repubs only while speaking in public, but not on TV. On TV he blames both sides. Only political nerds know what he says in various venues, the average voter doesn't know or care.

zalinda

[Tarheel_Dem]

26. In his role as POTUS, and speaking to the American people, he should...

continue to speak to ALL of us, as the country's Chief Executive. On the stump, however, he can turn his attention to his base, who are there to hear a "political" speech, and where the setting is much more appropriate for politicking. People in the middle don't want to hear a bunch of partisan crap when they don't have jobs.

Political junkies, who are usually "party activists", live & breathe politics. If you want someone who sees their primary job as president to keep the base entertained, then Obama's probably not your man. Kooch, Bernie, or Palin would probably be much more appropriate for that sort of thing. This president tries extremely hard to separate governance from politicking, and that's exactly how it should be.

:edited for spelling:

[polmaven]

8. It all depends on the definition

of who the "base" is. My own opinion...and it is just my opinion...is that the president's base includes, but is much wider than only those Democrats who are the furthest to the left.

[ProSense]

10. This

"is that the president's base includes, but is much wider than only those Democrats who are the furthest to the left."

...is true.

Still, despite the drop in support, the President still enjoys good numbers among moderate Democrats. His numbers among liberal Democrats are higher.

The drop is primarily among independents, and from the highs, there has even been a drop in Republican support.

Independents tend to fluctuate with the political climate. They tend to be more influenced by the news cycles.

The interesting thing is that despite the economic climate, the distortions, the attacks, the ridicule, the President's approval is still in the low to mid 40s. To go up from those numbers, while it will take positive news about the economy and jobs, will put his approval rating in good territory.

[Ikonoklast]

17. Those furthest to the left desert every modern sitting Democratic president.

They are, at best, fickle allies, and at worst, Fifth Columnists.

[Bake]

12. Your pictures are no more than propaganda.

Obama got people to turn out and cheer? Fabulous. I care about ME. I care about beating the hell out of Republicans on every single issue.

Your pictures don't do jack shit for ME. Persuade ME that Obama is really on MY side.

But that's going to be tough sledding.

Bake

[ProSense]

15. Well,

"Your pictures don't do jack shit for ME. Persuade ME that Obama is really on MY side.

But that's going to be tough sledding."

...you're like right about "tough sledding" in terms of trying to convince you, especially when you view everything as "propaganda."

The OP was about people showing up, not policy. Still, if you're interested in policies, there are many to consider.

Whether it's saving the auto industry, labor policies, environmental policies, helping low income communities and families and homeless Americans, establishing the CFPB, and other reforms, the things this President has done, will have a lasting impact on real families.

Why Republicans are So Intent on Killing Health Care Reform

by Richard Kirsch

It’s not just about expanded care. It’s about proving our government can be a force for the common good.

Why are John Boehner, Eric Cantor and Mitch McConnell so intent on stopping health care reform from ever taking hold? For the same reason that Republicans and the corporate Right spent more than $200 million in the last year to demonize health care in swing Congressional districts. It wasn’t just about trying to stop the bill from becoming law or taking over Congress. It is because health reform, if it takes hold, will create a bond between the American people and government, just as Social Security and Medicare have done. Democrats, and all those who believe that government has a positive place in our lives, should remember how much is at stake as Republicans and corporate elites try to use their electoral victory to dismantle the new health care law.

<...>

There’s nothing new here. Throughout American history, health care reform has been attacked as socialist. An editorial published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in December 1932, just after FDR’s election, claimed that proposals for compulsory insurance “were socialism and communism — inciting to revolution.” The PR firm that the American Medical Association hired to fight Truman’s push for national health insurance succeeded in popularizing a completely concocted quote that it attributed to Vladimir Lenin: “Socialized medicine is the keystone to the arch of the Socialist State.”

<...>

The Right has always understood how high the American view of the role of government would be lifted if people came to rely on government for something as essential to a person’s well-being as health care. This year, the animus that the Right maintains toward the New Deal and Great Society programs and philosophy — Social Security, Medicare, the constitution allowing the federal public to regulate commerce — has become visible in the Tea Party movement. The last thing that the corporate and ideological Right want is for health care to be a new pillar added to the foundation of government social insurance.

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In fact, the benefits of health care reform are coming more and more into focus.

[Bake]

16. Health Care Reform?

It really feels like reform when I still can't afford to go to the doctor to get prescriptions filled that I need TO LIVE.

And I HAVE "health insurance." With a ridiculous co-pay, that doesn't pay a dime until I'm out of pocket $2,600.

But the public option, well, that was just too socialist ...


So when I die without my meds, you'll have one less Dem voter. But that's okay, because Obama hasn't alientated the base ...


Bake

[ProSense]

20. Well,

"And I HAVE 'health insurance.'"

...think of all the people who don't have insurance and whose lives will be saved because of health care reform.

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

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

[JoeyT]

25. I don't think you'll sway many with that argument.

After all, the difference between us and Republicans is empathy! Wait, that doesn't work. Shit.
The difference between us and Republicans is we pretend to be empathetic until it's no longer convenient, and then you and anyone like you cease to matter. Yeah, that sounds about right.

[treestar]

18. Who are YOU?

It is insane to believe only one person matters in politics.

[Bake]

19. I'm just one inignificant voter, obviously.

One insignificant voter who has been a loyal Democrat. So it won't matter if I stay home, will it?

Bake

[Name removed]

27. Deleted message

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

[treestar]

34. actually, no

there are about 100 million voters. It is the combination of their preferences that yields a winner. Thus thinking of oneself only doesn't really apply.

[Number23]

30. "I care about ME." Truly that says it all

[Bake]

31. Health Care "Reform" did nothing for me. And nothing, no doubt, for others like me.

And you expect me to get excited about it?

God, this place is weird.

Bake

[Number23]

32. So forget the millions that it actually did do something for, right?

If it doesn't benefit YOU and you personally, it ain't no good to anyone right?

No this place isn't weird. It's royally fucked up.

[Bake]

33. I suspect I'm pretty typical, actually.

Which is to say, HCR didn't "reform" anything, and really didn't provide much of anything of value. Gonna save lives? I seriously doubt it.

Bake

[Number23]

36. There are stories all over DU where people have said that HCR has or will personally benefit them

And that's just here. There are millions of others out there. I'd love to see you tell those people that the reform is of "no value."

But according to you, they don't matter anyway, right? Since all you care about is yourself. Right?

[Bake]

37. You know what? I'll DIE without my meds.

DIE. As in, DEAD. Six feet under. My heart will FAIL.

So pardon me if I'm disappointed your fucknig health care "reform" didn't do shit for me.

I'll just be happy for those still alive.

Did I say DIE? I believe I did. And I still can't afford to go to the doctor. So excuuuuuuse me if I'm not jumping for joy over your freakin' health care "reform." Obama should have pushed for the public option when he had a majority in Congress. But nooooo, he wussed out.

Once again, what part of DIE don't you understand? I can eat, or I can go to the doctor and get a scrip. I've already done that a time or two.

Bake

[Number23]

38. The public option didn't have the votes. It would not have passed

What part of "DID NOT HAVE THE VOTES" do you not understand?

And alot of people in the same situation as you have been/will be helped. But as you've stated, you could give less than a damn about them so I won't waste any more of my time and yours discussing this with you.

[vaberella]

40. It reformed shit for me. A woman with a condition and no money for health insurance.

It really came through for me.

[Life Long Dem]

13. I heard CNN describe the crowd.

CNN being negative toward Obama as they always seem to be said, well the crowd didn't go for blocks and blocks like it did during the 2008 campaign. For one thing I thought it was a rally for labor, and not a campaign like CNN portrayed this as. If it was then it's early and we are 14 months out from the election. I do expect to see the crowds he had during 2008. So take that CNN.

Now Palin, that's another thing all together. Never mentioning the size of her crowd and always being positive she must of had upward of 10's and 10's of people!

[RaleighNCDUer]

14. It is not a matter of the base deserting him

but of him deserting his base.

And as more and more of his base comes to realize that, the worse his numbers will look.

[Tarheel_Dem]

28. "His base" still supports him. Anyone who doesn't, can't really be called "his base".

Support among liberal Dems is higher than all others, so your propoganda campaign doesn't seem to fit this situation. Independents and Repubs is where his support has dropped. I'm his base, and oddly enough, I don't feel deserted. ;)

[ClarkUSA]

29. LOL! What nonsense. Prove it.

[Scurrilous]

22. K & R

:thumbsup:

[JTFrog]

24. Indeed. K&R

[politicasista]

35. Kick

:kick: :patriot:

[krispos42]

41. You mean, the professional left?

Or does he mean the people that used to be high-spirited and anticipatory of things like righting the wrongs of the Bush Administration and reversing Reaganomics because Obama had huge Dem majorities in the HOUSE and the SENATE and it was PAYBACK TIME TO FIX THE COUNTRY?????



Or does he mean the people that will cling grimly to him, bereft of hope and void of optimism, simply because the Right is scarier than he?