Obama's Monumental OWS Dilemma - Democratic Underground

The Doctor.

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sat Nov-19-11 05:36 PM
Original message

Obama's Monumental OWS Dilemma

Edited on Sat Nov-19-11 05:36 PM by The Doctor.

As I understand it, President Obama has been out of the country for 9 days. He will have been roughly a week and a half out of the US by the time he returns.

During that week and a half, we have seen the OWS movement lose no steam at all. Also, we have seen the 'authorities' ramp up the arrests, evictions, and brutality against even demonstrators who violated no laws. We've seen them assault and arrest young women who posed no threat and the elderly while still in wheelchairs. They've brutalized countless civilians and come far too close to outright killing people for doing nothing more than walking by or taking pictures in public areas.

There is no question that the establishment has exceeded its authority.

Barack Obama said this of the protests in Egypt;

"I want to be very clear in calling upon the Egyptian authorities to refrain from any violence against peaceful protesters.

The people of Egypt have rights that are universal. That includes the right to peaceful assembly and association, the right to free speech, and the ability to determine their own destiny. These are human rights. And the United States will stand up for them everywhere."

Obviously, he was free to do so. There would be little or no fallout from Egyptian media that could affect his reelection. He was unlikely to single-handedly cause an escalation in the conflict. And of course, it was the right statement to make.

Now the protest is here, and it is different because it's not a protest over Obama being a corrupt tyrant in a 5th decade of rule. It is the same because it is about the inherent corruption of the establishment of power in this country. That establishment, like it or not, is one that Obama has no choice but to work within as President. We've seen him work to do good. Anyone who argues that he has not made great efforts to do so is either ignorant of his actual record or disingenuous. It is therefore fair to assume that he does want what is right for The People.

Unfortunately, the world is not nearly as simple as we would like it to be.

He really only has 4 choices in how to address the OWS movement. The first two are the most typical of a political creature, and I'm sad that they are likely the best choices he has;

1) Say nothing, do nothing, just ignore the movement.

This is a bad idea because he would be seen as too trepid and worthless. Even his supporters would feel abandoned. The people would begin losing hope, and the calls to "Do something!" would be the epitaph of a suddenly weak and moribund Presidency.

2) Speechify about the freedom of speech and civil disobedience, make vague references about the 'shameful' violence that has occurred 'on both sides', while urging 'investigations' to preserve the peace and bring the perpetrators to justice, yada-yada. There will also likely be undertones trying to communicate support as he's done before.

Naturally, this is a terrible idea. It will open up the cries of 'what a 'triangulating' politician he is!' and how it's just 'lip service' and he's "not on our side!". Basically, all the same rigamarole we've been hearing from everyone that would love to tear him down.

3) Come down against 'civil disruption' and in favor of 'working within the system'.

This, of course, would be an absolutely horrible idea because it would alienate everyone sympathetic to the 99% and OWS without gaining one ounce of support from everyone who doesn't like him to begin with. 'nuff said.

4) Come down on the side of OWS and the 99%.

This would be the single worst thing he could possibly do.

Yes, I hear all the scoffing and derision. I could even see some of the faces so many just made at that.

But it's the truth. Here's why;

In that one moment, he would do the single most dangerous thing a President can do; scare the 'PTB' or the 0.1% who hold all the power. He would galvanize the fears of the ignorant wingnuts. He would, for all appearances, prove Rush Limbaugh and Faux 'News' RIGHT in the minds of their audiences. He would bring that national divide into cold-snap focus and crack the nation in half along partisan lines in not only a permanent way, but a dangerous way. The wingnuts would be in the streets with guns and we'd be at the brink of civil war. The PTB would stop at nothing, let me repeat so the meaning is understood; stop at nothing to break the nation, depose the President (or worse) and install the fascist system they've been setting in place for years, and they'd have the people and firepower to do it.

Don't think so? Look around. They already have the wingnuts so brainwashed that Obama is 'coming for them' and going to put them in FEMA camps that gun sales have been through the roof since '08.

I'll admit that it's possible that such a fate would be avoided. That Obama, with the enormous support of the 99%, would stay firmly ensconced in the White House with the will and the mandate to end the march to fascism for good. I would love to believe that. But the people with the power will not stand for it.

I would love for Obama to take option 4. I would love to see him reinvigorate the middle class. But we know who the enemy is and how ruthless they are. So instead, he will likely take option 2. That way he won't frighten the insecure .1%, he won't have difficulty being reelected, and he will have the opportunity to do more (and perhaps even greater) good for the next four year term.

There's no 'good' choice for Obama right now, but there are a couple of 'right' ones.

And that's his dilemma to deal with. Let's hope we don't have to deal with it too.