Reply #46: I'll break the rules

[Alcibiades]

Here's the full text of the AP article:

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- President Barack Obama made an election-season appeal Saturday to disgruntled liberal activists and bloggers, assuring them his administration is committed to their causes and urging them to help elect Democrats in November. "I just realized that there's an election in November, and that we need you again, so here I am, showing I care about you by appearing remotely via teleconference."

"Change hasn't come fast enough for too many Americans. I know that," Obama said in a surprise video appearance at the annual Netroots Nation convention. "I know it hasn't come fast for many of you who fought so hard during the election. It may seem that our administration hasn't done anything that won't kick in until 2014. In hindsight, this may have been a mistake. David forgot that there are, in fact, elections between 2008 and 2014, and that, in fact, some of you might want us to have some reason to go out and knock on doors in the summer heat."

In a year when Democrats are expected to lose seats in Congress, party leaders have grown concerned with malaise in the left wing. Liberals who helped elect Obama in 2008 have no idea what they are going to tell voters when encouraging them to get out to vote. "It's frustrating: all the things that are tangible that the administration has done, such as health care reform and ending the war in Iraq, don't take effect until long after the election, and many other things that the administration has done, such as financial regulatory reform and the stimulus, are complex and easily mischaracterized by the Republican media," said one activist, who declared an intention to volunteer, but only because they have no family, no friends, and no life. "For me, this campaign will help to relieve the boredom and ennui that normally fills my days. If not for the congressional race, I'd probably have to get a dog."

In his remarks, the president said the combat mission in Iraq would soon end, but also acknowledged that there would still be tens of thousands of troops and really expensive contractors there for an indefinite period of time: "There's light at the end of the tunnel, and there will be peace with honor. Chill out: I've got this." He also promised that the administration is working to repeal the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy for gays and close the U.S. prison for terrorism suspects at Guantanamo Bay. "We're thinking about converting Guantanamo Bay into a special base, more like a resort, really, for gay people who want to serve. That would kill two birds with one stone."

"In ways large and small we've begun to deliver on the change you fought so hard for," Obama said, "Mainly in small ways, though."

"We cant afford to slide backward. And that's the choice America faces this November," he added. "Keep up the fight. We've got your back. Honest, this time, we won't fire anyone on Breitbart's say-so, or cave in to insurance industry demands on health care. There are still a lot of other industries with demands worth caving into."

Hundreds of activists and bloggers applauded warmly after the video ended, but some were not appeased.

The video "doesn't really change my views. I'm still waiting for action," said Matthew Filipowicz, 33, a cartoonist and comedian from Chicago. "Words only do so much. By the way, considering that I'm a comedian and all, do you know what you call a politician who is actually responsive to the base of his own party? A Republican."