Is time for some DUers to grow the hell up RE: Obama on MTP

[wndycty]

First of all let me apologize for joining in so late but I have been on a plane all day.

I am one of the many Illinois DUers who feel a special connection to Barack Obama for a number of reasons. Not only is he the Democratic nominee for senate from my state, but he is my state senator, my neighbor (we live on the same block) and a neighborhood acquaintance (see him and his wife all the time out to eat, at the grocery store at the park with his kids, etc.).

I think its so tragic that so many DUers are rushing to slam Obama because he did not deliver that "pimp slap" on Bush and the GOP that many of them are looking for. Need I remind everyone that he is running for United States Senator, not ward committeeman?

First and foremust not only must he win votes in liberal Chicago, but he must also win in conservative DuPage country, downstate Illinois, etc. Pimp slapping Bush and the GOP to make partisans happy is pointless at this point and why do it, when he does not need to do it to win.

Second, he understands his RESPONSIBILITY to the Ticket and he does not want to be a destraction ala Whoopi Goldberg, Linda Ronstadt and Michael Moore (hopefully my fellow DUers are sophisticated enough to know I am not slamming them at all!). He is there to BOOST & PROMOTE John F. Kerry, not to bash Bush, that is not his role and fortunately he understands that. Partisans want to hear bashing (liberals because it gives us something to rally around, and conservatives because it gives them something to take offense to and rally around), but the 20% undecided do not want to hear what is wrong with Bush and the GOP, they want to hear our (Democrats, Kerry, Edwards, Obama, et al) vision for the future.

Thirdly, he is running for SENATOR, for those of you who do not know much Senators are supposed to be stately and diplomatic. Obama is doing what he is supposed to do. Besides (I probably should not say this on the DU) I don't want my elected officials to be as PARTISAN as I am, believe it or not all of them (Democratic and Republican) must remember that they serve both those who voted for them and those that didn't. What makes Obama a damn star is he can pull off an appearance on Meet The Press with grace, style, diplomacy and dignity while staying true to his core values.

Lastly, its funny that some DUers seek to bash Senator Obama (that already is his title) because he did not attack when they wanted him to while the rest of the country continues to fall in love with him. Sometimes I wonder if blind partisanship is not what stands between us and greatness, fortunately Obama and Kerry get it.

[NWHarkness]

1. Bravo!

Well said.

[ronnykmarshall]

2. Obama ROCKS!

and so do you!

[wyldwolf]

3. nice

rigid idealism will be the death of the left.

Good post, wndycty.

[MrSlayer]

4. I agree.

The RNC would love to jump on him as one of the wild-eyed rabid psychos they love to paint us as and he maintained dignity and didn't give them any ammo. Tis a narrow path we walk.

[murielm99]

5. Thank you thank you thank you!

I have not been here much today either, but I saw all the Obama threads.

You said it well! Sometimes DUers really do need to grow up.

Obama is great. I think he could be President someday. We really need to get a grip around here.

Everyone in my family will be voting for Obama this fall, no question about it!

[RoyGBiv]

6. Well said...

I came in on the Bash Obama Day late, so I didn't witness how all this got started, and by the time I figured it out, I had to step away.

Too many of us, imo, are becoming the reactionaries we oppose in theory, and this will destroy us. I don't want to live through the 80's again.

[wndycty]

7. I am getting angry. . .reading these posts. . .

. . .of course before reading the posts I started my thread, now I am going back and reading more of the Obama bashing posts and just getting even madder.

Some DUers just cannot be pleased. . .screw em! I have gotten in trouble for saying this before but some of us are nothing but liberal FREEPERS. I won't name names, but it had to be said.

[donco6]

8. You're entirely too sensible for this discussion.

We want FLESH! We want GNASHING! We want BLOOD!

Well, at least, that's what it seems like. We're like a bunch of pirahnas feeding on a wounded fellow.

I thought Obama did a fine job, from a difficult position. He came off likeable, sensible, and someone I'd like to hear from more often.

9. Agreed, with one caveat

"I don't want my elected officials to be as PARTISAN as I am"

When he's running for the office I see the possible necessity of ths point of view, but once he or she is elected I damn well want my elected officals to be partisan. Liberals and democrats and progressives (or what ever label you prefer) have to to stop playing so damn nice.
Otherwise they cede the field to the partisans and the republicans.
This has been happening too long.
This is the one of exact things Thomas Frank writes about in his new book.

[maggrwaggr]

10. here's the kind of thing I wish Obama had said

OBAMA: Well, I don't think anyone, at this point in time, can disagree with the fact that the president lied. After all, it wasn't the CIA who pushed us into this war, it was George W. Bush. He needs to take responsibility for what happened, good or bad, under his leadership.

Hey, after 9/11, I was behind George Bush. I wanted to take this fight to whoever attacked us. But by invading Iraq Bush took the fight to the wrong people. He invaded the wrong country. Osama is still at large, the people who committed 9/11 are still free, and our Armies are now tied down in a place that they never needed to be in the first place, and tragically dying in the process.

George Bush wanted to invade Iraq before he ever came into office. We know this because all the people currently in his administration were pushing for it. It's documented, they wrote it down. After they got power, they kept their eye on that ball, when it was the wrong ball.

Our country is less safe because of it. The Democrats will change this.

x x x x x

Now is that too much to ask of someone? WHY would something like this make us "wild eyed crazy people?" It took me about twenty seconds to write this.
Why do so many Democrats refuse to TAKE THE FIGHT TO THE GOP????????????????

[wndycty]

15. You want it to be said?

. . . get off the DU and invest your time and effort in building a good name, a good reputation, raising, money, winning a nomination, getting the keynote spot at the convention and say it your own damn self.

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

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

[wndycty]

27. Why should I. . .

. . .I am just enjoying sitting back watching blowhards who have not won shit tell a man who made something of himself and has an opportunity to become a bright star what he should say. Why are you getting so upset is it because I pointed out how sad and sorry it is to attack an accomplished man because he is not living up to your standards? LOL Go ahead tell me to Cheney myself again. . .and while you are at it. . .grow the "f' up. LOL

[nofurylike]

11. thank you, wndycty. we need to hear from Illinois folk on this. n/t

[blm]

12. Behind your words 100%.

Behind Obama 100%

[stavka]

13. I agree with you with only one exception -

"He is there to BOOST & PROMOTE John F. Kerry..."

No, he is there to get elected. It is more important that he is elected than he be seen as supporting John Kerry. I don't see why he wouldn't, but let's not loose sight of this remarkable man's real obligations to those of his community - the Chicago/State of Illinois/African American community.

Barack Obama!

[wndycty]

19. This is a nominating convention. . .

. . .not a Senate convention. In boosting Kerry on the national stage he helps himself. If he puts himself in front of party he screws himself and his supporters in the long run. Think about it. This is the national state, people in 49 states can care less about what this man needs to do in Illinois. He is going to shine, on Wednesday morning everyone is going to be talking about him because of what he said.

[Warren DeMontague]

14. Well Said. Hear Hear.

Personally, I've never seen so many people consider calling someone "misguided" a compliment.

[Bat Boy]

16. And that, my friends is that.

Point made.

Good to see you weigh in, buddy.

[Blue-Jay]

20. Yeah, I kinda waiting for him to show up.

ha ha!

[Kahuna]

17. Here here. The man did a fabulous job. And they are..

disappointed because he wouldn't call * a liar. Even their precious Dean wouldn't call him a liar. There must be a reason for that.

[jjmalonejr]

18. Amen, wndycty

The same goes for Kerry as well as Obama. I want these guys to get elected and get about the business of forwarding a progressive agenda.

I'm not looking to hear them preach to the choir, I want to watch them court the skeptical. Plenty of people are SO dissatisfied with Bush that they are willing to listen. They don't want to be told why they shouldn't like Bush...they already know why. They don't want to hear invective and venom, what they want to hear is a positive agenda that speaks to their interests.

It may be enormously satisfying to hear Kerry bash Bush mercilessly, but I'd be far more satisfied seeing Kerry REPLACE Bush. He needs to appeal to people who (for reasons unfathomable to me) actually LIKE Bush, but are losing confidence in him. He won't do that by trashing Bush, but by spelling out his alternative agenda.

[nofurylike]

23. the crux:

"It may be enormously satisfying to hear Kerry bash Bush mercilessly, but I'd be far more satisfied seeing Kerry REPLACE Bush."

exactly, jjmalonejr!


peace

[wndycty]

24. Yes that nails it. . .

. . .our elected leaders can bash the shit out of Bush if they want but I would much rather see them replace them. Trust me the DU, MoveOn.org et al handle the bashing. . .let Kerry, Edwards and Obama lead and replace!

[jjmalonejr]

25. Thank you, nofurylike

That's the crux of the matter for me, too.

By the way, I love your screen name. Are you a "woman scorned" by any chance?

[dennis4868]

21. I see what you are saying but....

did he have to say Bush is sincere and has good intentions....not only did he stay away from knocking Bush re: the war but he had nice things to say about him....yaaaack!

[jjmalonejr]

28. Many undecided voters think this way

I watched a focus group on C-Span with a dozen undecided voters, and they were almost all universal in LIKING Bush, but no longer TRUSTING Bush's judgement.

It's a dicey position to be in to tell voters: you're wrong, you shouldn't like Bush, he's a liar, he's insincere, he has bad intentions, etc. etc. etc. That is a huge turnoff to people who are looking for answers, not political mud.

Much preferable to let them know that you understand their feelings towards Bush, as well as their doubts about him, and to spell out YOUR agenda. If your agenda addresses their doubts and concerns, you will earn their vote.

[Caution]

22. I love it when the Voice of Reason speaks

thanks.

[Rowdyboy]

29. At last the calvary has come to the rescue!

DU bordered on the bizarre earlier today. People were foaming with anger over Barack's choice of words, some without even having heard them. If this is how DU supports the ticket, then we're in for a miserably long and hate-filled 100 days. People who yesterday gushed over him were equating him to Zell Miller. It was sickening and self-defeating, tearing down our unity at the worst possible time.

You needed hip boots just to wade through the childish bullshit.

[JohnKleeb]

30. as I told you in the lounge

I'd be fortunate to get a democratic senator even if he was like John Breaux, and if I got a senator like Obama, I'd swear it was a miracle from the gods. It was pretty freaky I must say.

[Moderator]

31. Locking

We have enough Obama threads, including this one in support of him:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...