My Problem with Obama (Although I'll Still Vote for Him in the GE)

[Metric System]

My Problem with Obama (Although I'll Still Vote for Him in the GE)

These are just some thoughts I had late tonight. I'm tired at the moment but I'm hoping what I wrote is fairly coherent. It's just my (cynical) opinion, so feel free to disagree.

In my view, Obama's campaign went negative with its talk about moving away from the past, bringing about transformational change, and challenging the status quo. What they were trying to do was frame Hillary's experience and history in the Democratic party as a negative while positioning Obama as an anti-establishment candidate (or an agent of change, if you prefer). It's good strategy, I suppose, but the fact that it is nothing more than strategy is what has made me cynical about Obama. How much of this talk about change is real and how much of it is simply about defining himself in relation to Hillary (and the others who have since dropped out)?

In my mind, it's all talk because the same man who spoke derisively about the status quo, the establishment and moving away from the past, is the very same man who's now parading around with Ted Kennedy, John Kerry and other establishment figures. A true insurgent would reject these political figures and their endorsements. A cynical insurgent would see these endorsements as pandering, nothing more than attempts to hold on to power and influence. More tellingly, this is the same man who did not talk derisively about the status quo and the establishment or about bringing change to Washington when he ran for his Senate seat in 2004.

The reality is that Obama aspired to be part of the establishment (and succeeded) and he is now playing the role of insurgent because it's the best strategy to neutralize the experience of his competitor and paint her as status quo (even though he joined that rank himself when he became a Senator) while positioning himself as the agent of change. If Obama was a true threat to the establishment and status quo, you better believe that he would have faced a lot more resistance than what he has faced. As Big Tent Democrat on TalkLeft stated, "One thing to wonder about is whether the DC Establishment take Obama's criticisms of Washington seriously. I submit they do not. And rightly so. These "outsider" appeals are always phony."

[FrenchieCat]

1. Obama and I and his contributors disagree with you!

[ErnestoG]

2. Pure horsecrap. Since when is change, moving away from the past...

and challenging the status quo NEGATIVE?

[baby_mouse]

5. WHAT change? HOW is he going to challenge the Statius Quo? NT

[Metric System]

8. I'm not saying change, moving away from the past and challenging the status quo are negative.

What I am saying is that I'm not convinced Obama's talk of change is anything more than a politically calculated strategy.

[lligrd]

3. I Agree But I Still Think He Is Better Than Hillary

who is the establishment and VOTED to GIVE THE IDIOT THE POWER TO GO TO WAR, torture people and spy on us. In fact, before all of that, I am not sure "the establishment" was such a dirty term (at least since the 60s).

[lvx35]

4. There is something uncomfortable about his position.

Between working with Republicans and being an agent of change. But I like him a lot, I think he has real vision. I got a taste of it during the last debate: When I saw how he not only advocates open government, but knows how to use it as a tool, putting companies on TV who want to advocate against the interests of the American people. This stuff is Obama GOLD in my opinion, this shows me he has a real plan.

He lost political capital with me when he stated on TV that he was more electable than Hillary, because her candidates would surely "go to him", but his candidates may or may not go to her. This is the worse aspect of his base, the Naderite crowd who says they will cut the party's throat with a box-cutter if their guy doesn't get the nomination. I can assure him that if he backs them, the feeling is mutual.

But your post cuts to the real heart of matters: What we have here is two reality based candidates, that means that they understand the current dynamic of power in this country and know they have to work within it. They both have different offerings, but they both know how to get things done, they both know how to win. And unfortunately, what that means in these modern times, is that its ABSURD to call either of them not "corporate". These guys know what they are doing.

[Levgreee]

7. You confused what he said

"He lost political capital with me when he stated on TV that he was more electable than Hillary, because her candidates would surely "go to him", but his candidates may or may not go to her. This is the worse aspect of his base, the Naderite crowd who says they will cut the party's throat with a box-cutter if their guy doesn't get the nomination. I can assure him that if he backs them, the feeling is mutual."

He wasn't implying that his Democratic supporters wouldn't supporter her, whatsoever. He was talking about the Independents and Republicans, on which I agree, a large portion of them would not still support Hillary.

[lvx35]

11. You don't think he knew what he was saying?

I think when you're playing at Obama's level, you understand the multiplicity of interpretations that result from your words. I don't think you make that kind of mistake easily. Look at DU. Listen to what people have been saying.

Regardless, the point is he needs to understand he's got a lot of love from people like me, but he needs to stay on his inspired vision and not get caught up in the competitive politics and bullshit.

edit: Is DU completely hacked? I have in my browser history this whole post, with the headline it has now. But when I came back the title read: You don't think HER knew what he was saying? So I had to edit it. Lame.

[anamandujano]

6. Why doesn't he just come out and say that he has no experience

and that's why everything will be new, that he will take us on a roller coaster ride for better or worse?

What is really hard to believe is that so many seem to be falling for his routine.

[FrenchieCat]

9. Although I don't subscribe to your bemoaning.....

I believe that there will be enough voter who believe Obama to take us to where we want to go; with coattails to the finish line. That's what counts.

[reality based]

10. What, you think all these agents of change like Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson

and the Dallas Morning News have been tricked into endorsing Obama? Seriously what bothers me is that he attracts the support of conservative media and political types that support the conservative status quo. They usually know what they are doing and it's generally not what I as a progressive want.

[NastyRiffraff]

12. Here's the key sentence from the OP:

If Obama was a true threat to the establishment and status quo, you better believe that he would have faced a lot more resistance than what he has faced.

Two words that illustrate that: John Edwards.

[cooolandrew]

13. The past ... racism, wars, divisions, fear mongering gotta love the past, erm.

[VotesForWomen]

14. good points. 'Future vs. Past.' WTF is that supposed to mean? these are the kinds of meaningless

platitudes that obama supporters apparently find so inspiring and motivating.

[cooolandrew]

15. I think his massive ethics reform on fundning speak to who he is and fighting for change is best...

... done from the inside. Kerry and Ted have embraced his future vision so I have far less doubts there.

[Metric System]

16. Is that the ethics reform where you can still eat with lobbyists as long as you're standing up?