Obama: Problem With 'You Progressives' (The Young Turks)

[pokerfan]

Run time: 05:03 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3EVoF-LUdU   Posted on YouTube: July 20, 2011 By YouTube Member: TheYoungTurks Views on YouTube: 304   Posted on DU: July 20, 2011 By DU Member: pokerfan Views on DU: 6891

 

The Huffington Post had a devastating report that included how President Obama and others in the White House showed disdain for Elizabeth Warren and progressives in general. Cenk Uygur breaks it down. You can read more here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/18/republican-opp...

[Syrinx]

1. Obama showed disdain for Elizabeth Warren?

This does not compute.

[emulatorloo]

13. Because it is bullshit

Total over-reach by HuffPo author.

[yurbud]

31. the story cites Bernie Sanders for the ''you progressives'' remark--do you doubt that too?

[JDPriestly]

24. Why doesn't it compute in your view?

Obama CHOSE not to appoint real Progressives to his cabinet. The Sec. of Labor may be the most progressive of his appointments, and he does not seem to support her department when it backs progressive ideas.

Obama CHOSE Tim Geithner who was a Republican before he became an Independent to be Secretary of the Treasury. Is Geithner even a Democrat at this time? I'm not sure. Do you know? (Seems to me that the top economic policy adviser to the president should be a staunch Democrat. Am I too extreme on this?)

Pete Peterson (PP) funds all kinds of anti-Social Security, pro-Wall Street foundations, think tanks, etc.

PP headed the committee that appointed Timothy Geithner to the NY Fed. To me that suggests that Geithner and PP agree on a lot of things (such as Social Security is my question) and also that Geithner owes PP no small debt for that prestigious appointment.

Obama CHOSE to appoint Friends of Pete Peterson (FOPPs) to the majority of the Cat Food Commission. (Less money for Social Security and Medicare, more money channeled to PP's beloved Wall Street thieves.)

Obama CHOSE to recommend cuts to Social Security and Medicare as one of the first things to do to reduce our deficit. (PP must be delighted.)

Obama has CHOSEN to insult and ignore Progressives.

Obama continues to CHOOSE to offend the many Progressives who voted for the Change that he promised to deliver in 2008, not the stagnation we got.

I am hoping to have a CHOICE other than Obama in the Democratic primary leading up to the 2012 election.

I'm just one voter, but I am good at campaigning, and I will not be campaigning for Obama in 2012. He will have to find a replacement for me. (I will campaign for my progressive congressman.)

I do not like the direction that Obama is taking the country. On a number of issues, Obama makes Reagan look like a liberal.

If Obama wants my vote, he needs to fire Tim Geithner (and maybe Eric Holder too) and denounce PP for his anti-Social Security stance. He also needs to improve his stances on human rights, bring far more troops home and close some of the bases overseas that we really don't need anymore.

Obama needs to deliver on his promises and bring some real CHANGE for a CHANGE.

(Also, at a minimum, Obama should fire his chief of staff. In my opinion, he should distance himself as far as he can from the stench of Chicago corruption before 2012.)

[TrollBuster9090]

30. Obama painted himself as "bi-partisan" from day one.

He said as much on national TV multiple times. It was his selling point. A big part of the "Change" he promised was an end to partisan bickering. When asked if he would have Republicans in his cabinet if elected, he said YES. He promptly appointed three: let Gates keep his job as SecDef, offered Judd Gregg the job of Secretary of Commerce (which he accepted until Rush Limbaugh threatened to release the flying monkey squad on him), and made Jon Huntsmann Ambassador to China.

I really don't see where all the shock and outrage comes from among progressives when they find out he's not a progressive. He dropped a few hints here and there that he would give progressives a win or two here and there (and he has), but that's it. HELLO: He said multiple times before the election that he was OPPOSED to gay marriage. Nevertheless, he did manage to wrangle a repeal to Don't Ask Don't Tell.

He's not a progressive. TO ANYBODY THAT WAS LISTENING CAREFULLY, HE NEVER CLAIMED TO BE A PROGRESSIVE.

As for challenging him with a primary, I have only two words: RONALD REAGAN. If Carter had not been challenged by progressive puritans in the Democratic Party in 1979, and significantly weakened by it, Reagan would have gone down in history as just another reactionary Governor of California. No insane 30 years of tax cuts for plutocrats. No 30 years of reversing civil rights legislation, no 30 years of exploding national debt as a result of foolish tax cuts and ridiculous military spending. No 30 year attack on education....

Here's something else to think on. THE SUPREME COURT. Supreme Court justices are appointed FOR LIFE. If you don't support Obama in the next election, be prepared for a 6-3 activist conservative supreme court instead of a 5-4 or even a 4-5 moderate/liberal one.

RUTH BADER GINSBURG is 78 years old. Do you want her replaced by another SAM ALITO or another ELENA KAGAN?
STEPHEN BRAYER is 72 years old. Do you want him replaced by another JOHN ROBERTS or another SONYA SOTOMAYOR?

It's your choice. Obama's not a progressive. But if you nominate somebody MORE progressive, they won't win. Simple as that. Personally, I think it's better to live with a centrist Democrat for the next 5 years than it is to live with a PERMANENT conservative Supreme Court that will be willing to overturn progressive policies and civil rights legislation for the next 30.

[kimsarah]

35. You people.

I hope every Obamabot "Democrat" votes for the Big O, and every Progressive votes for someone else. Let the chips fall where they may.

[Creideiki]

37. I know you're too young to know with that Reagan-Carter comment

Carter lost for several reasons, most having to do with lying and manipulation from Republicans and part being the never-ending Iran hostage situation (exacerbated by Republicans).

It wasn't because Carter was primaried from the Left. Start asking people who were sentient in 1980.

[earcandle]

41. I like your agenda.

[Why Syzygy]

47. Nice summation n/t

[girl gone mad]

2. k & r

[John Agar]

3. Cenk is a treasure.

I hope he gets a show on Current.

[willhe]

4. yes

no need to be on a station where he has to hold back

[Kahuna]

5. Why would Al Gore want to give cenk a platform. Does not compute. nt

[MsPithy]

8. 500,000,000 youtube views and 250,000+ subscribers

might make Cenk Uygur somewhat appealing.

[Kahuna]

9. Too bad all that didn't translate into ratings on MSNBC. nt

[John Agar]

11. No one will force you to watch it. nt.

[Kahuna]

19. Watch what?

[MsPithy]

18. Some of us can't afford cable anymore, and wouldn't watch corporate news even if they paid us.

Online news is exactly where I, and a bunch of other folks, get the news we are missing everywhere else. There is no place where I am counted in the "ratings." So, pardon me for not being upset by lack of "ratings." Besides, doesn't the cartoon channel get better "ratings" than the top cable news network, which is (I'm laughing as I write this) Fox?

[Kahuna]

20. Why are you telling *me* this? Did I ask you what you do?

[CherylK]

25. What are you basing that on??

The Sharpton articles don't say Cenk wasn't getting good ratings, they only say that sharpton beat CNN in the 25-54 demo for 3 days, something Cenk did on a regular basis! Whatever, looks like Cenk is doing just fine....http://news.tubefilter.tv/2011/07/15/the-young-turks-br...

[ejbr]

27. Another way of looking at his time at MSNBC...

it directed new viewers to his web site.

on edit: I just read the article/interview and see that was the case.

[grahamhgreen]

38. It did! His numbers were great!

[pam4water]

6. ZOMG it's such a republican thing to say! Stupid glass half empty analogy. n/t

[emulatorloo]

14. ???

[erebusman]

7. this just confirms everything I've felt for years now

I've always felt Obama was yes ... left of McCain but not progressive. Its nice to see extremely clear confirmation like this so others can be clear what we are dealing with.

[dembotoz]

10. sad but true

[gholtron]

12. Well I'm glad he based everything he said on facts.

I saw Elizabeth Warren on Rachel's show the other night and she had nothing but high praise for the President. Now who should I believe. Hummmm.

[stockholmer]

43. like she is going to unload in public on Obama, you really are a gullible one

[emulatorloo]

15. What was the context of this year-old quote?

It wasn't about Warren, or the "sources" would have said so.

How do we know the "according to sources" didn't get the quote wrong?

[indy legend]

16. Progressives gave Obama a full glass in 2008 and he

has spent the last 2 and a half years doing his damnedest to empty it. I can assure him he won't have to worry about me helping him refill his "half empty" glass again. Thanks for the change Barry. When you become a one term president don't cry to and blame progressives for failing to support you.You will find the person at fault by looking in the nearest fucking mirror.

[Lorien]

17. "You Progressives"; obviously, he's not a Progressive

which makes him a member of the opposition party. The writing has been on the wall for some time now, and it's sad that some still desperately want to believe so much that they are simply unwilling to see it.

[JDPriestly]

21. Cenk is so right!!!!!

[libodem]

22. doood

I need that app.

[xocet]

23. This is reminiscent of Emanuel's statement to liberals and progressives:

"The friction was laid bare in August when Mr. Emanuel showed up at a weekly strategy session featuring liberal groups and White House aides. Some attendees said they were planning to air ads attacking conservative Democrats who were balking at Mr. Obama’s health-care overhaul.

“F—ing retarded,” Mr. Emanuel scolded the group, according to several participants. He warned them not to alienate lawmakers whose votes would be needed on health care and other top legislative items."

(http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/01/26/rahm-emanue... )

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

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

[ejbr]

28. k & r n/t

[TrollBuster9090]

29. The fact that Obama is not a progressive is only news to people who are not progressives.

Everybody, including Obama, will be better off as soon as that information gets out.

Where did the idea that he's a progressive come from? Well, he did give himself a bit of false advertising when he claimed to support single-payer health care. But for the most part, the idea that "Obama is the most liberal Senator in the Senate" was spun as part of the Republican campaign of 2008. That's something they do to EVERY Democratic candidate because they've done such a good job of denigrating the word LIBERAL. He fought back hard to dispel the rumor, and he's STILL fighting hard against it because he knows he's NOT a liberal/progressive.

The only thing that really surprises me is when PROGRESSIVES get upset that he's not acting like a progressive.

HE'S NOT A PROGRESSIVE. He is, and continues to portray himself as a center/center-right politician.

What does he have to do, TATTOO IT ON HIS FOREHEAD?

[kimsarah]

36. He's a Retrogressive

and the Republicans' best friend.

[soryang]

32. Today Democratic members of the Gang of Six were called...

..."progressives" by the White House.

And the "American people" are behind the "Grand Bargain," (or is it "Grand Sellout?")

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

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[MouseFitzgerald]

39. Hilarious

[Name removed]

Deleted message

Run time: 05:03 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3EVoF-LUdU   Posted on YouTube: July 20, 2011 By YouTube Member: TheYoungTurks Views on YouTube: 304   Posted on DU: July 21, 2011 By DU Member: Name removed Views on DU: 6891

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

[Name removed]

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[roberto IS beto]

34. Increasingly clear

It is beoming increasingly clear that Democrats do not want liberals and progressives included with Democrats. Democrats are just Republican wanabees who haven't hit the big time in corporate sponsorship.

[earcandle]

42. But the bribes keep on coming over at the Heritage Foundation and they just cannot refuse.

[yurbud]

40. the most disturding parts are those not in dispute: Rahm was chief of staff, now JPMorgan Chase

guy is.

That they would have any say over this or any issue related Wall Street supervision is just this side of open corruption.

[ijiji]

44. I Was Duped In a Far Worse Way...

I'm one of "you progressives" who voted for Obama. And I was duped, too. But, in a different way.

I never drank the Kool-Aid like so many progressives. I *knew* there wouldn't be any meaningful change. But, not because I didn't think Obama wasn't a progressive. I thought he was. Because I thought he was being naive when he thought he could get those changes enacted into law.

I knew the game was over when he didn't even propose single payer. I didn't think it had a chance in hell of becoming law, but you fight the good fight and fall back to a lesser, but still acceptable, position.

I could go on, but won't. We are all all too well aware of Obama's shortcomings and failures.

Instead I will simply say that unless Obama miraculously reverses himself on UNNECESSARY "changes" to the Big 3, he will not get my vote in 2012. I know the ramifications, particularly the S.Ct. ramifications. But, if he wants to continue having the "soup of the day" and otherwise living like royalty at the WH, he better reverse himself and his obsession with "bi-partisanship". For starters, simply eliminate the cap on income subject to FICA. And collect FICA on passive income. And, that's just for starters.

*sigh* In all likelihood, I will be staying home for the first time in my life.

[jzodda]

45. Cenk is great

He needs a show on Current. Would be a great addition following KO.