The Progressive: Why a Primary Challenge to Obama Is a Bad Idea

[Better Believe It]

I respect Matthew Rothschild and his points deserve serious civil discussion and debate among progressives and the left. Written last December, I believe his points are still valid. BBI



Why a Primary Challenge to Obama Is a Bad Idea
By Matthew Rothschild
Editor of The Progressive
December 9, 2010

I’m as unhappy with Obama as the next progressive, but I don’t think it’d be a good idea to mount a primary challenge to him, and here’s why.

First of all, it would be extremely divisive within the Democratic Party, and it would drive a wedge between the largely white left and the overwhelming majority of African Americans at the grassroots, who constitute the party’s most loyal constituency. The last thing we need is to incite racial animosity on the left.

Secondly, there’s no obvious, credible challenger to Obama, and even if there were, any candidate would be likely to lose, so what’s the point?

Thirdly, the divisiveness would only serve to help the Republicans and their rightist forces gain even more power, as the Ted Kennedy challenge to Jimmy Carter illustrated back in 1980.

But most importantly of all, the boomlet for challenging Obama reiterates the fallacy that Presidential politics is the crucial arena for political activism. We, on the progressive side, have been investing way too much time and energy here.

Please read the full article at:

http://www.progressive.org/wx120910.html

[KamaAina]

1. Written last December

i.e. before Libya, before the Bush tax cuts, and before the Satan sandwich. "Everything changed on 8/1."

[Better Believe It]

3. What's your opinion on the four specific points he raised in his article?

[KamaAina]

4. The last one is the best by far

1. Why get racial? Suppose the opposing candidate were also African American, like maybe Sheila Jackson Lee?

2. Was Jimmy Carter "obvious" or "credible"? Was George McGovern? Was Bill Clinton?

3. Both Bushes, especially Dumbya, survived bruising primary seasons, and somehow we Democrats and our leftist forces failed to gain any power.

4. Point taken. The end result of focusing solely on Presidential politics is R-lph N-d-r.

[katnapped]

5. Yes, and AA's are tiring of him too from what I've read n/t

[KamaAina]

7. Indeed. I heard two AA women discussing politics on a train a couple of weeks ago

and one in particular was criticizing him in terms most often heard here at DU.

[Whisp]

9. ...

and i heard THREE AA women discussing politics at the grocery store just yesterday

and all were in agreement that they were solidly supporting Obama in the next election. Something you don't often hear here.

I also heard that my neightbour, who is a Conservative, has a growth on his thigh the shape, size and colour of a chickenwing. he showed it to me the other day while in the front yard caring for our lawns. It was a nice size, so he gave it to me, and I boiled it up for supper and sent him back a bit of soup. he is conservative, but he is voting for obama, he's also from Canada.

goodfrickengrief

[spanone]

10. disagree 100%

[KamaAina]

11. I'm not even firmly convinced that a challenge is a good idea

merely that things have changed a lot since last December, making the idea somewhat plausible, as opposed to a complete non-starter.

[bluestateguy]

2. Time is running out for that anyway

If no one emerges in a month or two then it is probably too late. This is not 1980 or even 1992; you have to start up your campaign much earlier today just to get everything in place.

[flamingdem]

6. Divide the Democrats and get a fake independent party to rise up

and it will be way more (secretly) right leaning than anything associated with Obama.

Note people like Dylan Ratigan constantly talk about how it's BOTH SIDES that are pathetic in DC

That's because he's vying for a third party, he liked the Bloomberg candidacy etc.

He just did this with the FAA Ohhh congress is irresponsible they have their jobs but deny
the airport workers bla bla

Without EVER mentioning unions, nor do his supposedly independent guests.

[provis99]

8. If Kucinich was the incumbent, this guy would be hollering for a Third Way primary opponent.

and it's really shitty to blame Carter's loss on Kennedy.