Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Why do some on the Left keep saying that Pres. Obama is "center-right"? [View all]white_wolf
(6,238 posts)7. I've called him center-right so I'll give my answer.
His healthcare reform was a centrist solution. A center-left solution would have been the public option, a true left solution would have been getting rid of private insurance completely and going to a single-payer system or even nationalized healthcare. His use of drones is clearly a right-wing policy. His numerous free trade agreements is another example of his center-right stance. His Supreme Court justices have been okay, but he could have nominated more left leaning ones. His current picks are moderates. Far better than the right-wing Scalia, but not as good as someone he could have nominated.
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
65 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
Why do some on the Left keep saying that Pres. Obama is "center-right"? [View all]
Jamaal510
Mar 2013
OP
Our US History teacher, in the 70's, said that if you go far enough left then you're right.
NYC_SKP
Mar 2013
#1
Because everything has moved extreme right in the past 30 years. He is left of the most extreme
BlueStreak
Mar 2013
#2
That isn't exactly how I see it. The NRA thing has laid bare the state of our "democracy"
BlueStreak
Mar 2013
#51
Banning private health insurance isn't left-wing, it's just authoritarian.
Donald Ian Rankin
Mar 2013
#36
Not to mention that France has a two tiered system where 80% of citizens buy private insurance to
stevenleser
Mar 2013
#61
maybe things like "...I would be considered a moderate Republican"- Obama
green for victory
Mar 2013
#8
Noam Chomsky: Obama Would Have Been Called a 'Moderate Republican' in Recent Decades
bananas
Mar 2013
#23
Two of our greatest Presidents were moderate republicans, Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt.
bluestate10
Mar 2013
#42
Because, in so doing, they subtract "the Left" from his base, thusly forcing BO to the right, which
patrice
Mar 2013
#31
He is centre-right; as was Bill Clinton, as is the Democratic Party, generally.
Spider Jerusalem
Mar 2013
#40
Left vs right is really not relevant, Obama and the DNC are pragmatists not measured that way
HereSince1628
Mar 2013
#48