We have let Obama down

[mogster]

When Obama came into office with a mandate for change, the left sat back and waited. Instead, we should have mobilised.

Both Barack Obama and I are Chicago boys, schooled in the tough-minded, arm-twisting don't-mess-with-me attitude of crushing rather than compromising with your unforgiving enemies. We are both products of machine politics, I from the west side's "rotten borough" 24th ward loyally turning out Democratic party majorities of almost, and sometimes exceeding, 100% ("Vote early, vote often!"), and Barack from a south side community-organising operation that got things done door-to-door, block by block.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010/feb/12/barack-obama-change-left

[NorthCarolina]

1. Obama has the bully pulpit. Perhaps he should have motivated the base. eom

[Captain Hilts]

5. The right turns during the Gen. election campaign and Rick Warren really cooled things off

for a lot of people.

[NorthCarolina]

9. While I didn't ORIGINALLY support Obama (because I suspected his DLC roots)

I never the less got behind him after Kucinich dropped out, and ended up voting for Obama in the primaries (NC primaries are held relatively late in the process) based, in a large part, on the positive hype here on DU for Obama. I had naively envisioned that he would use the bully pulpit regularly to rally Americans to a progressive future. This hope was short lived however as shortly after being elected he publicly self identified as a "New Dem" (what the DLC prefers to call themselves now), and I knew that once again I had been duped into supporting a center-right conservative Dem, campaigning under a progressive banner.

[Demeter]

34. Or At Least, Stop Demotivating It (and Through Rahm, Insulting It)

Although there were some unkind remarks thrown at us by the man himself.

[yurbud]

38. or used the bully pulpit to bully the corrupt members of his party into a pulp

and then fed the pulp to dogs.

[msongs]

2. it's not the left that seeks approval and permission from republicans nt

[WhiteTara]

3. Do you really believe that?

The whole apparatus was set up and we tried to have influence on this administration. I think the first time that we opposed him (Rick Warren prayer), it sent a message that we would be ignored. Rather than use OFA, it was shelved; folded into the DNC after Dr. Dean had been replaced by Tim Kaine. His choice of cabinet members were filled with least qualified of the candidates. Vilsack (who worked for Monsanto) was made Sec of Agriculture for example. Yes, he did put in some people who were perfect - EPA for one. But, it has been more than an uphill road. I think it's more like uphill with a barricade at the top.


But I rant. I don't think we have let the President down. We have done our job and continue. Please join us at the ProPeace AntiWar March in Washington on March 20th.

[mogster]

7. Well, it's not my comment

But no doubt, we have done less to attack the republicans than democrats after the inauguration. Maybe that's only natural. Sometimes, there has been a flame war against democrats here based on biased media reporting.
I'm not so into the blame game, but we can learn from comments like this.

Do we get the correct picture of what's going on, and are we by demanding quick change (or not accepting that it takes some time) actually working against the deeper change?

I've never been dissing the US left, it's a hope for a better world. On the other hand, I've never been dissing the Dems or Obama either.
He's doing what he can under difficult circumstances and so are we (you).

[WhiteTara]

11. well, it that's the tone of the article,

I was wrong in my approach. Yes, I agree we need to be calling, attacking, demanding the repubcants do their jobs. I call their offices regularly. I fax them. I tell them I believe them to be traitors. I tell them I know what they are doing and that I am not alone.

I fully realize that my comments have little effect; but, I know that they have to hear whether they like it or not. When I was a member of a county central committee, I noted to the other members that we should be calling the republicans. We didn't have to be abusive; but definitely very firm. If enough people call the staff who listens to the calls has to take note, even as a complaint about those callers. Everyone looked away or down at the table as though I was a leper. If that's what the article meant. I fully agree. Thanks for posting in either event.

[Autumn]

4. Bullshit.

A hell of a lot of people, myself included have made calls, written letters and have been ignored. Who is letting who down? Not me. I have my elected "representatives", if you want to call them that, on speed dial.

[mogster]

8. I know you have, Autumn

Peace ;-)

[Autumn]

10. I have even encountered them in

stores and restaurants and cornered them. They represent themselves and it has gotten to the point to where I am seriously considering not voting in the next election for the first time in my life. They think I will vote for them because I have "no where" else to go? They are right on that, but I can stay home. This old woman is too fucking tired and my teeth are too old to chew on those pathetic bones they have been tossing us. Peace to you too.

[intheflow]

12. Autumn, you are the minority.

If all 70% of the people who voted for Obama were as engaged citizens as you, we'd have universal healthcare, we'd be out of Iraq, the bankers would not be allowed to give themselves tax-payer-funded bonuses for fucking up the economy, and this article never would have been written. Alas! That's not the reality of the US electorate. :(

[Autumn]

17. I don't think I'm in the minority,

I think there are a LOT of us out there. Universal health care, out of Iraq, bankers not allowed to give themselves tax-payer-funded bonuses for fucking up the economy? None of that benefits them. Why should they care about any of that? We care about those things. They just ignore us. That's the sad reality.

[intheflow]

21. I agree there are a lot of us out there who care about this.

But how many people actually call or write their representatives? I've lived all over the country and the vast majority of people I meet I pretty apathetic about politics. They vote in the big elections--mostly--and then go back to their daily lives until the next big election. It's like people who go to church on only the big holidays and then figure their soul is covered for the rest of the year.

[WhiteTara]

13. in reply number 7, mogster offers a different slant

of this article. It's Did you call Shelby to disapprove? Have you called McConnell and told him what slime he is? Have you called Crazy Bachmann and told her she was crazy? If we spent our energy on the obstructors rather than the Democrats, we might be able to move the mountain.
Join me. It's cathartic.
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

[PSzymeczek]

52. I wrote McCain

that I want DOMA overturned. He wrote me back thanking me for my support of DOMA. Kyl never replies at all.

[WhiteTara]

57. that's why I call.

If you get a staffer, they can't help but hear the words even if they don't want to. I usually get a staffer.

[DisgustedInMN]

6. Nonsense.

Obama fumbles the ball and you want to blame it on "the left?"

Who's the fucking President?

Who has control of BOTH Houses of Congress?

Sorry friend, try selling the snakeoil to a more gullible crowd.

:thumbsdown:

[MissDeeds]

16. +1 n/t

[rhett o rick]

14. I dont agree. Obama did a great job mobilizing and encourgaging support to get elected.

We were fired up, ready to help him in his fight to undo bush. His attitude changed dramatically from let's fight the evil to let's negotiate with the evil. We were left waiting for his call. His choice of Rick Warren was a direct slap in the face. It was like throwing ice water on the movement. Then Rahm, and on and on. If he would have said, "I want single payer but am willing to settle for a strong public option and will work hard toward that. Help me convince Congress." I think we would have. But he didn't and doesn't appear to feel strongly about a public option.

I think he had an enthusiastic army ready to help him, but he literally ignored us.

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

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

[rhett o rick]

19. Yes the President deserves our support. But in our party he needs to be held

accountable. No lock step support here. We will support him, but remind him what he promised. Those who try to drive a wedge between the left and the center are the problem.

[Don Caballero]

20. Our Party must change with our leaders if we wish to remain a viable option

The dumbed down American people do not like to see infighting in their politics. If they see us as a united force behind our President the Party will do better in upcoming elections.

[rhett o rick]

24. You are saying if the leader changes from what he promised, we must change with him?

Not in my party.

[Don Caballero]

26. Yes. He knows what is best for not only the country but the Party.

And the meme that following your Party leaders is a Republithug trait is dumb and too easy a jab. Those people are idiots. At least with our Party the leaders are intelligent.

[Zenlitened]

36. If I didn't think your posts were parody...

... I would find them repugnant.

:eyes:

[rhett o rick]

37. Bingo. nt

[PSzymeczek]

53. Bull. n/t

[Autumn]

25. It"s not about the

"Party" doing do better in upcoming elections, it's about the Party doing what is right for the people who elected them. If I am expected to blindly support them, that's a "Party" I am not interested in.

[RainDog]

42. then Obama should start governing as a democrat if he want democratic support

simple.

[JoeyT]

22. That's mighty Republican of you.

Don't question leaders? Are you serious?
Authoritarianism is ugly no matter who preaches it.

"We must not second guess his decisions fore he gets a lot of secret intel we will never be privy to." Nonsense. There's plenty of stuff he's screwed up that no amount of secret information could excuse.

"Those on the Left who wish to slander and name call our President are part of the problem." It isn't slander if it's true.

[FrenchieCat]

18. He asked for our help, and instead we gave him hell!

And for those who believe that Pres. Obama was supposed to do all of what we dictated,
otherwise, he'd earned a kick in the pants, no support, constant taunting,
and us giving a pass to Republicans and their media by focusing all of our ire on him,
I say....

To believe that we were of any assistance by choosing to fight what
he was offering as not enough (the stimulus, the health care proposals, etc...)
and calling him all kinds of names, the only thing accomplished in the process
was that we strengthened the Republicans' hand.

The first year could have been year where we allowed the President
to govern as he saw fit to a great degree (since we elected him,
why not give him a tiny bit of time instead of fighting against everything he proposed
right from jump street). Sure criticism should always be allowed,
but the Obama = Bush meme that we saw used coming from our camp has been over the top
and unhelpful.

In reality, he could never meet those high expectations set for him by others,
because these expectations were never truly realistic.
As an example, even with us knowing that he ran on a platform
that would not end the war in Afghanistan in the first year, or even in the second,
we still "expected" him to call for troop withdrawals when he instead announced a surge.
Or we still demanded Single Payer, when he didn't run on that platform.
We chose the battles, fought against him for things he didn't say he would do,
and then we become "disappointed" that he didn't do those things that he hadn't planned on doing.

So after 8 years of hell, and 1 year of sanity,
many are too willing to hand this country back to Republican rule,
to teach this President a lesson....

but the only thing that we are doing is punishing the entire nation for the fact that
we decided that we don't want to understand how Washington works,
and we would rather side with and react negatively against this President,
when it is the media who is well known for distorting the truth...
and yet we sniff up every single thing they print, if it puts this President in a bad light....

And of course, With that kind of mind set, we cannot win,
and therefore the American people will lose.

And so here's a little something something for those who are so deeply disappointed that they
believed that this President was supposed to do all that they thought he should in
his first year....

[rhett o rick]

23. How do we help him when he doesnt tell us what he wants. How do we tell Congress to give him

the health care package he wants when he wont tell us.

I agree that he should be given some slack, but the country needs desperate measures. We are nearing a tipping point and it is hard to be patient.

"In reality, he could never meet those high expectations set for him by others," I believe he set the high expectations during his campaign.

Disparaging the left isnt going to help.

[FrenchieCat]

31. disparaging the President is for me the same as disparaging the Left.....

I don't consider the Left doing any great service,
if it puts the Right back in power.

Those who choose not to volunteer, and have discontinued emails coming from the Prez' organization and the DNC don't know what the President want, and actually, to be honest, don't really give a fuck, if it ain't what they themselves want.

The Republicans don't compromise,
and we call that wrong headed...
well, I'm not sure that many of us do either,
and I don't consider that any better.

[RainDog]

39. more bullshit

obviously you represent the administration's talking points here but this one just won't fly.

Obama turned against the left AND THE MIDDLE by embracing republican povs as viable when they were responsible for the current mess.

if you and the administration toadies don't get why liberals are sick of their bullshit talk while walking with the right, that's your fault. and your problem.

Republicans don't compromise so, rather than voiding the will of the MAJORITY American people, rather than sucking up to a Senatorial subset of reactionaries - the Obama administration has FAILED TO LEAD.

then you have the audacity of bullshit to claim that those who refuse to enable this failure of the democratic party to govern AS ITS OWN PLATFORM claims are "in it for themselves."

the bullshit is just sickening.

Obama has governed far to the right of moderate democrats and this somehow makes liberals selfish?

the propaganda just doesn't work for those who can look at his actions. nice try, but fail.

[FrenchieCat]

43. I represent my own points, and for you to imply anything else

makes you wrong and out of line.

period.

As for my audacity,

I think again, you are out of line....

but we will agree that Bullshit is sickening,
but I question why you think that somehow what you are peddling isn't bullshit,
while you suggest that what I say somehow is.

The point is that the person who was elected is governing to a great degree,
how he said that he would. The fact that you weren't listening, and expected
so much more than you really should have is where the bullshit comes it.

I detail the bullshit here http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x182048

and although I don't expect you to read it, it doesn't make it go away.

[RainDog]

50. nice try, but fail

I did read your post and while it was a nice bit of spin, it doesn't work for those of us who followed politics over the last two decades. I really despise the "blame the victim" approach from establishment democrats who want to pretend voters are to blame for politicians' refusal to insist on solutions to problems that aren't based upon giveaways to the wealthy. silly us.

In fact I was listening to Obama. I was volunteering at an event where I heard him say that he will defend the constitution of the United States and he said this in reference to Bush and his actions in regard to the so-called "war on terror."

He lied.

This is the big lie, ultimately, that undoes everything Obama ever said he stood for.

I am not peddling bullshit. He is.

because I have watched as the administration made concessions to right before even representing the liberal pov. how can you call that "moderate?" that's not "moderate." That's right wing. don't you get it? you don't pander to the right wing and then blame liberals for misunderstanding that his idea of bipartisanship means starting with a right wing pov. this is especially repulsive after eight years of conservative failure... do reward them by ignoring those who offer solutions based upon sound economics rather than bullshit republican ideology.

I have watched as Obama showed he is a weak leader who refuses to counter the MINORITY in congress who impede the will of the American people. this is not bipartisanship. This is gullibility or lying. Hopefully he's learned that the position he took in regard to "bipartisanship" is not possible with idiots who make up so much of the base of the republican party and leadership. esp. leadership in the legislature. If Obama is smart, he'll recognize the error of this position. Otherwise, he'll be sorely disappointed, I suppose, when the right wing still doesn't support or vote for him - and then, what do you know, the left doesn't want to campaign or vote for him either after he slapped them in the face. This is a truth that is evident in the calls from campaign workers who have asked what happened to the candidate they thought they were electing. he threw them under the bus. nice move.

Surely a community organizer can recognize when his own strategy has made things worse for those who supported his so-called vision for governing.

Here are other ways that Obama has alienated former supporters:

pandering to the Saddleback asshole on the day of inauguration.. a man that supports genocide against homosexuals in Uganda. the religious right is a hate group in this nation and Obama cannot reconcile their hate with the ability to govern. if he doesn't know this, he's not that smart as a pol, is he?

DADT up front

continuing bail outs with no accountability, refusal to bail out middle class homeowners while bankers flourish because of their criminal actions. Summers and Geithner should be fired. Paulson should be investigated for his collusion with Goldman Sachs.

Obama's continuous appts of people far, far to the right of the American people on issues like abortion, medical mj, the workings of the CIA, Dept of Treasury, etc. Summers and Geithner but no Stieglitz in sight. I guess it's better to have wall street advisors than economists who have won nobel prizes for their insight into the problems of global capitalism, huh?

From Obama's speeches about how he would govern, he never indicated that he was just another Bush corporocrat. So, imagine the disappointment when he turned out to be just that.

Willing to give up poor women's reproductive rights and future to the religious nuts via health care. unwillingness to even fight for a public option - I know he was more conservative than the MAJORITY OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC that wants universal health care, but since he has been able and willing to alter his actions based upon the considerations of wall street, I thought he might be able to throw a few crumbs to main street. but no.

if he uses exec. power to push through the health care plan as it exists in the Senate, he will be making himself unelectable to some of us. I will not and cannot vote for a president who uses his power to gird institutions devoted to killing Americans for profit. ymmv.

[Divine Discontent]

49. +1

[butterfly77]

27. Kick &Recommended!

[harkadog]

28. The OP is total BS

Obama was not a product of Chicago machine politics. I wish he was, he would have gotten more done. Obama came to Chicago after law school and tried to make his mark as an anti-machine reformer. He ran for congress as a reform candidate against Rush and the Daley machine mocked him as a Harvard elitist. Rush crushed him in the election. After the election Obama went to Daley and made peace and never again criticized the Daley machine. In return Daley supported him in runs for the state senate and the rest is history. Daley had his lieutenants, Axelrod and Emanuel installed in the White House to make sure things stayed in control. Anyone who is actually from Chicago and has participated in politics there knows this. I doubt the OP has even seen Lake Michigan.

[Autumn]

29. Clancy Sigal is the person who

wrote the article. He is a screen writer and author. He is from Chicago according to his biography..

[thelordofhell]

30. Elections are just battles........the war wages on

Never forget

:dem: :kick:
:patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

[RainDog]

32. BULLSHIT!!!!!!

I'm so sick of this shit.

GOVERN LIKE A FUCKING DEMOCRAT, not a republican-lite or fake blue dog.

[Divine Discontent]

47. +1!

He works for us and knows what we wanted from him when we cheered his populist comments on wildly! He is failing what was expected and should be knocking heads on the Repub-lite Democratic do-nothing senators that are holding us back, and also, in the policies and controls that come out of the White House specifically - he has been too much like his predecessor's policies on too many important issues!

[emilyg]

33. I don't work for Obama - he works for me.

[Dr.Phool]

35. I've done worse than that.

I made the baby Jesus cry.

[Autumn]

41. I made his Daddy cry.

I'm not about to put up with that crap he dishes out.

[Name removed]

40. Deleted message

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

[Name removed]

45. Deleted message

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

[Dr.Phool]

48. ! ! ! !

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[salguine]

44. What a pile of crap. Who's letting who down, now? Did we all

vote for him just to hold his fucking hand and coddle his ass for the next four years? Why is it now US who owe HIM support? I'm feeling pretty let down myself, if you want the truth.

I read your second paragraph and can't help but wonder whether there are actually two Barack Obamas from Chicago; the one in the White House, and the one you seem to know?

[Jim Sagle]

46. Hogwash!

[QC]

51. If you didn't nag me so much I wouldn't have to hit you! n/t

[Zenlitened]

54. Mr. Sigal is correct! Democrats are effete little divas who can't be expected to act...

... unless we constantly shower them with adoration!

:wtf:

Wait, what? That wasn't his point?

:shrug:

[DRoseDARs]

55. I think the various groups the White House has thrown under the bus would beg to differ.

John Aravosis of AMERICAblog put it best, that the gay community was the canary in the coal mine.

[QC]

56. Yes, the LGBT community was the first to get the treatment, but we have been joined by

labor, teachers, environmentalists, working people, etc.

Soon there will be no one left to betray.

[Vidar]

58. Obama was elected to repudiate Bush's insidious policies, not continue them.

[JohnWxy]

59. THis guy isn't serious is he?? can't be. or else he's an idiot.