Stop apologizing for Obama's mistakes

[Onlooker]

Obama means well, and I think he wants a halfway decent healthcare plan, but frankly his political team has so far made a mess of things. Rather that stopping townhall meetings and organizing a different kind of venue, they've allowed these meetings to continue. And, invariably, the general impression that the MSM is creating from these meetings is that people don't want health care. Not only that, these meetings have become a superb organizing tool for what was the battered right wing. They've enabled the right wing. It's pathetic.

Further, Obama has desperately tried to work with Republicans, even after they virtually all voted against the stimulus bill. So Republicans are being given more attention and more of a voice that those of us who were most enthusiastic about Obama. Why he is kow-towing to this group is beyond me. All it's doing is providing a vehicle for the Republicans to organize and manipulate. Except for two or three of them, they have no interest in working with Obama. They want to regain control of the Congress, and anything they do will be with that in mind.

In addition, he has done a terrible job saying what the healthcare system will do for people. He has allowed the message to become about death panels, massive deficits, and cuts to Medicare because that's what people are screaming about and the MSM is reporting on. They are ignoring his wise words, but he continues with the same strategy.

If this is the same team that got Obama elected, they ought to be ashamed of themselves. They've been outmaneuvered and outplayed every step of the way by Republicans, yet they continue to work with the Republicans.

Obama to me seems like he doesn't have the conviction to fight for his principles, but would rather make nice with the Republicans. He is looking very weak right now, and I blame his political team for that more than anyone else.

I think the only way for him to fix this debacle is to orchestrate a debate with a credible opponent of healthcare, such a Newt Gingrich, who would almost certainly accept because he has ambitions of his own. The White House handling of healthcare has been embarrassing.

[DJ13]

1. Why he is kowtowing to this group (conservatives) is beyond me.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/08/19/obama/
Why the health care debate is so important regardless of one's view of the "public option" - Glenn Greenwald - Salon.com

[Cha]

2. Nobody's apologizing so you're wrong right out

of the gate.

Obama's got this so chill the fuck out.

[Onlooker]

4. That's called apologizinig ...

... or maybe delusion.

[Cha]

5. No it isn't..and what you're doing is personally

attacking his supporters because that's all you have.

[Onlooker]

6. What a vapid response

I cited specifics, and you just whine. I supported Obama, but I'm not a hero-worshipper. I expect results, and the way he's been handling things has been terrible.

[Cha]

10. There you go again..you just can't help

yourself.

[Onlooker]

18. You told me to chilld the fuck out. That's insulting.

And you didn't respond to any of my points. Don't get me wrong, it's adorable that you have blind faith in Obama. I don't. I look at the polls, and I see support is dropping, and I read that Obama is changing his strategy in a number of ways, but is still kow-towing to the right. You provided nothing to support your point of view, so I don't think much of it.

[Cha]

20. It sounds like you have a vendetta against Pres Obama on this board..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8600060#8600110

[Onlooker]

23. Changing your subject, huh?

Called you out on your insult, so now you are making claims about my posts based on nothing. If you searched, you'd see I'm quite a strong supporter of Obama since his election and this is probably my first critical post.

[Cha]

29. I think your quote speaks for itself..I don't really need to

debate with someone who has it out for the President.

Especially what you said about Obama agreeing with tom delay on privatizing Medicare. Really?

[Onlooker]

You don't understand sarcasm

Where are you from? When I lived in Norway, I found that people there did not understand sarcasm either.

[Zenlitened]

35. It sounds like you're one of the most dimwitted sycophants on this board.

Seriously.

Someone criticized Pres. Obama, and explained his reasons for doing so. Chill the fuck out.

[rug]

16. 2 posts to go from apologizing to insulting.

[DevonRex]

3. Either keep up with the news or stay out of the conversation.

How's that?

[Onlooker]

7. The news sucks!

That's why I'm pissed off at Obama.

[CakeGrrl]

21. Then the Corporate/Republican-owned MSM has done their job well.

And if you think the President is sitting in the Oval Office all golly-gee-shucks-gobsmacked wondering why the Republicans are such meanies to him, then you're probably going to underestimate him or assume the MSM-crafted worst of him at every turn.

[Onlooker]

25. This is probably my first critical post of Obama since his election

Of course, the MSM is the major problem but that's because they'd rather report on people calling him a Nazi or a Marxist or carrying guns and spewing mean things then report on what Obama is saying. And what Obama is saying is great. But, it's up to Obama's political team and Obama to find a way to cut through all the shit. Bush did it by handpicking his audiences. It worked. Obama is being more democratic and honest. It's not working. I don't underestimate Obama, but his healthcare strategy is failing. That's obvious.

[CakeGrrl]

31. I'd love a decisive ass-kicking on this as much as anyone,

but I'm willing to give it until after this recess is over and the lawmakers are actually supposed to be back at the table to see what's really going down.

In the meantime, I don't think I've seen the Republicans, either in Congress, on the public airwaves, or in the base, show their collective ass to their disadvantage to this degree, and the more we see of that, the better for everyone else.

[abq e streeter]

9. excellent response --loyal Americans should not dare to ever criticize their leaders

jeez I hope I didn't even need this ::sarcasm:

[rug]

12. I'd keep up with the news but the apologies keep getting in the way.

[ProSense]

8. Everyone is a genius

Rather that stopping townhall meetings and organizing a different kind of venue, they've allowed these meetings to continue.

MOMENTUM SHIFT: Supporters Outnumber Critics At Town Halls

Further, Obama has desperately tried to work with Republicans, even after they virtually all voted against the stimulus bill.

And the bill passed anyway. Get the picture?

I think the only way for him to fix this debacle is to orchestrate a debate with a credible opponent of healthcare, such a Newt Gingrich...

What?

[Onlooker]

13. Therre's no momentum shift

The news in the last few days is about AARP losing members, a nasty spat at Barney Frank's meeting (where he was great, but the media is not reporting on healthcare), support for healthcare declining or is fragile, public starting to reject public option, etc. Therer's very little good news because the assholes on the right are getting all the press, and they are drowning out the legitimate substance of the issue.

[ProSense]

15. Stop relying on

MSM spin

[abq e streeter]

11. Only one disagreement: making nice with repubs apparently ARE his principles

[polichick]

19. Sure does look like it. Maybe it's that "aloha spirit." nt

[grantcart]

14. The fault clearly lies with Congressional Leaders

Evidently you want an imperial President who tries to dictate policy and gets very few things actually passed.

We have a divided government which requires a super majority in one house, it is up to the Senate leadership to develop some cohesion and solidarity.

Obama has a broader view, just because you don't understand the strategy doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

[Onlooker]

17. Then why is Obama changing direction

He's considering using the Clintons according to the news, considering making healthcare a moral imperative, considering dropping the public option. Either his strategy is to send out confusing signals or his strategy is confused. At any rate, the polls show declining support for his plan, so whether he has a strategy or not, it's not working.

[grantcart]

24. "according to the news" do you have anyone beside Stephanapolus saying this?

Besides using or not using Clinton is a purely tactical matter and doesn't have any impact on strategy.

If you read the threads here you will fine two, one by ProSense that documents what Chuck Todd was quoted in another thread saying that when you ask the identical question there is no loss of support, 53% of the people STILL SUPPORT HEALTH CARE REFORM WHEN INFORMED OF THE DETAILS instead of simply being asked something like "Do you want government to take over health care.

More significantly it has been clearly shown that no President has been able to pass major legislation in the last 20 years (with the exception of the IWR) in a contentious area where the legislation was written in the Whitehouse. The fact is that if Congress doesn't write the legislation they won't take ownership for it and it will not pass.

Now let's say that the President jammed it through Congress and took no prisoners. That would be the effective end of his Presidency - one major piece of legislation.

Why does Obama not insult the Republicans? because he wants to get them on board for the next bill and the one after that.

I am convinced that if it is needed in the 9th inning to come in heavy to get this passed he will, but frankly this thing will go up and down for the next 3 weeks and he knows that any big gestures now are just wasted. Look at how it has twisted in the last 2 weeks - death panels and public option out and then in.

The only thing that counts is the final score. Obama is keeping as many cards as he can and keeps them close to his chest. So far he has gotten everything through Congress that he needed from the Stimulus to SC nomination, but for some 100% passage is not enough.

[Onlooker]

26. I hope you're right

But, it remains the case that Republicans have used this issue and the town halls as a great organizing tool for what was a fractured and demoralized party. They have only gotten stronger, and early polls show that their individual candidates in some key races are growing in strength (e.g., in VA and NJ).

The fact is that for most people it's the MSM that informs them, and Obama has failed to generate the kind of excitement that the right wing has generated. And it's the excitement that makes the news, not the substance.

[elocs]

22. "He meant well". Wouldn't it be sad if that summed up his presidency?

True and meaningful healthcare would be a legacy for Obama in the same way that Social Security is for FDR and Medicare is for LBJ.

“For all sad words of tongue and pen, The saddest are these, 'It might have been'.” I would hate to see that be the final words said of the Obama presidency. Ultimately it will be judged by actions and accomplishments and not words, promises, and good intentions.

I am still hopeful there will be a great Obama healthcare legacy.

[cleveramerican]

27. perhaps all of our expectations were too high

Its hard as hell to get three democrats to agree the sky is blue.

I may have forgotten that, But I have been reminded.

[alcibiades_mystery]

28. Stop seeing everythinbg as a mistake

[liberalmuse]

30. Stop focusing on ONLY his mistakes.

He's doing many things right, but the dismal, glass empty liberals are refusing to acknowedge this. Keep it up. Before long you'll have something to really whine about (another 'pub in office). I wonder if that is not exactly what many liberals long for?

[Onlooker]

33. Obama's done great on many other issues

His foreign policy, his stimulus bill, his crackdown on Wall Street, etc. But, on this issue, he's done poorly. I blame his political advisers more than him. They have hand fed the Republicans town halls that allow a few Republicans to make it seem as if there is groundswell of opposition to health care, and has allowed them to upstage Obama and the Democrats at almost every turn.

[DU GrovelBot]

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