The Plumline: Dear White House: Here's how to handle the left's 'whining'

[flpoljunkie]

Dear White House: Here's how to handle the left's "whining"

I had planned to avoid the whole battle over Joe Biden's demand that the Democratic base "stop whining," because it's impossible to wade into this topic without getting caught up in a food fight over whether Obama and Dems have really done all they could or whether they threw in the towel on major initiatives.

But there's actually an opportunity here to clarify something rather important: The various arguments that people on the left are actually making. There's a lot of confusion about this. Disabusing ourselves of the idea that there is a monolithic "left," and separating out the different voter sentiments and differing arguments, might make it easier to move the discussion in a productive direction.

Roughly speaking, there are three different strains of argument or sentiment on the left right now. The first is the Dem base's lack of enthusiasm. This, obviously, concerns rank and file voters who, from the point of view of the White House, are not sufficiently happy with Obama's performance. This is what Biden was referring to when he urged Dems to "remind our base constituency to stop whining and get out there and look at the alternatives."

The second group on the left constitutes high-profile commentators, such as Rachel Maddow and Glenn Greenwald, who are mounting a detailed, substantive policy critique of the Obama administration on issues that are important to them. These folks see their role as advocates for a particular policy agenda, and they don't hesitate to whack the White House when it commits what they see as grave policy missteps. For them to hold their fire because the White House wants them to would be an unthinkable betrayal of the role they've carved out for themselves. This is the "professional left" Robert Gibbs sneeringly alluded to -- even though Obama himself has said he craves such criticism.

The third group constitutes operatives like Adam Green of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Jane Hamsher of FireDogLake, some labor operatives, and groups like MoveOn. These folks are making a largely political argument. They are not merely griping because the White House failed to be as left wing as they would have liked on the public option or the big banks. They are making the case that fighting harder for liberal priorities -- even if that battle is hopeless in some cases -- is better politics for Democrats overall, because it might leave Dems with an energized base heading into the midterms.

From this group's point of view, it entirely misses the point when Obama supporters respond by saying: "Shut up, Obama got all he could, all you're doing is demoralizing Dems with your nonstop criticism."

more...

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/09/dear_white_house_heres_how.html#more

[KoKo]

1. This is such a good read. Hope folks will read the whole thing

before they "take off" and comment on just the snip you were allowed to post. Three different strains of argument and that each of them is valid is a good point made by Jeff in his closing statement at the site.

It would have been better if Obama, Biden and the rest of his Administration had thought more carefully about what the differences are and addressed those differences than lashing out with "whiners, crazies, f**ing Retards and all the rest.

Why they didn't is a worry. Can they actually not be AWARE of the differences, themselves? :shrug:

Do they not know the different groups that make up the Dem Party...beyond polling for "blue collar, white collar, race, gender? Do they not understand it's more complicated to govern than doing polling for election to win these days?

[ProSense]

2. "These folks are making a largely political argument. They are not merely griping"

No, Hamsher is griping. She and Greenwald went to great lengths to twist the President's campaign speech.

Obama Mocks Public Option Supporters

Praise the President, or Save the House?

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

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

[ProSense]

4. Do you think all the griping

is hurting the Presidency?

GREEN BAY (WPR) U.S. Senator Russ Feingold acknowledges he may lose his race for re-election if registered voters don't go to the polls in the same numbers they did in the 2008 Presidential election. He shared those remarks at this week's state convention of the AFL-CIO in Green Bay.

The Democratic incumbent spoke before a crowd of union members. Russ Feingold defended his record, including recent votes in favor of health care reform and the federal stimulus.

While he's been in office, Congress passed a number of trade deals including Most Favored Nation Trade Status for China, and the North American Free Trade Act (NAFTA). Feingold said his votes against those show he's on the side of "working families."

<...>

Feingold asked union members to encourage friends and family to vote this fall in the same numbers they did when Barack Obama and a host of Democrats won office in 2008.

link

Maybe Hamsher and Greenwald can expend as much energy helping Feingold win as they did trying to ensure a loss for Blanche Lincoln.

Why isn't that happening?

[displacedvermoter]

5. Just commenting on how busy you are all the time

that's all.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

6. ABSOLUTELY!!! +1,000,000,000!!! While they're busy depressing the base with their

"why, why, why" rhetoric, they could be working hard to help Russ Feingold, a good man and a GREAT statesman in his reelection bid.

I just don't get it. The constant "badgering" isn't helping matters. It's making it worse for good folks like Russ who needs the help!

[flyarm]

8. "Maybe Hamsher and Greenwald can expend as much energy helping Feingold win "....

You mean doing EXACTLY what Firedoglake and Jane Hamsher are doing for Senator Feingold..like the email I got today from Firedoglake from their action line for the good Senator Russ Feingold?????????

Hmmm, maybe you need to know more about which you speak????????
Perhaps if you stopped whining about others whining, and you worked more to helping other dems instead of bullying them.. you would be on lists and know more about what Dem's are doing for Dem's!

I have given money 3 times this week to Russ..because of emails I have recieved from different Dem groups you have taken to the woodshed here at DU!


[email protected]
Hi xxxxx,

All too often, those who proclaim to have strong principles regarding free speech or domestic spying or torture when "the other guy" is in power abandon those concerns when it's their own party's turn at the helm.

Not Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold. He's the rare person of conviction who stood alone and heroically voted against the Patriot Act when every other member of the Senate voted "aye." And his principles don't change just because there's a new resident at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

But Russ is in a tough battle. He's trailing his well-funded opponent by a wide margin. If Russ loses, while party bosses on both sides of the aisle can conspire to keep Joe Lieberman in the Senate, it sends a message to every member of Congress that there is no popular support for those who put themselves on the line in defense of our first amendment rights.

Our country can't afford for Russ Feingold to lose this election.

Please donate $5 or more to Russ Feingold and fight for our civil liberties. It's critical we keep his voice in the Senate. Click here to donate:

http://action.firedoglake.com/feingold

Feingold voted against TARP under Bush, and he voted against it again under Obama. He can't call on the fat cat bankers to fund his race like so many others can.

There's only one yardstick, and Russ applies it to everyone.

Feingold's opponent, Ron Johnson, has more "flexible" principles. He's a millionaire installed by the party chieftans over the objections of local activists. When Wisconsin activists asked Johnson whether he supported the Patriot Act, he said "I wasn't overly concerned with George Bush in power. I'm a little more concerned about the Patriot Act when you have Barack Obama."

Johnson, like Joe Lieberman, is no fan of free speech either. Lieberman famously said that "in matters of war, we undermine presidential credibility at our nation's peril." Likewise, Johnson said that Feingold was "undermining our troops" by speaking out against the war in Afghanistan, and that it was "extremely harmful to our nation."

Russ needs your help. Can you please donate $5 or more to help Feingold fight back against his Lieberman-lite opponent?

http://action.firedoglake.com/feingold

Russ Feingold is the best defense of civil liberties in the Senate. His defeat would be an enormous blow to the tenuous wall holding back things like biometric ID programs that Joe Lieberman's Department of Homeland Security is simply salivating over.

The time is coming when Americans will have to decide: do we stand and fight for our right to privacy and individual freedom, or do we capitulate to the continued erosion of our civil liberties?

If you choose "fight," then join me in fighting for Russ Feingold. Click here to donate $5 or more to Russ Feingold now.

http://action.firedoglake.com/feingold

Thank you for standing up for our civil liberties, and for all you do.

Best,

Jane Hamsher
FDL Action PAC

[whathehell]

7. Great letter. n/t

[KoKo]

9. K&R