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There seems to be a growing sense of alarm? irritation? anger? betrayal? among Obama supporters this week. Today, Linda Feldman of the Christian Science Monitor put it this way:
“The liberal blogosphere has lit up with outrage, bemoaning how the man who promised to move beyond politics as usual is, well, engaging in politics as usual. Some have vowed to refocus their energy and donations toward progressive candidates further down the ballot. But they will still vote for Obama, not Ralph Nader, the onetime darling of the left, and certainly not Senator McCain. Not voting is also off the table, given the stakes. And so, progressive activists say, Obama is likely to get away with his rightward shift.”
Jason Rosenbaum, in the Huffington Post, called it “The Obama Problem”. He writes:
“In the last week, Barack Obama has handed progressives a string of stinging rebukes. First, he all but capitulated on the issue of retroactive immunity for lawbreaking telecom companies by endorsing the FISA "compromise." Next came his disagreement with the Supreme Court ruling that the death penalty shouldn't be imposed for rape. And then his flip on the heels of the Supreme Court ruling allowing the sale of handguns in DC. It's been a hell of a week. So, what are progressives to do? As has been evident for some time now, Obama is only loosely affected by progressive pressure. While he has moved left on some important issues, overall he has bigger constituencies to please, and he will do what he wants.”
In another article from the HP, Jonathan Stein calls it “Serenity Lost: Obama And The Netroots”. Here is an excerpt from his article:
“Only weeks into the general election campaign and already a notable tension is beginning to materialize within the Democratic Party. At question is Sen. Barack Obama's relationship with the progressive netroots, the online community that helped aid the Senator's rise to the presidential nomination, but has since seemingly played second fiddle in terms of courted constituencies. Obama's decision to embrace a compromise on FISA legislation -- a virtual slap in the face to some progressive bloggers demanding no legal immunity for telecommunications companies -- was the catalyst of the recent chatter. Other concerns arose days prior when Obama cut an advertisement on behalf of a conservative southern Democrat whose primary challenger was favored by the liberal blogosphere. But for some progressive activists, the issue is not simply one of policy, but a concern that Obama's willingness to snub their political wishes is far more endemic.”
Pause for a moment and take a deep breath.
I am no expert on the man, but I have been watching Barack Obama since the 2004 Democratic convention. Remember that one? I’m sure you do. I was as hypnotized as anyone during that incredible speech, to wit:
“The pundits like to slice and dice our country into red states and blue States: red states for Republicans, blue States for Democrats. But I've got news for them, too. We worship an awesome God in the blue states, and we don't like federal agents poking around our libraries in the red states. We coach little league in the blue states and, yes, we've got some gay friends in the red states. There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq, and there are patriots who supported the war in Iraq. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America. In the end, that's what this election is about. Do we participate in a politics of cynicism, or do we participate in a politics of hope?”
If you guys had been paying attention you would have seen a man who is not really a Democrat, or a Republican, not really an Independent or a Populist or even a Progressive. No. What you would have seen, had you been paying attention, is one of the most practical, pragmatic Leaders this nation has produced in a long, long while of not ever. You would have seen a man willing to devote his public and private life to ruling a nation of schizophrenic, liberal-conservative whiners that do not have the faintest idea of what they really want in a Leader. You would have seen a courageous man willing to take back the befouled Executive Office of the United States of America and make it into the so-called “Bully Pulpit” that it was always intended to be, a man who will call us to arms, if need be, but not force us to take them up. A man who will expect very real sacrifices of all of us in order to ‘make right’ the broken government he is to inherit. A man who will be President of ALL the states, not just the blue ones, and ALL the people, not just the ones who voted for him.
We’ve lived through over 40 long years of growing divisiveness and hate and suspicion and, yes, lately even fascism. Isn’t it about time to stop that and get real? Isn't it time to let go of the “Mom always liked you best” crap? Isn't it time to stop keeping score? Isn't it time to unite?
If that means going a bit centric, then that’s what it means.
I support Barack Obama for President of the United States. I will vote for him in November of 2008. I look upon my vote as the one thing I can give my fellow Americans that will help to bring positive change to their everyday lives – and mine