Kos Upset With Obama, Withholds Contribution

Daily Kos:

So many of you are upset that I pulled back my credit card last night, making a last minute decision to hold back on a $2,300 contribution to Obama. Let me explain further:

First of all, obviously Obama is a great candidate who is running a great 50-state race. That much cannot be denied. But he's had a rough couple of weeks.

. . .

Obama will be fine without my contribution, and he may even still get it before this thing is said and done, but it would be at a time when he has done something positive. That's called rewarding good behavior. And if that opportunity fails to arise because Obama goes on a Sister Souljah'ing rampage, then no worries. Chances are good that the DNC would get the money instead. But at this time, I simply have no desire to reward bad behavior.

Read the whole story: Daily Kos

Comments

[allonfla]

Can someone answer this question for me - intelligently, no name calling, no sarcasm?

So I watched KO's special comment and he said that the Telecom's would be immune against civil lawsuits not criminal charges - right? When Obama gave his first statement about FISA I read quite a few posts where people said they were going to give their money to the ACLU instead of to Obama's campaign.

Is the ACLU strongly tied to sites like the DailyKos? Does the ACLU consist of people who are Progressives or on the far left or Liberals (so many labels I don't who is who)? Are these people REALLY angry over the Constitution or are they angry that they (organizations like the ACLU) won't get to sue the Telecom's for millions or billions of dollars?

I'm suspicious of any group and their motives. And I would really like an intelligent answer to this question. Maybe I'm way off and maybe I'm not.

[bbrecht]

The ACLU does a lot of good work, basically defending our civil liberties. Their work extends far beyond this bill-- you can visit their web site and read more. Lots of progressives support them because we believe in civil liberties and defending the constitution. We get nothing back from them except the knowledge that someone is defending these rights.

[allonfla]

I'm not really talking about its members. I'm talking about the motives of it's leaders.

[nowRnever]

Extremism on either end is not good. If this country is to be united as we hope and dream, there must be compromise. Obama is only doing what he has to do to get us to that point. He has run a campaign that proves to me he knows what he is doing. I trust his judgment.

[RTIII]

Screw compromise.

In compromise EVERYBODY loses. Further, the FISA bill wasn't a compromise, it was capitulation.

What I want is CONSENSUS. In consensus, everyone is in agreement on something. Consensus should be the goal EVERY TIME and NEVER compromise unless absolutely necessary.

[filo]

There is no such thing as the perfect candidate. While I AM disapointed about the FISA bill that will not cause me to stop supporting Obama. What's the alternative, McSame??? I have supported Obama since he said he was running in Jan of 2007 knowing there were going to some things he might do that I wouldn't like, That is just the nature of American polotics.

[clancy11]

Daily Kos, I agree with you all the way. Obama has gone back on his word of late
(FISA) and his snipe at MoveOn was unnecessary. He has been a big disappointment
to me in the last few weeks.......my enthusiasm for the Obama campaign has evaporated.

[nowRnever]

Clancy, if your enthusiasm could evaporate that quickly, I'd have to question just how enthusiastic you were in the first place.

[allonfla]

I think we need to label the far left/progressives as swing voters now.

[TruEngineHearing]

...fair-weather friends float in the air, switching directions with every small breeze.

This is a serious election, independent guy. If you get this nervous this easily, get back in the bag - or Brace Up! and get back on the horse. This'll be a tough election but the strong of spirit will survive.

[jjasonham]

Man, talk about a wedge issue. You do realize that gay marriage and gun control is as much a "life or death" issue to some conservatives as FISA is to some democrats. To me, that's like the people who would've rather had NO education instead of "separate but equal" schools because of principle. As long as you persevere, your principle will get fulfilled. Obama needs to BE in office before you can hold his feet to the fire for change!

[111]

I don't think you are correct about Obama needing to compromise on this issue in order to get elected. In 2006 Dems across the country were put into office based on their promises to end the US occupation of Iraq and end the expanded spying programs.

I think Obama had it right back in February when he said we don't have to choose between our civil liberties and our national security. I hope he reconsiders his decision to compromise and I think Kos is right to withhold financial support in view of this new position.

[Celldumceen]

You people on the left need to stop freaking out because Obama has decided to move to the center for the general election! He has to do that if he holds out any hope of winning in November! So far his judgement has been spot on, he has risen to every challenge and overcome every crisis. I think he has earned a little trust on our part. Besides it also seems to me that some of you on hear are insisting that Obama make the same mistake that Hillary made. Hillary ran a general election campaign during the primaries and lost because of it. So how can any of you think Obama would be dumb enough to run a primary campaign during a general election. Use your heads people, we can't put the cart before the horse! At this junction what matters is winning and I don't mean the presidency. We are also shooting for a workable Democratic majority in the congress. For those of us who are left of center that is the "Holy Grail." On his worst day Barack Obama is ten times the man George Bush is, so please lighten up. The payoff will be worth it come 1/20/2009 at about 12:00 PM!

[donaldw6]

The FISA thing with Obama hits me in the same emotional territory as his failure to strongly oppose Mukasey, so I've pretty much already gone through this. I was practically dreamy-eyed about Obama until Mukasey, but that put me through a crisis. I decided to support Obama anyway, because I think he has amazing gifts and is astonishingly thoughtful for a presidential candidate, even though I know I won't always agree with him.

These aren't small disagreements. Mukasey and FISA are at the heart of the current corruption in government -- yes, I mean you, Mr. Mukasey -- but I've chosen to have faith that Obama is not corrupt. I'm going to have to be patient, very much against my wishes, that someday I'll hear a satisfactory explanation from Obama on these issues, the sooner the better.

[liberalsrheros]

obama has never been liberal enough for me. that said, the grass/netroots loss their usefullness at certain point. examples....dean in '04. they beat lieberman in a primary and then fell flat again in the general, traitor joe still won.

kos should spend his money anyway he sees fit, i'm not going to disparage him for it. this is america after all, he has every right in the world to voice his opinion.

[ProudLiberalDan]

Kos is right on. What a phony Obama is turning out to be.

If I had wanted to vote for a "centrist" Democrat I would have supported Hillary Clinton in the primary.

Instead of criticizing moveon.org and Wesley Clark, why doesn't Obama try something radical, like criticize the forces of conservatism who've left this trail of destruction at home and abroad and to our constitution?

I may still hold my nose and vote for Obama, or if Obama keeps triangulating I may vote for the Green Party candidate. Obama and the Obamaniacs don't think they need my vote anyway.

[Koa]

why do you think he criticized General Clark? Do you really think that he wrote that speech on Monday morning? As far as you thinking that he is a phony, then you obviously haven't done your homework on the man. Check out his state senator voting records as well as his record in Washington, read his books, he hasn't changed a bit. Yes, Kos has every right to do with his money as he will, but it is a bit petulant to use a donation as blackmail and throw an immature tantrum on a widely read blog site. You also have every right to do whatever you wish with your vote as well; that is what makes America great.

[allonfla]

Get your facts straight!!!! He never criticized Wes Clark and the speech was written months ago.

Not knowing all the facts is excatly what you types accuse the "right" of and now the "left" is guilty of it.

As I read the posts on these websites like Daily Kos I have come to realize that you guys are no better than the right.

[Gatormouth]

Wrong. Not no better, no different. Can't you recognize false flag "digital brownshirts" yet?

[Kalifornika]

Boo Hoo KOS. You didn't get your way on civil liability for phone companies, so now you gonna take back your ball and not play. Waaa.... Grow up. There is still criminal liability.

[olderdem]

Some on the left need to get their priorities straight. The U.S. economy is on the verge of a major collapse not seen in a long time. The war in Iraq will be endless under McCain. This issue of granting immunity from civil lawsuits is just not a major priority; allowing endless lawsuits against these companies to get back at Bush is just plain foolish – it will do nothing to protect the Constitution (the Constitution also allows the President to grant immunity) and nothing to help the average American that can’t buy groceries or a gallon of gas. The way to get back at Bush is to support and elect Obama. Fortunately Obama understands what is important and what is not.

[NeoStar9]

DailyKos needs to grow up. Sen. Obama isn't going to do everything and anything you want. He isn't a puppet. I don't get where anyone got he idea you'd agree with him 100% or even 90% of the time.

For me honestly Sen. Obama's position on illegal immigration is a MASSIVE turn off and I can't stand it. That goes for all dems on that policy. I'm very conservative on that position. However I'm not letting that stop me from supporting him. No one is going to be even close to being the perfect candidate for you unless you yourself run. You have to give a little to get what you want. The goal is to get a democrat in the White House and to get more dems elected to congress. Then things can really change. He understands that most of the country is in the middle for the most part and I'm certain that's where he is as well. Extremes to either side is bad as is "this way or nothing at all". People need to keep the proper prospective here.

[ProudLiberalDan]

I think it is the Obamaniacs who will defend Obama no matter what and cannot handle the slightest criticism of their candidate to be the ones who need to "grow up".

[NeoStar9]

I don't think it's not being able to handle criticism but about what is really worth getting upset about and keeping prospective. You can not win an election by only touting things that the far left is going to like or want. He's running for President of the United States of America. Not just the left side of it. Also those upset ever consider this how he really feels and how he's felt on certain subjects all along but you (in the general sense) just didn't see it or want to see it.

[jjasonham]

I now see why Obama didn't accept or reject the support of the blogosphere.

[4real]

Thats dems for you. Build a man up and then tear him down.

The repugs would love it if they had someone like Obama on their side instead of bumbling Mccane. But NO the dems want to start complaining and picking at everty little thing Obama does because he doesn't fit the perfect little picture of liberalism.

Get over yourselves people. You can't claim on the one hand that Obama is going to be the president for everyone and then when he does something that doesn't fit into your agenda bash him for it.

Dems are their own worst enemies. Bunch of haters. And it's not even november. So sad.

[Melissa]

He is now throwing the far left under the bus. What did you expect?

[Gatormouth]

The perfect is the enemy of the possible. If enough "purists" withheld support we could have the blessings of the Bush 3rd term and the long awaited permanent fascist Republican Majority. Want that on your conscience Kos? Move over, Nader.

[jw]

Whoever is moderating the comments seems to be biased in favor of kos. One of my comments was rejected for bad language. There were not swear words in it. But it was critical of the idea that a candidate needs the approval of Mr. Zuniga.

[jw]

On second thought, maybe Zuniga is a bad word.