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

[dagnew]

SO?

[SanityClaus]

You know, I was really looking forward to buying a copy of Kos' new book, Taking on the System, to be published in September. Al Giordano gave it an advance plug at The Field.

But now, I plan on checking it out from the library instead. And adding the cover price to my next donation to the O campaign.

I wouldn't want to reward Kos' bad behavior.

[clevelandchick]

You're rewarding bad behaviour by giving Obama money without holding him accountable for his broken promise to filibuster FISA.

Everyone accuses Republicans of following their leaders like they were some version of The Borg and never holding their feet to the fire. Yet, when Obama fails to hold a promise...­..do we not ask for accountability? It just doesn't hold water.

You want Obama to be better than Bush or McCain? You keep him honest folks. You pressure him. He's not a god, he's just a man.

[SanityClaus]

Perhaps you haven't noticed, chick, but O's colleagues in the Senate Feingold and Dodd have stepped up to run point and take the flak on this issue. But then I suppose you don't understand that they are coordinating their defense behind the scenes and not telegraphing their strategy to their opponents. You O bashers can be so naive.

[chrissy22]

GOT A LIFE GET A LIFE

[chrissy22]

OBAMA ROCKS HE WILL ALWAYS HAVE MY VOTE

[gotalife]

We tried to tell them over there but they banned us.

You got punked.

He is a fraud.

Told ya.

[j0em0mma]

So is McCain and Clinton. Your point?

[milo9]

Many of us thought he is a Corporate Dem, so his latest persona is not that surprising. Nevertheless he is now, and always was a better choice than Clinton and McCain.

[nibblybits]

Turns out the PUMA group was started by a McCain supporter, not a Clinton supporter.

http://pandagon.net/index.php/site/comments/pumas_are_swiftboats_darragh_murphy/

gotalife, maybe you should go back to the McCain websites where you belong.

[VOTER]

Reread the article.

You have failed in reading comprehension.

[SCG]

Lucky us, as you are here to tell us.

I think Kos got the better end of the deal.

[jhink465]

I'm with you Kos. "Moving to the middle" is one thing but not standing up for the Constitution vis a vis Obama's support for FISA is quite another. With that move, Obama shot my enthusiasm and hope for change we can believe in. Just a typical pol you know. So I will vote for Obama as the lesser of evils but now, no more contributions or boosting his campaign. Too bad the real patriot Dennis Kucinich didn't make it.

[sydney01]

I am so tired of fringe elements of the Democratic Party cough*MoveOn*cough acting like they represent ALL democrats. Some of us look at the bigger picture, and aren't so petty that we get hung up on little arguments that at the end of the day are self defeating.

Obama's reasoning for his positions on the telecoms is SOLID. He wants progress, and the reason Democrats haven't succeeded in the past is because they waste their time on trivial things and appear crazily partisan. Obama is focused on the sins of the Administration, a way bigger priority than the telecoms they bullied.

[milo9]

Hey babe, the question we're asking ourselves is why are we calling ourselves Democrats. They've morphed into something not all that different from the Republicans.
And what gave you the idea that Obama is "focused on the sins of Administration"? Think about it, what has he done that would give you that idea. In fact, the mixing of Church and State through the faith based initiative is a sin that Obama intends to expand upon.
I think we, fill in blank, need to prepare for another four more years of political upheaval.

[naschkatze]

Well, I am a progressive, but I cut Obama some slack on FISA because you just know that if he voted no, all the Republicans would come out of the woodwork and attack. But you also know that probably most of the 1.5 million small donors who made Obama's nomination possible are probably part of the 3.2 million MoveOn members too so they're tetchy right now.

[ejay579]

Constitutional rights are trivial? Give us a break!!!!!!

[AdamND]

I'm a progressive myself and I hate when people bring up this fact to other progressives their only reply is: "OMG CONSTITIONAL RIGHTS"

THats what its like on KOS you question them one bit and their only reply is constitutional rights.

[clevelandchick]

Progress is letting telecom companies violate the Constitution plus the civil liberties of millions of Americans and get away with it?

Progress is letting the government wiretap and surveill all overseas communications of American citizens without probable cause or a warrant?

Your right to be safe from unlawful search and seizure without probable cause or a warrant is a trivial thing?

I'd say the fringe element here is not Move On but yourself. And you really should do something about that cough, it's not healthy to be so blind to your own illness.

[jcwtts1]

Don't you guys see the point. The point is a 2300 dollar contribution using the old style of politics is meaningles­s... the money comes from the corporate sector and from lobbying firms/bund­lers.... so 2300 would have no effect at all. But with the way this campaign is structured and with the way Obama raises money, we (the people) actually have a friggin voice. We can withhold money or we can write on blogs or we can hold events to rally people, and it all matters. Obama has broken the system wide open and if we help him win it will never go back to what it was. So way to go Kos, flex those individual muscles and get your voice out there, this is how we lobby an Obama, we couldn't even get in the door of McCain's campaign, but Obama will listen if enough of us flex our money muscles. The question is can Kos get enough people to alter the funding of Obama... is it productive to do so? For me, if Obama moves to the center on my issues I will be upset, and I will speak with my wallet but of course I'll still vote for the guy. The party has been taken over by activists and that is both good and bad. It means that if you want to organize if you want to be heard there are ways to do it and that is invaluable in a republic.

J

[FiveFortyOne]

Progressives are so arrogant it's astounding. So he must do what you want him to do instead of what his judgment tells him is best.? Well if you don't trust his judgment, don't vote for him as president. It's simple really. I would think him a coward if he caves in to you guys.

[Graywolf48]

Instead he caves in to Bush and the GOP. I want someone who stands up for what they say they believe in, not swings which ever way the breeze is blowing. And don't worry, if I become convinced he doesn't represent the bulk of my ideals and beliefs, I won't vote for him. And I sure won't send him any money, either.

This post rated G. Contains no adult language or "bad" words.

[FiveFortyOne]

You don't seem to trust him and you think him a weak and craven politician. As a person who's faith in Barack Obama remains unshaken, I'm insulted. If that's the way you really feel stop looking for him to change behavior, just forget about the election.

I'll leave you with a quote from an article in the Times today. It reminds me why I'll never waiver in my support for Sen. Obama. You'll never hear language like this from John McCain.

"Mr. Obama is also proposing $500 million per year to provide summer learning for 1 million poor children to help close achievement gaps for students. He proposes elevating the program to the 'moral center' of his administration, calling it the Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnershi­ps."

[allonfla]

"I want someone who stands up for what they say they believe in, not swings which ever way the breeze is blowing". REALLY? There is a lot of wind blowing from you progressives and you are shouting for Obama to swing your way. How is CAVING to your group any better than CAVING to the GOP?

[j0em0mma]

Yes, it is so arrogant to expect the person we helped to win stick by the ideals he used to pry our money from us. Who the heck do we think we are?!

[ejay579]

So he is caving in to the more "centerists" instead. A cave in by any other name is a cave in.

[mooph]

Still don't understand what the big deal is.

Reversed course and capitulated on FISA? Obama said he supported the amendment to remove immunity from civil prosecution -- but that failed. It still restores the 4th amendment -- specifically referencing it in the bill -- and leaves open criminal litigation, which was the only valid recourse anyway. (Although that's a longer discussion­.)

His criticism of MoveOn ... I can understand. The ad hominem rhetorical device employed against Petraeus is anathema to Obama's groundrules for politics. Did you expect him to give a pass to a group because they support him?

The Wes Clark incident is also a non-starter. Rejecting the implication of military failure -- "I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to become president" -- doesn't reflect the tone and tenor of Obama's politicking either.

As far as moving to the center, Obama has always been a centrist, focused on compromising to create workable solutions. Yes, there are progressive items in his platform. But throughout his career he's been a moderate progressive, not a Wexler, Wellstone or Kucinich.

[Jay20]

Now I hope Obama wins. I just want Markos to shut up: he's not this big celebrity he thinks he is: he is just a nobody who thinks he's somebody

[j0em0mma]

Tell that to the dozens of down ticket candidates he is helping to win.

[Biracial1]

KOS, all that talking during the primaries and to even have someone trash Harriet Christian on your site for only donating 250.00 to HRC. You've been interviewed by the MSM several times and you haven't given a dime? You may have led the sheep to the pasture but that is all. If you haven't donated yet, by all means don't start now!

[ejay579]

How do you know he has not contributed a dime? It could be that he maxed out for the primaries and was talking about a contribution for the general election. Do you know the difference? Didn't think so.

[paganmist]

You know, it seems as if some progressives don't realize that O isn't running to be the Progressive Club Treasurer.

He's got to be someone that represents the best possible mix of a diverse constituency. How do you like feeling left out? Now amplify that 10 times over, and that is what you're asking the nation's leader to do to people who aren't like you.

Methinks it's some people like Kos who don't know the meaning of compromise, which makes them in many ways no better than die-hard Right-wingers. But guess what? There are enough of us rational people who realize you can't always get what you want to cover that $2300 you're supposedly withholding, Kos, k? thx, bbye.

[j0em0mma]

We're angry because he lied to us to get his money and our vote in the Primaries. And we're just as entitled as anyone else to criticize anyone we like, as are you. It's like some non-progressives think that Freedom of Speech is something one can choose to believe in or not.

[AdamND]

There is a difference between critizing and acting like an A-hole who will try to undermine Obamas GE run.

[TheJibreelaMonsters]

The daily(Kos)uckers are now crying about the Senator from Illinois..­. off with there heads!

[Cheryllou]

Okay daddy, we'll do what you say. Repeat after me, "McLair is worse, McLair is worse." Get a grip man, O is not perfect. If you're looking for a perfect candidate, you might just have sit this one out.