Progressives Sound Alarm About Obama Campaign

Yesterday, three prominent progressive bloggers suggested Barack Obama has a serious weakness. Josh Marshall writes at TPM:

With so many instances of corruption and influence-peddling around him and whatever problems with the candidate that are keeping the campaign from letting reporters interview him anymore, John McCain is now again charging Obama with what amounts to soft treason -- wanting to lose the war in Iraq in order to make himself president. The lack of any consistent lines of attack against McCain is becoming palpable.

John Aravosis chimes in at America Blog, saying Obama's lack of attack is having an effect on activists:

What Josh said today, and what Josh has written between the lines of a lot of posts on his blog of late, is something we're hearing a lot of from a lot of people. There is an incredible discontent out there with the way this campaign is being run. The fact that the discontent isn't being recognized, isn't being assuaged, is disturbing. People aren't worried about the election, they're becoming despondent about it. They're not motivated to work twice as hard, they instead feel as if they've had the wind knocked out of them. This is far beyond a healthy skepticism as to whether Obama can win. While Obama's attacks today on McCain are heartening, we need to see more of it. People need to see that Barack Obama has as big of balls as John McCain and, well, Hillary Clinton.

Joe Sudbay adds:

Just to be clear, this isn't the kind of post we want to be writing right now. We'd much rather be beating the crap out of John McCain's hypocrisy and rebutting the Karl Rove attacks on Obama. Anyone who read this blog during the primaries knows how strongly we felt about nominating Obama. Our commitment can't be questioned. We really, really, really want a Democratic president. But, we're not getting much to work with from the Obama campaign, hence this post. As John wrote, this feeling is pervasive. For some reason, Obama's top advisers seem to be living in their own bubble and this campaign, which we all thought would be different, is starting to feel like Democratic campaigns of the past. There's plenty of time to fix this. The blogs are poised to help (should the campaign ever decide to truly engage us). Not to be corny, but this campaign isn't about Barack Obama or his campaign staff or his media consultants or his Internet team. It's bigger than all of them and they need to realize that. This really is about our nation's future. We have to win and the Obama campaign needs to let us all help him win.

Today Obama responded to McCain's patriotism attacks in a style he used effectively against Hillary Clinton -- criticizing the tone of his opponent's campaign. Whether that will blunt those attacks or satisfy worried observers remains to be seen.

Comments

[ErieCanaller]

05:03 PM on 08/20/2008

Sorry, Joe, your words ring hollow. If you really wanted to win, really wanted a Democrat in the White House, you would have supported Hillary Clinton. And it gives me absolutely no joy to say We Told You So.

[GoldenRules]

02:10 PM on 08/20/2008

A Return To "Lesser Of Two Evils"!?

During the Primaries I didn't vote for Obama but as the Primaries started to come to a close, I changed my mind. It is not important to me what race, gender, or religious background my presidential candidate has\is. I never expect to agree on every issue with any candidate. What is important to me, is that I can put trust in what a candidate says he\she believes. What made me think that Obama is trustworthy, is his inspiring speeches, his above the fray politics, and his policy position steadfastness. The "Refining" that has now occurred during this election Obama(Great) vs McCain(Evil), has cast some doubt in my mind as to the validity of finally being able to chose a President based on the greater of two candidates. This leads me to my question for bloggers. Have we returned to politics as usual "Lesser Of Two Evils"?

[SilkySoul]

01:13 PM on 08/20/2008

Now zogby/Reuters has McBush up 5 points and 9 points on the economy.You cannot attack
some one and with the same breath say he's an American hero,I respect his service,he' a patriot,
has love for country etc.Why in heavens would you remind some one of their positive which is
negative for you.This is the kind of timid mindset operating in the Obama camp trying to reach out
to people who will never vote democratic.....Unless Obama start saying republicans has ran this
country in a ditch,started this war,raised the debt nearly 50% ,destroyed our foreign policy,shipped
our jobs overs seas he will not win against McCain.

[MrTessier]

01:52 PM on 08/20/2008

The very last speach I saw he said all those things. I do have to agree, that I wouldn't keep starting every speach with the bit about McCain being a hero, it's too much like starting with 'My Friends'.

[AC500]

12:36 PM on 08/20/2008

Let's face it. Obama has become boring. Same old, same old. Now he only appears weak with his shift to the center. A bold, new kinda leader was nominated ... that leader has morphed into a caricature of every other limp Democratic candidate who has gone before him ... Maybe its the system. These guys get groomed into what others think he should look like in order to win. What a shame. His shine is gone. His base dispirited. Obama is too new on the scene to be shifting positions on everything. Makes people nervous. Makes the base wonder where their candidate has gone. Makes people mistrust him. Darn. Darn. Darn.

[louishenna]

12:03 PM on 08/20/2008

I've listened to both sides of the argument concerning the direction of Obama's campaign. While both sides suggest insightful comments that will help his campaign (I do hope that Obama's people read progressive blogs like HuffPo), I'll like to call to mind the fact that Obama's present compaign is making a huge mistake - They are not invigorating their base like McCain's campaign is doing. With the hasty and early shift towards the finicky center of the electorate (that actually drive the polls), Obama's campaign has relegated the support of his base (who were actually responsible for his nomination) to the background. He has failed to fire-up his core supporters who ought to be his foot soldiers and his main front in the task to convince independents and undecideds about the viability of his candidacy, and more importantly, attack the falsehoods and negativity from the McCain campaign. McCain has made too many errors within this campaign cycle that the Obama camp have not capitalized on; errors if made by Obama would have sunk his campaign.

Obama, fire-up and empower your base! Stop being afraid of losing the election, and free yourself from the bonds of "the script". Remember how you got where you are today, and do not believe you got there by power of your speeches and charisma only.

[slowhand0728]

12:00 PM on 08/20/2008

The switching of positions or just about any other "GROWTH" in positions Obama has had will not hurt him with the liberals, the persons who are now moving away from Obama are the centrists which are becoming more and more concerned with the inconsistencies and lack of clear policy.
If this keeps up the polls will continue to show McCain leading and that will grow.
Say ANYTHING to WIN is not going to work.

[Michael Gene Sullivan]

11:26 AM on 08/20/2008

You know how in zombie movies, no matter how far or fast the heros run the zombies are always still slowly, unerringly trudging after them? And any time the heros try to relax, turn their attention to something else, or just sleep, part of them knows that there is still an army of unDead which will never, ever stop pursuing them? That's the horror of zombies - you can't kill them because they are already dead, and they will never stop in their quest to eat your brain.

And that's what Sen. Obama is dealing with.

The problem, in my opinion, is that for the last few weeks too many meetings in the Obama camp have been focused not on running against McCain, but finishing the run against Hillary. This is what the PUMA people wanted: keep the fight going until the convention, pull Obama's energy to appeasing Clinton - why isn't she VP, when is she going to speak, what about her debt, on and on... all the headlines we see everyday about the person who is not even the nominee - and then they point at Obama and say "He is not the strongest candidate." There are probably just as many meetings that start with "How do we respond to the Clinton supporters?" as start with "How do we respond to McCain?"

In short, by trying to keep his brain from being eaten by the unDead Obama is failing to fight off the barely alive.

[MrTessier]

01:54 PM on 08/20/2008

Great analogy! It would be interesting to be a fly on the wall listening in to what they're saying at campaign HQ.

[alice1970]

11:25 AM on 08/20/2008

Barack is the guy who calls women workers "sweetie." wants to increase Bush's Faith Based Initiative, Voted FOR FISA after saying he would filibuster it and voted for Dick Cheney's Energy Bill.

And you are just NOW waking up to the fact that Hillary has a bigger set of "balls" than Obama.
Hillary has a set of Iron Ovaries and so do I.

As a feminist progressive liberal I could never vote for a cndidate who is sexist and voted for FISA.
Hillary voted NO on FISA. The narcissistic wing of the Demcoratic Party (self-proclaimed liberal left) screwed this one up big time. You didn't do it alone. Pelosi, Dean, Kerry, Kennedy and Dodd helped.
You should ALL leave the party.

[MrTessier]

01:56 PM on 08/20/2008

Is it too much to ask that you mention have some point in reference to the article before you post something? You clearly have no interest in the campaign any more, so what's the point?

[Independent voter]

08:17 AM on 08/20/2008

Candidates who did not fight back against the Republican hate machine:

McGovern
Dukakis
Gore
Kerry
Obama

See a pattern here?

"The lack of any consistent lines of attack against McCain is becoming palpable. " was right on target

[BlackbirdHighway]

09:32 AM on 08/20/2008

That was Hilliary's strength: fighting back, fighting back hard, and loving every minute of it.

[greejambri]

12:08 PM on 08/20/2008

No, actually she was more like the Republicans in that she was an initiator of smear. You have your facts wrong.

[antaeus]

09:49 AM on 08/20/2008

And don't forget Adlai Stevenson, the original Illinois Professor Brainiac Loser Candidate.

[manicallday]

08:06 AM on 08/20/2008

He needs to bring back his base and act nice. There was a report that proved that Obama's FISA and NAFTA position cost him support. http://openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=7579. Further, I believe his supporters are also costing him. They are the worst group ever. They are nothing more than irritating fanatics. They don't have a solid grip issues and result to name calling. Here is a tip: not wanting McCain to win is not a position. If someone challenges your candidate on an issue, like FISA, then calling them a "right-wing windbag" will not help your candidate. It will only push more of voters like me to the third parties. Further, it is alright to be critical of your own candidate. Nobody expects a presidential candidate to be perfect. So relax and try to make new friends. You might just bring you candidate some new supporters.

[zann]

05:26 AM on 08/20/2008

Obama is who he is. Cool-headed, intellectual, and unnusually respectful of opponents- all good qualities for a president in dangerous times. He can't pose as somebody else- it would come across as fatally inauthentic, and he would hit too many wrong notes trying to follow through.

The tones of Obama's speeches sound rote now instead of inspired. My two cents worth is: he needs to rediscover his inspired reformer's voice and let go of the calculated campaign strategies in his head.

Strategic posing is the way of the Republicans, who have to lie and misdirect and be good at it or we'd never let them keep sucking up all the wealth and fairness and democracy. McCain's continuous Obama sneer feels completely authentic. (Not that Obama doesn't have an inner imperialist too).

[MrTessier]

01:08 PM on 08/20/2008

Great post. I very much agree. When I read all these posts saying he should make a run back to the left, or mud sling more, it's ignoring the point. He just isn't that kind of candidate. Maybe folks didn't know that when they nominated him, but he is what he is.

We have become so used to negative campaigning, and it's effects, that when you act with dignity, it backfires.

Obama's not going to win people over talking about his policies, that's the job of all those supporters around the country making phone calls and talking with their friends. I agree that a new wave of inspiration is needed, and we know he can do it. Trying to go more negative than the republicans is a losing proposition. They don't seem to have any scruples and appear to be willing to lie about just about anything. It is our job to do the best possible job in combating it, if we won't, then he'll lose.

[Jessegirl]

03:42 AM on 08/20/2008

For the General election, Obama has to cater more to the stupid people.
The ones who believe 9/11 and Iraq are connected.
The ones who would belive that Obama is a Muslim etc etc
The General election is all about "perception", not so much reality.
The smart people will stand by him in the end, knowing that there is a bigger
payoff in the end....he's just got to now lower himself and get dirty.

Right now, the stupid people are falling for McCains "war agenda for America",
where the country is somehow safer through another prison camp story or
Iraq justification/explanation.

Dumb your campaign down and get dirty.
Sway the stupid people our way, they are the lazy voters, and trying to swing
them with the "facts and information" is Mission Impossible.

[Lemeritus]

08:22 AM on 08/20/2008

"Obama has to cater more to the stupid people".

Ain't working, Jessegirl, and that's just the point a lot of people are trying to make. The formula should be hanging on to his liberal/progressive base and adding independents -- instead he's vexing his base (on FISA and off-shore drilling, for example) and trying to appeal to McCain's organic block of support. After eight years of George W., this should be a no-brainer, but we're losing our lead.

[jmpurser]

08:45 AM on 08/20/2008

Agreed. Obama is losing the "no-brainer" race. Personally I think it's in large part due to his pursuit of the "no-brainer" electorate and abandoning the "got a clue" sector.

[MyNameIsJames]

11:04 AM on 08/20/2008

Wrong - Obama needs to inspire and turn out his base. If he does that he will win. Look at Party ID the Dem's are up by more than 10%

[bpowell1]

11:44 AM on 08/20/2008

This is why the Republicans win. The Democrats have no loyalty too each other. Look at how all of the Hilary supporters are. And this is why no Democrat has won in sixteen years. He should have Democratic leaders out fighting against this book and everything else that's out here. But they are mad because Obama didn't do what they wanted him to do. And this is how the Republicans win through unity.

[Frenchy9]

02:41 AM on 08/20/2008

I add (again...) my humble voice to approve the ideas in this blog. It could not be said better.
We have plenty of time, yes ... but START NOW, PLEASE.

[unscum]

02:23 AM on 08/20/2008

It's pretty amazing how badly the Obama campaign has been out maneuvered by the McCain campaign since he got back from his trip abroad. I must say, those Rovian advisers in McCain's campaign are pretty smart. They know the buttons to push, they know how to fire up their base.

The election was an is going to be about which campaign can more effectively characterize the opposing candidate. Well, that's been settled, and the McCain has done a much better job of doing that. The mainstream media has a lot to do with that. The MSM are powerful and they know it, they will decide this election.

The election is still pretty close but for the first time in this campaign I see the possibility of Obama loosing this election.

[doctorwang]

02:47 AM on 08/20/2008

First of all its losing- not loosing. I'll be the first to admit that R0ve is a genius when it comes to PR....and smear tactics. Just ask McC about his 2000 run. However, O isn't sitting back and taking it like Kerry and McC did. And we've yet to see how McC operates in an actual debate- where the crowd isn't filled with evangelical conservatives, the questions aren't religious based, and where McC may get pressed for clarification on his stump speech answers. Give it a few weeks. You might change your tune.

[AzRealProgressive]

03:24 AM on 08/20/2008

You are right, it could go either way, and there are more debates. Quit being such an English major. The first line about correcting one word is nit picking.

[MyNameIsJames]

11:13 AM on 08/20/2008

What's with the Inglish lesson?

I have to say that it is time for Obama supporters to wipe those glib smiles off their faces, and realize that this is a WAR. This is not a conversation about "change" - where everyone goes away feeling good about the butterflies and rainbows.

Obama needs to start fighting back-- It's not about nuance and subtlety. F*** that approach.

Kerry and Gore tried that strategy and they ended on the trash heap. Obama tighten up your jockstrap, put on your brass knuckles and your steel tipped boots and then lets get into the fight.

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

10:09 AM on 08/20/2008

The latest Zogby poll out this morning shows John McCain with a five point lead in the national poll.

[sand cat]

01:55 AM on 08/20/2008

The press spinning for Obama? Swerinjer, what country have you been in?

Oh, yeah, I forgot. Republican la-la land is preferable to listening to the whining of the "reality-based community," isn't it?