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

[Poststep]

I read something somewhere that said Obama tends to turn it up (the campaign) at a time when people are actually paying attention. Most folks aren't really listening right now. Just the political junkies.

[Wuzzup]

Political Junkies like the BOTs that come here everyday for their daily Fix.

[rosal]

And tr0//s like you that just come to ruin our conversation, and never having anything intelligent to say.

[dawn2dusk]

that's me, I'm strung out and exhausted. where can I get help? ;- )

[aubrey8]

Oh they're listening alright and they are forming their opinions about Obama. They hear all those bs ads about him and eat that crap up.

you people who think people aren't listening have got your head in the sand. you better wake up soon or you'll be on the bottom looking up.

two months before the election and you think people aren't listening? you're either naive or ignorant or both.

[theMightyT]

You're aware that campaigns employ people who have studied voter habits, advertising, push-polling and so on for years and years? Do you REALLY think that the folks running either campaign don't know exactly what they're doing?

People AREN'T paying attention right now. Give it another month or so.

[thinklib]

That's right. Wait until the conversation is already framed or, better yet, wait until people have already made up their minds. Then start attacking your opponent.

Genius!

[theMightyT]

it's kind of amusing that you're so confident in your dismissal of years of study of elections and voter habits.

It's like you're willfully ignorant in order to protect some sort of conclusion you've already come to, or a decision you've already made.

Now why would that be? Does 0bama really scare you that much?

[Wuzzup]

Does anybody knows when the progressives shall raise the Alarm level from Orange to Red? These Nitwits are such Drama Queens....

[mattheweste]

Josh Marshall is a progressive? John Aravosis is a progressive?

I don't think so. Both are center-right at best.

[taniacaa]

Its time for some John McCain character assasination,
1. he's intellectually superficial like Bush
2. he's too rich and out-of-touch with the middle class
3. he's a war-monger like Bush
4. he care more about corporations and wall street than Americans like Bush

[Wuzzup]

1. he's intellectually superficial? Because he dosen't spew Hyper-nuanced empty rhetoric . Gimme a break....

[rosal]

I agree, he is not intellectual at all. It should be
1. He is constantly mentally confused as Bush

[luvobama]

Why do you dislike everything that is good? I am dying to know.

[Liberal2]

Ahhh, no...cuz he's ignorant but thinks he knows what he's talking about. Oh, and because *YOU* find him comprehensible. Give you a break? Go ahead, take ten...go watch Big Brother.

[rosal]

5. He cares more about about profits than benefits for our troops

[Star2000dancer]

Good God! Racism is rampant in every race. all over the world, in every race. It's not going away. It's prevalent even in the south against the north, in Texas signs read all over "Yankee go HOME!"", you get introduced as a damned yankee.

[luvobama]

And your point is?? Are we supposed to accept it? I will NEVER.

[Truthfighter1]

you guys should watch Larry King right now...Bill Maher is on...breaking it down about politics and religion, he just laid a nice one on McCain about the evil question the other night...he said "Obama gave a nuance answer which i like he talked about evil but not just the evil over there and somewhere else but he liked the fact that he talke about evil right here in America and how we like to point at the other guys"....great stuff, Huff you got to get his quote up tonight.

[thinklib]

Oh, that's genius. Throw your support behind another clown who bashes America.

Liberals never learn.

[rosal]

He speaks the truth an neos are not used to hear the truth. Your masters always spin and you take it like little sheep

[luvobama]

You're right. Why would we want peace?

[3dtrix]

And conservatives never write or utter an original thought.

Someone who thinks the USA can be better and do better isn't bashing America - they're increasing their investment.

The people who are bashing America are the jackals looking to make a fast buck while it circles around the drain.

[whsmith]

yeah! We should support another candidate that will take a dump on the American economy and sell our welfare off to multi national corporations in the name of "the conservative movement" all well waving the flag and talking of patriotism!

[luvobama]

He's freaking hilariious!!! And you are just dumb.

[long333]

Truthfighter1:"Obama gave a nuance answer which i like he talked about evil but not just the evil over there and somewhere else but he liked the fact that he talke about evil right here in America and how we like to point at the other guys"....great stuff

Great stuff? We Americans need to look in the mirror?

Blame America first is one of the best arguments made by the right vs the far left. Think Maher helps that? That comment would register as a negative with 65% of Americans. Winning politics.

[AvgPseudoIntellectual]

Now for some substance:

I am so glad to be able to say that I support a candidate who is the greatest example of what America is at its best. He is someone with a great love of this country, to which he has repeatedly given credit for affording him opportunities he never could have had elsewhere. He also has an intimate understanding of foreign relations, both from personal experience and from his degree in international relations from Columbia University.

I am also glad that he will stop selling our country off to the international gentry and honor working families, since, unlike nearly every other candidate, up until about 3 years ago, he has never had very much money, and he easily identifies with the struggles of most families. He actually knows how to pump his own gas. Imagine.

I am so glad that the candidate I support committed himself to a church where social justice and education were the centerpieces of an upwardly transformative community, and that, when his pastor became the embodiment of Icarus, he moved on. His experience in this regard exemplifies the straddling that is necessarily done by the African American populace as a whole.

I am prouder of my country now than I have ever been before because Barack Obama has a very serious chance of become its next president.

[luvobama]

I appreciate what you said. Obama is a breath of fresh air. I liken him to youth. Mine and yours. He speaks of change that gives hope for a better tomorrow. How can you not love that? If every American looked back on their youth, and all of the hope and possibility it had, and just felt what our world would
be like with something new. Wow. And I haven't even smoked out! If I can do that, so can you! I loved, loved loved your post. Thank you.

[rosal]

I second that!

[AzRealProgressive]

That is so touching. This should be a hallmark card.

[thinklib]

Are you serious?

[jinxed]

Great post!!

[Jezreel]

I stopped reading at the point that Senator Hillary Clinton was credited with having bigger balls than Sen. Obama. At that point both the author of this article and the person being quoted lost credibility with me. Legitimate criticism can be constructive and informed. While there are some Progressives, Centrist Democrats, Liberals and Independents who feel that Sen. Obama should respond to McCain more aggressively, there is a way to express those views without being sexist, condescending and disrespectful.

[Wuzzup]

Well thats not too hard to believe seeing that Rev.J.Jackson has already cut off the Wuss's balls!!!

[Diogenis]

Not to worry. The surgery was a success!

[theMightyT]

so how are those electoral vote totals doing, wuzzup?

[luvobama]

How is it being the rear end of a horse? Wow. I never thought I would ask such a question.

[Gary47]

That's the trouble with Democrats. So damn busy whining about the last trivial foul, they didn't notice the other team just completed a long pass for another touchdown. We gotta get in the game folks, stay focused on winning and stop looking over our shoulder at some insult one of your compatriots laid on you. Get more Democrats in office. Period. That's the goal. Republicans understand this from the get-go. That's why they were able to vote for bush a second time even though many couldn't stand him. Same goes for McCain - gobs of repubs detest him but they'll never vote against their party because they believe in it's principles. We need Democrats to believe in the party. Destroy McCain's campaign and elect Obama. Then fight to make him as progressive as possible.

[snesich]

I was watching a program about the famous "Rumble In The Jungle" between George Foreman and Muhammad Ali, which took place in 1974, the other evening. Foreman, by his own admission, said he hit Ali with everything he had, as hard as he could, as early as possible in the fight.

Ali let Foreman exhaust himself in the early rounds. Foreman's punches got slightly slower. And Foreman got more desperate because he felt he had to finish Ali early. So Foreman punched even harder. And got a bit more slow and a lot more tired.

And then, as the fight got into the middle rounds, Ali made his move, hitting Foreman with just the right combinations and knocking him to the mat in front of the world.

Ali knew that fights go 15 rounds. Not four. And he waited until the time was just right to come in and knock Foreman silly. And then he went on to win the match.

Remember that three months before the Iowa caucuses, Hillary led Obama almost two to one. She even led among black voters. Then, Obama made his move.

Last I checked, Obama led in every single national poll except one. Even after all of these vicious and false attacks from McCain. Obama and his people know what they're doing. They'll make their move when the time is right. And then McCain will be knocked on the canvas in front of the world. Just watch...

[theMightyT]

excellent post and i completely agree. all the hand-wringing is a little premature.

[luvobama]

You, like Obama, speak my language. Thank you so much. Obama08/12

[cosmic]

YAY!!!!!! All the progressives are scared to death that after the last 2 elections and with good reason.
But according to the words of our nominee:

This is our moment. This is our time.

Yes we can heal this nation. Yes we can repair this world.

Not this time. The stakes are too high, the challenges too great.

Believe it folks, and if you do, get out and talk to people, donate time and money, get involved, and most importantly, vote.

[AzRealProgressive]

Polls from the Times show a dead heat statistically.

[long333]

snesich: Ali knew that fights go 15 rounds. Not four. And he waited until the time was just right to come in and knock Foreman silly. And then he went on to win the match.

It has been said by others that Obama could not sustain this emotional level for himself or the public keep it's excitement for months and months and months...

Look at the media opinion polls. People are saying they are in the tank and completely not trusting them. Obama's postives are down. Media burnout. Hype burnout.

Who is Ali now?

[bluesjones63]

I am HONESTLY tired of PROGESSIVE WHITE LIBERALS attacks on SENATOR OBAMA.

My questions : (1) do you WANT to elect a BLACK MAN as president of the US or NOT? (2) will white PROGESSIVE LIBERALS be happier if John Mcain is elected President agreeing with some white Iowa woman said "he's one of us".

As a 63 year old VERY southern, VERY LIBERAL DEMOCRAT, A-A female, I have been bothered by SENATOR OBAMA's "move" to the center of American politics.

But get "REAL" !!

How can a BLACK MAN expect to be elected the President of the US without appealing to average, white, middle-class Americans?

America AIN'T in a post-racial era. America is CURRENTLY confronting its ORIGINAL SIN. SENATOR OBAMA has emerged at an interesting moment in our history and Americans have an opportunity to move forward, beyond its racial history.

The November 2008 elections will be INSTRUCTIVE and I await the VARIOUS explanations.

[thinklib]

Excuse me, but the objective is not to elect a black man, white man, red man, yellow man or a woman of any specific color. The goal is to elect a president. A qualified one. And voters deserve to know about the future president's past, his or her voting record, his or her thoughts and opinions. The job is too important.

You can't wait to scream racism if Obama isn't elected.

I, however, agree with Rush Limbaugh on one thing. He said, "Barack Obama isn't the agent of racial healing. he is the product of it."

[dawn2dusk]

I was about to say "get real", but then I read the Limbaugh quote and on this one thing, I must agree with you and him.

[mattheweste]

I sympathize but in all honesty electing a (any) black person is probably the best thing that would come from an Obama win. Policy wise he's nothing special.

[AzRealProgressive]

People lose sight of the objective and look at the superficial.

[luvobama]

That's right. Color has nothing to do with it. For the love of everything holy, Don't I wish?

[luvobama]

Wow Miss Bluejones,
i can't believe you got through the mods. I applaud you for your honesty. I as a WF agree with everything you say. I think we are the same person. It sickens me that a man as brilliant as Obama, is reduced to a color. Please believe me when I say, Barack Hussein Obama will be my next POTUS. And, I think I love you!!! I don't know how to make a smiley face!! xoxoxo

[AzRealProgressive]

Wow, another hallmark card candidate.

[long333]

luvobama: I think we are the same person. It sickens me that a man as brilliant as Obama, is reduced to a color.

luvobama: Why would anyone looking at the outside in at you and the OP see you as anything but voting for Obama on the basis of color? Obama's real problems are being an economic Marxist, an inexperienced Freshman Senator with 143 days experience and a bunch of completely unacceptable friends that he dealt with quite nicely. That is the what is holding him back from the generic dem ticket numbers of about 53%.

[lboucher]

Barockstar’s off-teleprompter performances consistently make George Bush look like a silver tongued genius. That fact makes even the most ardent Obama supporters second guess their early hypnotic socialist driven lust for the chosen one.

[Purobi]

No. BO supporters have more than one neuron firing at one time. They do not second guess about BO.

[rosal]

I am sure if he was given the questions in advance his performance would be better than McConfused's. McExxon, even reharsing the answers, cannot think of anything original. All is sound bites, slogans and bumper sticker thoughts. He makes a monkey look smart. His fans must be so embarrassed! The poor little guy is toast

[Wuzzup]

Now that's mastery of the English Language and putting BOTs in their place at thesame time!!!

[theMightyT]

hey wuzzup been to politico today? what does the EV ticker say?

[thinklib]

You made me chuckle.

[Liberal2]

As you judged the writers of "Hee-Haw" to be comedic geniuses, that's amusing .

[doctorwang]

No second guessing here. Let's see what the real debates reveal. When McC doesn't already have the questions...or when someone calls on him to expand on his typical stump speech answers.

[jinxed]

All I want in a president is somebody who's smarter than my dog. Bush definitely isn't and neither is McCain. I'm sick to death of frat boys and cheerleaders!

[long333]

doctorwang: No second guessing here. Let's see what the real debates reveal. When McC doesn't already have the questions.

What you will see is why Obama didn't want 12 Townhall meetings and only 3 debates (the declared minimum)

Just pray all your carping about having the answers doesn't get McCain to challange Obama to another Forum where he can show it wasn't a fluke. It will be the same. Obama can't respond other than skating around a question thinking what is the cleverest thing to say. McCain will answer the question directly. You will see.

[AvgPseudoIntellectual]

I'd like to interrupt this playground talk, if nobody minds...

Where I'm from, we have a grassroots campaign brewing of over 750 people, most of whom have never before been involved in politics -- and we're in a medium sized city. No one is despondent, and no one is backing off of the hard work. We have never been more fired up, and cannot wait to sink our teeth into McCain, starting next week with the convention.

Obama is biding his time, but everything will change in one very short week. The Change Train is coming! Get on board!

Obama '08!

[doctorwang]

Like the name. Keep up the good work.

[luvobama]

Choo Choo. I am on board!!

[thinklib]

You have been robbed of your money and your time.

[MadFae]

I don't find McCain's attacks strong at all. To me they seem peevish, truculent, and petty. Obama has maintained strength and integrity without trying to undermine McCain with ridiculous personal attacks. And Obama has come out strong defending his patriotism and the tone of his own campaign. I've been getting the feeling lately that certain groups are really looking for an excuse for their own lack of stamina and patience. This sounds to me like a simple case of "the nerves" and it needs to be ridden out. When in doubt, triple your efforts.

[long333]

MadFae:I've been getting the feeling lately that certain groups are really looking for an excuse for their own lack of stamina and patience.

It is called burnout.

[thinklib]

Democrats who voted in the primaries are finally waking up to the fact that they got swept up in their emotions and rallied behind a man who is strong on ethereal rhetoric, but otherwise very weak.

Want to know the reason Obama doesn't respond to the Republican 'attacks'? Because they are, by and large, true.

Attended a racist, anti-American church for 20 years? True.
Huge tax increases across the board, not just on 'the rich'? True.
Friends with domestic terrorists? True.
A less than all-American upbringing? True.
A voting record that is anything but 'reaching across the aisle'? True.
Voted down a bill to let babies who survived botched abortions live? True.
Huge, worldwide celebrity? True.

The saddest thing I've seen are Obama's ads trying to prove how much he loves America. They seem desperate and transparent. Just the fact that he has to run ads like that is a sign of big trouble.

Obama's only hope is to pick a VP who is very, very strong. Anything to balance out his weakness.

[luvobama]

And that is your opinion. Great. It is not ours. We have no regrets. I am so sorry that your guy lost.

[AzRealProgressive]

Did I miss the election? Did Hillary win?

[rosal]

Your candidates, yes they are two McConfuseds,(The respected from 2000, and the unprincipled from 2008) need a lot of help. Not everybody is as "kind" as Rev. Warren. And I know you know what I mean. The two Mcs are desperate, that's why the negative ads, that is a sign of big trouble. He doesn't have any issues to run on, he is bought and paid off by lobyst's world, and Big Oil.
And your patriot has voted AGAINST every bill the benefits our troops. His motto should be:Profit first. And no VP is going to help his constant confusion and lack of mental agility.
Sorry, your guy is beyond help, he is toast.

[thinklib]

I don't have any horses in this race. I wish I did. To me, it's a choice between bad and much worse.

But you and others have proven my point. You can't respond to attacks that are true. That's O's problem.

[AvgPseudoIntellectual]

I am so glad to be able to say that I support a candidate who is the greatest example of what America is at its best. He is someone with a great love of this country, to which he has repeatedly given credit for affording him opportunities he never could have had elsewhere. He also has an intimate understanding of foreign relations, both from personal experience and from his degree in international relations from Columbia University.

I am also glad that he will certainly not raise taxes, since, unlike nearly every other candidate, up until about 3 years ago, he has never had very much money, and he easily identifies with the struggles of most families. He actually knows how to pump his own gas. Imagine.

I am so glad that the candidate I support committed himself to a church where social justice and education were the centerpieces of an upwardly transformative community, and that, when his pastor became the embodiment of Icarus, he moved on. His experience in this regard exemplifies the straddling that is necessarily done by the African American populace as a whole.

I prouder of my country than I have ever been because Barack Obama has a very serious chance of become its next president.

[thinklib]

"I am so glad that he will certainly not raise taxes..."

Do you even know who you're voting for? Seriously.

Obama has proposed raising taxes across the board: income, social security, capital gains...even a 'windfall profits tax' on oil companies who'll simply pass the tax on to consumers.

"I am so glad that the candidate I support committed himself to a church where social justice and education werer the centerpieces of an upwardly transformative community..."

Good grief.

You are lost.

[snesich]

This person is a McCain supporter. Ignore him. He lists a bunch of lies about Obama. Typical Republican slander.

Stick to FreeRepublic.com, buddy...

[thinklib]

Name one lie.

[AzRealProgressive]

Ok, what is not true then? Challenge him instead of callling him names. Looks to me like everything he said was true, how is that slander? Just because you don't want to hear it?

[theMightyT]

wow. can't believe you actually have the nerve to put "think" in your screen name.

i have heard those arguments before... where was it again? hmmmmmmm... rhymes with sox...

[thinklib]

My point proven again. Like Obama, you can't respond to attacks that are true.

[AvgPseudoIntellectual]

I'd like to interrupt this playground talk, if nobody minds...

Where I'm from, we have a grassroots campaign brewing of over 750 people, most of whom have never before been involved in politics -- and we're in a medium sized city. No one is despondent, and no one is backing off of the hard work. We have never been more fired up, and cannot wait to sink our teeth into McCain, starting next week with the convention.

Obama is biding his time, but everything will change in one very short week. The Change Train is coming!

YES WE CAN!

[rosal]

Thank you! I needed that. Congratulations to your community, they are an example to the rest of us. Keep up the good job Avg!

FIRED UP AND READY TO GO!

[luvobama]

Rosal, They are not alone!

[marcelka]

BHO is finished; he is done. People recognize that he has no experience! His resume is light as a butterfly. Throughout his career he was busy smoozing to get up the ladder. Did not leave any impact in whatever position or job, he held.
HRC is a true leader; ethical, a real champion of all Americans. She will be nominated in Denver. Hello Mme President 44!

[rosal]

Oh no, another McConfused supporter possing as a Hilda fan. What did your neo handlers gave you as an assignment for the day?

[cheshirecat831]

Puma's rant but have nothing to back their ridiculous statements. If she is such a great leader why has she NO money to pay her campaign debts? Why is she so Man Dependent that she used her husband's old pols to run her campaign. Where were the women? And why did she believe the movie in her head aka Bullets over Bosnia was real? Why did it take a video tape to get her to admit it never happened? She could not lead a cockroach to a pile of dog food.

[doctorwang]

"he was busy smoozing to get up the ladder"

As opposed to getting up the ladder by riding the coattails of your husband?

[teapartydude]

Give it up dreamer!

CLinton may have more experience b/c of being married, but she has LESS political exp. than Obama.

Do you homework idiot! After all these months!

The War Monger Hillary will NOT be nominated so get over it!

[aztecdiva]

I am going to bite. I really do not understand the ranting of those saying that HRC will be nominated. If so have you looked beyond August 28th?

Where is the money to launch a presidential campaign? You think that Obama's fundraising would go to Hillary? You think that even if she took public financing that it would be enough against the 527's that would come out in full force against her? The DNC's coffers don't have THAT much money?

Please explain how the financial question gets solved when she ate $13 million.

[sandpiper1]

Who would be voting for her anyway..the Rep. would demolish her with all the stuff they have on her and Billygoat over the years. She couldn't have won no matter how hard she/bill tried...she turned off too many Dem. before, during and after her campaign. The IND. wouldn't vote for her either.. Wake Up..