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

[rosal]

I think its not so much the engagement on nasty attacks, but how to talk to the country. O. and most Dems speak as if everybody was an intellectual. The Repubs talk to the people like they talk to the next door neighbor, very casual, concise, small words, and in everyday terms. Then they decorate their spin with words that target feelings, love for country, anger at others for doing or not doing something, pride, etc. Another tactic I have noticed, is how they use the same criticism against them for doing something, against his opponent. For example McExxon just cannot read from a teleprompter. So what are they doing now? Repeating and repeating how O cannot function without a telempromter.This way O. might not use a telepromter anymore and they play in an even field.
I am amazed how Dems don't have first class coaches in communication, and all tactics related to this.

[long333]

rosal: "So what are they doing now? Repeating and repeating how O cannot function without a telempromter."

No, the point is that he isn't really using his unedited core belielfs on the telepromter to come off that smooth and thus is a phony. The glowing rhetoric dissappears and it is noticeable.

However you want to take that but don't missread what they are trying to communicate to others. The difference IS easy to see BTW thus making for a "You are right!" moment with the target (increasing confidence in the communicator) and so it goes. The communicator can add on another message.

[littlepuffycloud]

O is not going to sling slime, what's so hard to understand about that?

[who38]

Wasn't Josh a Hillary supporter?

[Wuzzup]

Well lighten up Guys on the Brightside there is probably somebody in O's camp monitoring this blog even while we post comments. What they can make of the wide range of opinions expressed here is left to be seen! On my part I hope they know what they are doing, Axelrod you are becoming too complacent with your victory in the Primaries the latest TIME/BLOOMBERG National poll O-45,JMc-43 dosen't look very good for your guy better get your game on or..............BTW it's down from O-49,JMc-37 post-primaries.

[GhiaccioPronto]

Obama pounds the podium at vfw and threatens russia with withdraw from nuclear agreements

[barriosbabe]

Aren't there 2 types of attacks? Nasty, personal, dumbed down crap we don't want to engage in. And honest reminders of what a sell out creep JM is? Obama, please, more of category 2!

[confuseddemocrat]

Finally voices of reason.

It is not about Obama, it is about winning the election and its about taking back the country from the republicans who have all but destroyed the American middle class, our military and our constitution.

This is John Kerry part II. It is frustrating that we democrats can't quite figure out how to win the big one. Even though I have to say if my candidate Edwards had won, it would even been more of a catastrophe.

[who38]

I think that Obama is doing what he must do. It is up to the party to support him. If half of the Democarats in the House are going to support Hillary at the convention, this does not look good. Can you imagine that happening at the Republican convention? Obama cannot save the Dems by himself, with or without mudslinging. My senators are both sitting on their hands; although, one did go to Connecticut to support Lieberman and the other votes for every neo-con bill presented. Even Maxine is quiet, but she was a Hillary supporter. Maybe this group thinks that Hillary can steal the convention after all. Pity.

[long333]

confuseddemocrat: "It is frustrating that we democrats can't quite figure out how to win the big one. "

Nominate people with your head and not your heart and you would have noticed he has a thin resume nad was far left. The only prez winner was Clinton who ran as a New (read center) Democrat with a resume.

[ohmercy]

I can't find the part 1 of this so I'll just post it separately.

No matter how unpopular a remark/analysis it might be O should have named HRC his Veep pick a week after her leaving the race.
There would be a lot of excitement and hard work coming from those who now just aren't that involved anymore.
Its hard to get invested after being so relentlessly attacked, and unjustly I might add..

All that being said he can't pick her now because it will look bad.
Personally I don't want her as VP for many reasons, 2 of which is that if O loses she will be blamed and because she would have to show a united front as veep for policies she may not aghree with. I think she had enough of that as First lady.
Also I think she can do more important work in the Senate where we need to keep more Progressive voices. And Yes, she is progressive which anyone who had bothered to research would have found out for themselves- more liberal than O as a matter of fact.

went over again.

[ohmercy]

Still if he had done it right away he would have rallied a lot of people who now are demoralized not because she lost but because of the stupidity of people like Josh and John above who beat the hell out of her and her supporters non stop... not to mention Keithy Rovermann, Chrissy M and the rest who are still taking shots whenever possible.

Itts a shame that he didn't put winning first. There would have been a lot of excitement from a lot of people with HRC kicking Ass and O doing his unification thing.

Right now things don't look too unified.

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

Thank you. It's always a pleasure to read your posts that so accurately reflect what I feel. And you're correct. I really don't care now who wins the presidency. We will do fine if we can maintain a majority in both houses. And the repubes made this mess....let one of them clean it up. Or, I should say, let one of them get blamed for not being able to clean it up.

[who38]

If the Dems are in the majority, won't they be responsible for the clean-up as well? If Mac wins, based on your logic, we will have a SCOTUS that will be the worst nightmare ever for your daughters and grandaughters. I am sorry that you are so short sighted. You will rue your decision in the same way that black Americans rue their support of Clarence Thomas.

[cheshirecat831]

Bullets over Bosnia would hound her and Mac and Cheese would swan into the WH. Face it, she allowed the men running her campaign to turn it into a shambles. She comes off as totally Man Dependent to any thinking person, especially thinking feminist.

[who38]

How did Obama attack Hillary? I think the the attacks came from other places, including those initiated by Bill. Note his statement re/ McCain. Why did he say that? If Obama loses and Hillary runs in 2012, she better not have Bill at her side.

[closetodemfection]

If O loses the only thing people will remember is the progressive wing of the party blowing the biggest cakewalk election in history by not nominating HRC.

[closetodemfection]

If he'd done that he would have been guaranteed to keep the nomination. Now he's in serious trouble. And HRC won't touch the bottom of the losing ticket with a ten foot pole.

[cheshirecat831]

Has it occurred to anyone that the O camp has the goods (lobbying connections etc) on JMC and are saving it for later in the campaign when he will be less able to obfuscate his way out of it? Please bear in mind that O plays chess and Mac and Cheese is barely up to checkers

[crankiyanki]

It certainly occurs to me. I think Obama is just keeping his powder dry for the moment. McCain has $21M he has to spend by the Republican convention, can't use it in the general. McCains been giving them lots of fodder over the summer, Obama's playing it cool. Smart enough to know the major part of the electorate is not paying attention during the summer months. Watch and learn people.

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

I can only hope Cheshire...I can only hope.

[who38]

Something I read today compared Putin and Bush with the analogy that Putin played chess while Bush played Monopoly. But O needs to remember that timing counts. If he waits too long, his strength will be become weakness. This game is neither chess, Monopoly or checkers.

[long333]

cheshirecat831 "Please bear in mind that O plays chess and Mac and Cheese is barely up to checkers"

Keep in mind Obama the Freshman senator is from the rigged Chicago game where anybody with a D is golden. He ran as a black man in South Chicago. His republican Senate opponent withdrew over a sex scandal.

His arguments have NEVER been sharpened by a republican opponent for a contested general election.

Grandpa on the other hand has been around since Reagan and ran for Prez in 2000. I would hand the checkers to Obama and see if he can handle those. McCain is using the chess set.

[jinjinpinti]

We all need to hunker down, get on the ball, gird up our loins, roll up our sleeves, use some elbow grease and find every way possible to reach as many voters as possible to ensure that people register to vote, actually vote, and vote for OBAMA08!

[who38]

Hear, hear.

[interestedinpolitics]

Ah, folks....Change you can believe in! What do you think "change" is referring to? The same old lying vicious campaigns, the lobbyists, the corruption.... We will not achieve change by engaging in the behavior we deplore! Do not expect Senator Obama to get down in the mud with McCain and his ilk. Do not for a moment believe Obama supporters all want that from him. I have supported (with monthly donations, phone banking, and networking) Barack Obama since he first announced his intention to run for the presidency. Send a small donation, make some calls, go door to door, meet with other supporters. Stay positive, hopeful and work your ass off. Remember who we are working for.

[ohmercy]

You mean you would prefer for him to lose nobly?

That will bring real change.

sorry, he already got in the mud a few times and his FIsA vote showed he would do and say anything to get electede so he better get his ass in gear and get busy.

[Lemeritus]

"Remember who we are working for."

Certainly has a ring to it. Jury's out on how it sounds.

[long333]

Amen!

[pb28]

For the love of this electron when is Obama going to strike hard. Obama has a one and done attack strategy. He makes one attack and is done and his attacks are always in response to something McCain said. ATTACK FIRST. He needs to treat McCain like punching bag and should be ripping McCain’s face off every day. He is easy pickings. But Obama won’t. To make matters worse Obama decides he is above all of the negative politics so he disbands his 527. A move which will guarantee Obama’s return to Senate in January of 2009. Obama has no rapid response or rapid attack machine. His surrogates are weak or nonexistent.

Also, quit praising McCain at the beginning of each speech this cretin has earned no respect.

Lastly, Please send David Axelrod to the glue factory. This mumbling stumbling weak tit loser makes Bob Shrum and Donna Basile look qualified

[who38]

Let's see what happens in Denver. If he doesn't get the whole hearted support of the the Democratic party, he may be better off retreating to his Senate job and waiting for 2012. Isn't that Hillary's plan?

[Gatormouth]

Hey Obama! Enough of the "Nice Guy" routine. You are running drills with blanks and the other guy has loaded live ammo. I know you have a ticklish bomb defusing problem at the convention, but many of those PUMAS are only faux Dems anyway. They are temporary Dems only there because of Limbaugh's 5th column tactics. In a legal way of course, let the attack begin for real on your political enemies and their support system. They mean you serious harm.

[who38]

Then we need to circle the wagons. Haven't heard a peep from Fineslime, Boxer or Blue Dog Jane, my stellar representatives.

[fishskicanoe]

People need to take a chill pill. Any major attacks should wait until after the Conventions. Any gains in polling would likely be lost in the bounce the Repubs will get after their convention. I'm encouraged by what the Obama campaign is doing now, which is opening offices across the country and setting up strong local campaign organizations. Barring a major mistake by McCain, this thing won't be won in August. As long as we're close in the polls now we have a very good chance to win in November. Think long term, in this case, the next 2 and a half months.

[JackND]

This fabricated sense of panic among "progressives" is meant for superdelegates ears more than anything. It's a last ditch attempt to get them to change their convention vote.

[cheshirecat831]

I have noted that "progressive" seem to have short fuses and very little patience...if they don't get what they want immediately they get totally bummed. O is playing chess folks....it moves slowly

[Eoin45]

Got to agree and I am a progressive. Obama is running a different kind of campaign. I suspect that, like our revolutionary brethren, the Obama camp is waiting to see the "whites of their eyes" - that is, saving the ammo for the final few weeks when it will really count.

[who38]

Are you suggesting that the National Enquirer is going to go public with a McCain love child?

[closetodemfection]

Yes, the GOP is waiting to launch it's major attacks until after the convention. You think the Dems aren't aware they have the goods on him?

No excuses about his August polling - he's polling way lower than K erry right now and he'd already been swiftboated. Please.

[who38]

You may be right, but the continual statements that O is essentially a wimp need to be countered. If he waits until after the convention, he will be accused (sp) of over-reacting. You confront a bully when the action starts, not after he has gotten a second wind.

[goofy2]

The comment that this sentiment is "pervasive" shows just how insular the writers are. The feeling may be pervasive among those they hangs out with, but frankly, there is a whole counrty to be won back from the same type of polarizing idealogues on the right. Indeed, use your ink and voice to rebut the lies and distortions being promoted by the McCain campaign, rather than demoralizing supporters.

[barriosbabe]

Exactly.

[Eoin45]

Very well said.