Obama Aide Hildebrand On Backlash: "I Don't Regret Any Of It"

Talking Points Memo:

Former Obama adviser Steve Hildebrand, who touched off an explosion with his HuffPo piece arguing that "the left" should hold its fire and let Obama do his thing, says he doesn't regret a word of the piece, though he did make a key concession to critics.

"I don't regret any of it," Hildebrand told me when I asked him a few minutes ago by phone whether he regretted the tone of his piece, which many found condescending and finger-wagging.

"My intent was exactly what I wrote," Hildebrand said, adding that the criticism had "surprised" him.

Read the whole story: Talking Points Memo

Comments

[Sabreen60]

Do not be f00led by he tr0//s and re-thugs who are denigrating PE Oba-ma.

[southernsepia]

You complainers sure are silly.

Obama campaigned on a progressive platform for two year and you people won't give him a couple of months to implement it.

Your constant carping has gone way past amusing.

What good does it do for you to undermine the PE before he's even taken office?

I've had enough of the childishness. I'll be back when the grown ups return to Huffpo.

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

Hell he's not even president yet.

[underdog]

"He hasn't even been sworn into office yet."

Oh. OK. Hear that everyone? Don't concern yourself with minor details like how the promises that you've imagined were made will be implemented. Because these are difficult times, things change, they're tricky, plus being the decider is hard work. So just just run along now. We'll talk to you like you matter when the next election rolls around.

[Sabreen60]

0ba-ma promised to be non-partisan. He promised to have a more open government. He promised to end the w@r responsibly. He promised to not have lobbyist running the WH. Just what is it that 0ba-ma promised that he has not done that can be done before he has been sworn in?

[scubafox]

Just what? For example, he failed to oppose the FISA bill that he vowed to filibuster.

[who38]

You don't think that lobbyists are running the transition team?

[SolarPowerGuy]

" ' My intent was exactly what I wrote,' Hildebrand said, adding that the criticism had ' surprised ' him. "

Now wait a minute. How many times have we read the insinuation that Obama's team is playing chess, while the rest of us peons are playing checkers?

NOTHING is supposed to surprise these folks, they've thought about it all already. Right?

[dryrock]

Reading all of this is uncomfortablly familiar. Our popular culture (media and consumers) have so much fun championing the underdog; then when one rises, kicking him/her back down - not just in politics, either. It is a disturbing trend that does not serve the public good in any way.

Try taking a longer view. I think he is demonstrating a good deal of independence in his choices (thus, the controversies from ideologues on both sides). Remember that many are 'transitional' and that in all administrations faces change over time for sundry reasons. I suspect PE Obama won't put up with people who make mischief. Observe before judging.

[Sabreen60]

Intelligent and right on the money.

[SolarPowerGuy]

"Our popular culture (media and consumers) have so much fun championing the underdog; then when one rises, kicking him/her back down - not just in politics, either. It is a disturbing trend that does not serve the public good in any way."

Well, I'm not a part of that. I never championed Obama. I am a persistent critic of hyper-capitalist hubris (though I am a a capitalist).

I have criticized Obama, when he deserves it, since before he earned the nomination. I didn't shelve my criticism after the nomination was clinched. I am still a critic of Obama -- and of the tepid Democrats who have passed as the opposition party for pretty much all of my voting life.

The Democratic Party started to walk away from its values around 1990. I'm wondering if they'll ever come back, but I'm not placing any hope in them in the mean time. I'm watching, skeptically, with the memory of decades of broken promises.

Like any other American, I have a right to petition my government for grievances. You will hear from me. Yes, I also know how to say thank you if I am shown any consideration.

Looks like progressives may have gotten a bone tossed their way today with the Grijalva appointment. I'm not familiar with the man's record. But assuming that he checks out -- that's a start. Obama will need a few more moves like that to restore progressive confidence.

[dryrock]

I'm glad you're not part of that, and I respect your right to dissent. Actually, I have some sympathy with a couple of he points you made.

[TheAlchemist]

I know it's off topic, but Obama has such an expressive face. You could find a photo of him to fit nearly any headline.

[Lesjoan]

What are u talking about Obamabot.

[thicky]

The intent of Mr. Hildebrand's whiny plea is clear: ingratiate himself with the incoming Obama administration in order to secure himself a top position.

Unfortunately, his desperate plea that anyone to the left of Joe Lieberman or Rahm Emanuel be silenced falls apart in its disregard of the fact that most people on the left are willing to give the incoming Obama administration a chance to do what is right and are only raising legitimate concerns about the in-coming Obama administration's appointments(if not now, when?).

The benefit of the doubt given to Mr. Obama by most progressives about his right-leaning appointmen­ts(especia­lly the pirates he's named to lead his economic team) now looks like a mistake. Because if a self-professed liberal who is trying to land an Obama administration job thinks he must go out of his way to attack any progressive who even considers mildly questioning the appointments of The Obama Machine it can only mean that the fears of progressives are correct: The Obama Machine is a center-right entity that despises progressives, is intolerant of dissent, and will champion right-wing Republican positions before they ever consider any issue important to progressives.

Thanks Mr. Hildebrand for exposing The Obama Machine as a right-leaning status quo cabal!

[blueskybigstar]

Thicky, you're right about everything except for the fact of your positioning Obama as center right. I believe he is being overwhelmed by Republicans who want to keep their interests, but pretend to compromise; by Clintonites who pretend to be liberal, but who are sleeping with the other members of the corporatocracy; and by people like Pelosi, who also pretends to be liberal, but is a member as well and has done everything to isolate people like Kucinich and others in congress. They are trying to get Obama to drink the kool aid that these people's concerns are extreme and not worthy of being addressed. There is a definite battle within the Democratic party, but it is for how we want to define ourselves. Pelosi, who owns Chicken of the Sea Tuna and receives incredible tax benefits, against the people who do not see dollar signs in their eyes at every turn.

[scubafox]

Sorry, Obama is center right ... google "Capitalism, Socialism, & Dictatorship" to see the chart from the Political Compass showing that most Democrats are only slightly less far to the right than Republicans. Other than that, you're right on. Clinton & other DLC Democrats are just slightly less extremist than Republicans.

[Tackora]

It makes me really sad and disappointed that the criticism of Obama's appointments and the whole trend of his acting is portrayed as unserious and unsophisticated ranting of the left and liberals. It has nothing to do with left and liberals. It has much more to do with human beings, who sense that Obama is turning his back on the people. That suspicion is not the creation of fantasy or malicious political intrigue. It is generated by Obama whether he and his acolytes realizes it or not. People are just scared that they will be a second Bill Clinton, who impoverished them by NAFTA, HMO, Wall Street, etc.
I would be much happier if the people presented their demand more aggressively to Obama and to the people he picked from right and from the discredited Clinton golden age.

[Sabreen60]

What are you talking about??? The middle class prospered under Cl!nton more than any other modern prez. On what authority do you speak for 'the people'. If this is your opinion, fine. But you certainly don't speak for 'the people'.

[Tom Joad]

he's not the president yet. there is nothing to complain about. i trust him. i will do what i can to help him succeed. i am proud he is standing by the Chicago workers at the window factory. i am proud he wants to invest in our national infrastructure. i am proud he wants artists, poets, writers, and scientists to make presentations at the White House. we have not had a civilized president for a very long time. let's help him. he's depending on us. he said throughout the election that he cannot do this alone. he needs all of us. Yes WE Can! (don't forget WE)

[underdog]

Hildebrand said, "Now is not the time."

Seems like I've heard that before..several years ago...by another bunch of condescending hacks...just before an illegal invasion.

The entities that wielded that hegemony still run this country. They haven't been replaced, they've just implemented a rebranding.

[blueskybigstar]

Exactly. We know better.

[ChristianEcon.com]

"just before an illegal invasion."

Great point.

[McChimp]

I agree 100% with Hildebrand, the backlash from the progressive far left is POINTLESS and BASELESS, since Obama never ran as a candidate of the left, he ran as a candidate for ALL Americans. It's always the progressives that complain about Democrats not being left enough, and then also complain about how far right Bush is, do you progressives really believe ANY Kuchinich-lite Democrat would have a chance in winning a national election?

Obama has to take positions that are going to make him highly unpopular with the progressive left, but to pull out the pitchforks and torches and tar and feather this man before he takes office is absurd and childish. Obama isn't going to appease you on the far left because you're not the only Americans here in the US, see how John McCain appeasing the far right with Sarah Palin paid off? Progressives need to take a chill pill, relax, and let the man govern. Complaining about how Obama is suddenly going to the right only pleases Republicans because they enjoy nothing more than seeing Obama's own supporters criticize him, hence why we could either have a Jimmy Carter one-term Obama presidency, or we could have a Bill Clintonesque two-term Obama presidency if we all stop complaining and let the man lead.

[blueskybigstar]

Fairness to the American people, bottom up economics rather than trickle down, has only been championed by the far left ever. Are you kid ding me? People who consider themselves progressive are his base and it would serve him well if he were to mind it. If people don't feel they are being represented, they should state it.

[DamageControl]

The point is that he hasn't even been sworn into office yet and you feel like he's turned his back on you. I think a lot of these people just like to complain since they gotten so use to it over the past eight years. Give the man a chance before you hyperventilate.

[Coinyer101]

exactly my point. how else will he know unless we tell him? i'm a long way from giving up on him, but, i have every intention of keeping his feet to the fire.

[Coinyer101]

"you progressives"? Changing the "politics of the past" is progressive as it gets. this quote was used early and often to distinguish himself from other dems as well as repubs. this is what garnered his early support.

[StellaRay]

Yes, Coinyer101, "changing the politics of the past" is what garnered Obama support. What amazes and disheartens me is how you don't see he's already done that.

-He ran a pretty darn clean campaign, attacked only on the issues, and made sure his spokespeople did the same. Imagine the temptation to take out after Palin. He did not fall prey to that temptation, nor did he allow Biden to, or any of those people who spoke for him.

-On November 4th the world admired our pick, maybe even envied us to have this smart, well spoken man for our next president. These days if you travel abroad, you don't have to lie and say you're Canadian. In fact, you don't want to miss the opportunity to say you voted for Obama.

-There is nothing about Obama's cabinet picks that in any way resembles the crony capitalism of the last 8 years. He has chosen the best and has the confidence to know he's the boss, and it can't hurt to listen to smart people.

I could go on and on, but the Huff Po will cut me off on word count. Let me just say that before this man has even taken office, he has brought so much of the change he promised, and it saddens me that you don't see this. If you did, you'd feel as elated as I do, and you'd be happier person for it.

[blueskybigstar]

I have had time to think about it and I am very disturbed by this fellow. He is without doubt part of the corporatocracy. There are people telling Obama all kinds of things, trying to get him to appoint people by painting people as they are not. Hildebrand's effort to label Hillary and Daschle as left is in complete disregard to history, even an attempt to rewrite it, just like the same manure we've been getting from the Bush administration the whole time. He was being dishonest. He should be let go.

[oafishcad]

It was the far right that put forth the idea that Obama was somehow a leftist. He never was. That's why I didn't support him in the primaries. He wasn't progressive enough for me. But guess what folks, he's gonna be President. And he'll be so much better in the office than GWB was or MCCain would have been. Thank God for Obama. I pray for his "too centrist for my tastes" well being on a daily basis.

[gypsy508]

It's a crucial time. Especially for those of us who are broke. No one is going to tell me to shut up. It's called the free flow of ideas. It makes Democracy great. The problem with Obama is he is surrounding himself with - I will admit talented, experienced people - but most of them are removed from reality.

[blueskybigstar]

Exactly.

[TCB40]

Why are people so upset? When did he ever present himself as a far left candidate? From where I'm sitting he has been center-left from the beginning and has stayed there. Can he at least get into office? Maybe we are so use to incompetence, that we can't handle it when someone smart shows up and we actually elect him.

[blueskybigstar]

He did market himself as a progressive. I believe the terms left and right do not do people or the world justice in terms of description.

[sarimn00]

He ran as a moderate democrat. He is not super liberal.

[karela]

Why has tearing down become a sign of intellectualism. It sometimes seems to me that the left indulges itself too much in tearing the flesh off it's own and thus hinders our own elected officials from accomplishing as much as they might. The far right attacks Obama and so does the far left. I don't want to be either of the two. So far, I've been pretty happy with Obama's picks and with his actions. I think it's wise that if you give a person a job, to give them a chance to do the job before you start tearing them down for how they did it. I see this as much the same as the wailing and gnashing of teeth that happened right after the republican convention when so many comments were saying that Obama was throwing away the election and that he had to go negative in a big way. Well, he didn't listen and we won. I think the same will happen here too. I just hate to see him have to waste so much energy, that could be better used during this time of crisis, in dealing with the pre-action worries and fears from his own side. Please. Give it a rest. Democrats are at times the biggest eaters of their own kind. It weakens us. There are times to stand up and fight, but democrats attack their own continually and that does not serve either ourselves, our new President, or our country.

[blueskybigstar]

Presenting evidence that tears down people who deserve it is the only way to protect Obama. Obama is not all knowing. Nobody is. He said he would listen. He showed sense by having the C I A nominee step down. I am very happy with that. How many people did Obama lose in the polls when he supported FISA without giving a good enough explanation for why he did it. (There is much more to the story.) You cannot work with the Bush administration in the C I A of all things and expect people to believe that you might be not be a part of what was orchestrated on the American people. It is best to err with caution and go with people who have the least conflicts of interests. The corporatocracy will do anything to subvert where this country is headed and Obama must be protected, especially his decision making. There are all kinds of people around him right now trying to influence him, not always for the best purposes. Why shouldn't the public with its new center that people are trying to label extreme left. Don't have anybody try to make you believe that the center has not cosmically shifted in position. The country has a new progressive center who are all too willing now to accept Kucinich and others who have proven themselves again and again they have been right about everything. Where is their reward or our representation?

[DamageControl]

he didn't lose anyone because of fisa, get off your high horse already.