White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs recently expressed his frustration with what he called the "professional left," in no uncertain terms. Which, ironically, means the White House and the "professional left" have now achieved parity in that both sides express withering contempt for the other. The irony lies in the fact that both are probably thinking the exact same thing about each other: "With friends like these, who needs enemies?"
From the White House's point of view, lefties are not giving them sufficient credit for the things President Obama has managed to achieve with a fractious Congress and with an opposition party dedicated to the failure of any small shred of his agenda. From the Left's point of view, these are mostly hollow victories and were achieved at great price -- gutting the real reforms proposed, in exchange for something so watered-down it was barely worth passing (and certainly not worth praising). What all of this may mean is the opening round of the Washington game "Who's to blame?" which will likely start in earnest the day after the midterm elections this year.
Gibbs' comment was no mistake or slip of the tongue, though. He's certainly not the first White House official caught showing naked condescension towards his party's own base. As Mike Lux put it in the Huffington Post today:
There has been and will be a huge amount of commentary on this in the blogosphere and the media in general over the next few days, and Gibbs' quote will go right up there with the infamous "left of the left" quote during health care, Rahm's infamous "f'ing retarded" quote (he apologized afterward to advocates for those with mental disabilities, but of course not to progressives), the locker room gloating "organized labor just flushed $10 million down the toilet" quote, and a variety of other random insults that progressives have to chew over.
In other words, Gibbs wasn't exactly saying anything the Left hasn't already heard before from this White House, in various different ways. The only truly surprising thing is that Gibbs would feel that the time was appropriate to take another swing at the Left, less than three months before an election where Republicans have already built up a large "enthusiasm gap" over Democrats. Perhaps some will argue that Obama is playing multi-dimensional chess and is making some crafty move to try to regain his appeal among independents by showing his independence from the Left. If so, I'd have to say it's a bad political miscalculation.
To the White House's credit, Obama has gotten a lot done legislatively. But who would have thought, after witnessing his brilliant campaign, that Obama's biggest problem in his first few years in office would be one of communication? There's a reason people aren't giving Obama credit, and that reason is he doesn't appear to fight hard for anything other than putting a bill on his desk. Endlessly willing to compromise means that, when the dust has settled, it's a little hard to take credit for the outcome. Which Obama's White House hasn't even done a particularly good job of.
While at the recent Netroots Nation "professional left" convention, two things stuck out to me. The first was a point Ed Schultz made -- that Obama has never even tried to reach out to the "professional left" at all. Obama, Schultz pointed out, has made time to sit down for an interview with late-night comedians and "Fox News Sunday," but he has yet to appear on a show like Rachel Maddow's or Keith Olbermann's. Obama rarely gives press conferences anymore (I think there's been a single one this entire year), and seems to have bought so far into the "Obama is dangerously overexposed" myth that he now actually appears to be media-shy. Which doesn't exactly get his message out. Which is why there is a lack of credit for his accomplishments out here.
In contrast to Schultz, Nancy Pelosi presented a personal video from President Obama during her Netroots Nation speech. It was obviously crafted along the same lines as Gibbs' frustration and included a segment where Obama was given credit for his accomplishments. By way of a Rachel Maddow clip. In other words, the message is clear: The Obama White House will use lefty media to prop themselves up, but don't bother holding your breath for an actual interview with the president, because it ain't going to happen any time soon.
After which, the White House has the gall to say the "professional left" will never be satisfied and doesn't give them any credit. Well, guys, how about making the attempt in the first place? How about tossing the Left a bone every so often? It's been a long time since Obama's biggest liberal achievement (the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act), and I haven't noticed any push from the White House on any other lefty issue since. Health-care reform and Wall Street reform really don't count, as the White House severely disappointed the Left on both by arguing for weaker reforms instead of stronger in the final bill.
Legislation aside, how about giving an interview to a show or column with a Lefty audience? How about some genuine outreach to groups on the Left? Again, from the Mike Lux column:
Here's the other thing: Other Democratic politicians in 2010 get the need to work effectively with progressives. I have had my share of disagreements with Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid, but they and their staff have never failed to work constructively and conscientiously with me and other progressives I know. This is politics 101 as far as I am concerned, but to my knowledge, this White House isn't engaging in much of it. I am on the board of many different progressives groups, and know a wide assortment of folks in the blogosphere, in organizations, in the progressive donor world, on Capitol Hill, and I rarely hear about any kind of high-level outreach of this sort going on. One other important point on all this: what worries me the most is that I am as insider-y as a person can get. I have known Rahm for 30 years, Axelrod and Plouffe for over 20. I have been a client of Jim Margolis, Anita Dunn, and Axelrod's firms. I was a co-founder of Strategy Group, the Chicago based firm that was one of the closest inner circle firms in the Obama presidential campaign. I have worked in the White House, and I even worked on the Obama transition. I am one of the professional left (not at all the only one, by the way) who, in spite of my disappointments with some of the compromises made, ended up supporting, enthusiastically working for, and praising Obama on all those initiatives mentioned above. Now I know that some folks in the White House are mad at me and have shut me out because I have been critical at times of this White House, but I still have to think: If the relationship with the "professional left" is as shaky as it is, and someone like me is not being reached out to much or asked to help, what about all those bloggers and progressive media people and organizations who don't have much in the way of inside connections? It worries the hell out of me, and it ought to be worrying the White House.
What is really astonishing in all of this is the level of disconnect that apparently reigns at the White House. They see their polling numbers going south, and their knee-jerk reaction is to insult their own base? Really? That's the best idea you could come up with, at this point?
To which I have to say: No wonder there's an "enthusiasm gap." If anyone working in the White House doesn't get who is responsible for this, a quick look in a mirror may help clear it up for them. The White House seems to think that there's a small band of disenchanted lefties who make a whole bunch of noise, but that their army of volunteers out there in America is still behind Obama and isn't listening to the whining of a few cable hosts and bloggers. This is so misguided it is stunning.
Unlike some bloggers, I read and try to respond to people who comment on what I write. I may not answer every comment, but I try to at least read them all. And I can't count the number of times I have received some version of the following sad message:
"I was an Obama volunteer. I've never been involved in politics before, but I volunteered time (or traveled to a different state, or made phone calls, or walked precincts, etc... ) for Obama and thought I was doing something important. But Obama's recent betrayal on (insert issue here, there have been plenty of them) is a bridge too far for me. When he said (rosy campaign promise) out on the campaign trail, I believed him. Now he says (some sort of milquetoast "compromise" statement), which for the life of me I cannot understand. He refused to stand up and fight for (again, choose any from a number of issues), and I forgave him that. He didn't get everything he wanted in (choose some watered-down bill that got passed), and I still kept supporting him. But now that he has given in to the Republicans on (insert first issue mentioned), I can no longer support him. I doubt I'll even go vote this year, since obviously there is no difference whether we elect Democrats or not, the big corporations are the only ones who win."
That's a generic version. I have lost count of how many specific versions of this I've read in the past year. Some are heart-wrenching. Some of these people fought on the political front lines for Obama, and would have walked through fire for him the day after he was sworn in. Now, they don't even see the point in voting for a Democrat.
In case the White House doesn't understand this, allow me to spell it out plainly. These people are not the "professional left." They are Obama's base. They are the people who not only voted for him, but got excited about him and worked their asses off to put him where he is today. And a large number of them are now disgusted. Look at the approval polls -- Obama is now far below the percentage of Americans who voted for him. That means he's losing his own voters. And a big portion of that are the voters who were most enthusiastic about voting for him in the first place.
It's really not all that hard to understand. Obama could turn this around, if he chose to. Give a few interviews to Rachel and Keith. Give a few primetime press conferences, and make your own case why you deserve credit for your accomplishments. Toss the Left a bone every so often by actually fighting hard for one of their pet legislative ideas in Congress -- even if you lose. And for the love of all that's holy, stop trashing the people who make up your base.
The calls for Gibbs to step down or be fired are ludicrous. Gibbs' job is to be the voice of the White House. That's exactly what he did in his recent interview. He articulated the White House's frustration with their own base. Many others from this White House have done the same thing and not been fired (far from it). That is because that is how this White House (assumably, up to the man in charge himself) sees things. While scratching their heads at an enthusiasm gap less than three months from an election, someone had the bright idea: "let's go out and bash the Left, maybe that'll help things."
And you can't help but hear the sneering contempt on both sides -- both Gibbs' inner voice while giving the interview, and the immediate reaction from the lefties he was bashing: "With friends like these...." Which does not bode well for that enthusiasm gap getting any better any time soon, I have to say.
Chris Weigant blogs at: 
Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisWeigant
Follow Chris Weigant on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ChrisWeigant
![6 DAYS LEFT!!! [Gold's Gym Challenge Day 78]](http://0.gvt0.com/vi/mKbcP7sSG6g/default.jpg)
In fact, exactly the opposite is the case. It is the Obama administration who, much like the previous administration though less disastrously (so far), live in the little airy-fairy Beltway bubble where words trump actions. Where, if words don't seem to be working, the solution even then is not to take action but to yell the magical talking points louder. And then to castigate critics. With more words. That didn't work for the Republicans and it's not working for Obama.
What Team Obama think are big achievements are in fact as "hollow" (your word) as pinatas and dangerously so. And it's not the "left" alone that feels this way - a lot of us are just plain pragmatic Americans who are trying to meet payrolls and feed families. And the games Team Obama is playing might impress them, but they are absurd to those of us looking at them from the outside. Here's a newsflash for you: health insurance costs for small business went up another 35% this year. All the freakish executive power and abuses of civil rights we feared under Bush are still there. And we're the retards?
I did. Teleprompters are not communication. We saw an act---and little sound-bite scenes, and believed our man was the answer. O dear! How we've missed it!
What I really wanted to do is point this gem out to you ...
http://www.chrisweigant.com/2009/03/27/friday-talking-points-71-historically-speaking-from-a-teleprompter/
I think you'll like it ... or, not.
What particularly resonated with me was the description of the disappointed volunteer, of which I was one. In Arkansas. Hillary country.
It's not even disappointment I feel - I feel stupid. I feel stupid for having believed Obama, I feel stupid for having convinced others to believe him, I feel stupid that I ever pulled that lever. And Gibbs? Well, he's just reminding me how stupid I was.
We have a saying down South: even a broken watch is right twice a day. I was right about how wrong Bush was, but I was wrong about how right Obama was. This next election cycle, I'm about to be right again - by voting for a third party.
Now let’s get to work “building upon” not “tearing down” what has been achieved – it’s not just FOR the People - it is OF the People and BY the People – whenever you wag a finger at Obama you are wagging that same finger at yourself.
Why is Obama alone in turning this around? Come on folks - Belly up to the table!
If we take the negative "only" route we will get Republicans elected (which I believe is the real agenda of these "new" Progressive Muckraker malcontents - I truly believe they are Repub shills - they are the enemy from within).
My take - I don't think Arriana should be allowed to sit on the Left side of the Sunday AM debate panels any longer - send her to her own spot at the end of the table please because she does not represent MY Left!
And be sure to give her a glass that is 1/2 full.
And why are they Obama's "achievements" but Congress's "failures"? If the man can push Congress, why doesn't he? If he can't push Congress, what praise should he get for his "achievements"?
So tell us what your Progressive candidates will do and why we should elect them. Tell us what other platform the Progressives have other than bashing Obama and Dems. "Build up" yourself instead of "tearing down" others. Put forth your ideas and rally behind them (not just bashing others). No one stopping you from that is there?
Instead this is what you do:
PPPPers AKA Poopers -
Progressive ("new" Muckrakers) Pity (woe is me - I did not get everything I wanted when I wanted it) Party (as in Adversarial politics I say) Poopers (we'd rather have Republicans than Obama or Democrats).
Wikipedia -
"...The main current national progressive parties are the Democratic Party and the Green Party of the United States. The Democratic Party has major-party status in all fifty States, while there are state Green Parties or affiliates with the national Green Party in most states.... Its high point was in 1912, after which they detoured into a disastrous third party status...."
And I would add that today - they have given up on dynamic government participation.
She represents the epitome of who Gibbs was referring to. Since day one of this administration, she has been incessantly criticizing everything it does while consistently disparaging its motivations.
The quality of comments that her rants provoke are a reflection on her misguided and ill-informed - at best - political analysis.
I voted for him, I managed to get a few votes for him in the area of SC where I live.
He had a massive opportunity to turn things around. But he blew it.
And, yes ... you really are, apparently, lostonbridgetofuture.
• Rescued US Auto industry.
• SCHIP for 4 million more children
• Ended tax benefits to corporations outsourcing American jobs.
• Passed health reform.
• Extended benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees.
• Withdrawal of 1//3 of US troops from Iraq.
• Ended stop-loss enlistment policy.
• Phased out F-22 and other costly outdated weapons systems.
• Removed restrictions on stem-cell research, and funded it.
• Funded high-speed, broadband Internet access for K-12 schools
• $789 billion economic stimulus,
• Rescued US financial and banking industry, which repaid most of TARP with interest.
• Ended US torture policy.
• EPA poised to regulate Co2
• New consumer protections from credit card industry’s predatory practices.
• Medicare may now negotiate price with drug manufacturers.
• Increased pay and benefits for military.
• Reengaged in diplomacy.
• Established a new cyber security office.
• Ended no-bid defense contracts.
• Appointment of first Latina to Supreme Court.
• $100 billion into national infrastructure and transportation system.
• $60 billion in spending and incentives for renewable and clean energy.
• Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act - equal pay for equal work for women.
• Nuclear arms deal with Russia reducing both countries` arsenals by a third.
• Global nuclear nonproliferation initiative.
• Passed Hate Crimes Prevention Act
• Passed sweeping financial regulation
• Extended unemployment benefits to 2 million long-term unemployed
• Ended US torture policy.
You mean he ended OFFICIAL US torture policy. How do we know it's been stopped? For there were no investigations, no War Crimes trials, (of which there would be many) no meaningful effort to see justice done. No adherence whatsoever to the rule of law he campaigned on, and upon the principal of which this nation was founded.
You're doing what they want. You're looking at the scoreboard when you should be watching the dirty plays that put those numbers up. They could have put the Repugnicans on their heels and kept them there while they got ACTUAL change and ACTUAL reform done. Instead what they did was squander the opportunity we gave them, and through attempted appeasement of fanatics, compromised most of your list into utter uselessness, and therefore for the purposes of energizing the base, meaningless.
And now look at them scramble to rehabilitate their image, trying to come up with talking points, and the best they can do is a riff on old Scooby Doo cartoons: 'And we would've gotten away with it too, if it weren't for those meddling Progressives!'
How do we know it's been stopped? You'll have to come up with something more convincing than that
No, it seems to me that you - and countless like you - are doing exactly what the Republicans want. I hope you are happy after the mid-terms.
He's clearly inept at dealing with totally insane and outrageous accusations from the right. He would be, (and is) rightly withering before any accusations or questions based on well-reasoned and cogent thought about the reality of his actions.
Speaking of "totally insane and outrageous accusations from the right" ... you would know all about that ... you're really not that hard to figure out.
Obama letting Rahm and Gibbs get away with lifting the leg over the left, just baffels me. I was raised in politics but ill be damned if I have ever seen anything quiet like this.
Those opposed to adversarial politics believe that politicians should state what they actually think rather than following the 'party line'. They consider adversarial politics to be cynical and intolerant, with ‘winning’ the driving principle versus attempting to establish the truth. Politicians captivated by the ‘struggle for victory’ corrupt the ideals that brought them into politics in the first place.
For me, Gibbs' comments were the final straw. Apparently Obama thinks he can get by just fine without the support of people like me. I worked as hard as I could to get Obama elected but it is clear that I was deceived and my hard work was a total waste. I'm now firmly in the "there's no point in voting" camp.
There seems to be a plethora of individuals around here who are quite content to cut off their noses to spite their faces. Of course, I'd have to count myself among that particular group, too. :(
It has nothing to do with pride. I worked for him because he promised to do A, B, and C then in office he turned around and did not-A, not-B, and not-C. I can no longer keep apologizing for him. As far as I can tell the Democrats (including Obama) are owned by the same corporations that own the Republicans.
Confirmed: Obama authorizes assassination of U.S. citizen
http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/04/07/assassinations
"Today, both The New York Times and The Washington Post confirm that the Obama White House has now expressly authorized the CIA to kill al-Alwaki no matter where he is found, no matter his distance from a battlefield. I wrote at length about the extreme dangers and lawlessness of allowing the Executive Branch the power to murder U.S. citizens far away from a battlefield (i.e., while they're sleeping, at home, with their children, etc.) and with no due process of any kind."
What did you think of President Obama's address to Netroots Nation?
It was good, as far as it went. Mostly in the vein of: "keep pushing me to do good stuff" with the aforementioned Maddow list of his accomplishments. Which is why the Gibbs thing, so soon after, feels like such a slap in the face (even if he was just talking about "cable television").
-CW
Why so sensitive? I have to admit that it really surprises me to see you taking the Gibbs admonition so personally when it was so not directed at you. You are the last person around here the White House would ever admonish. Seriously!