The Right Shoves Obama Even More Rightward
Van Jones (resigned), Yosi Sargeant (demoted), Valerie Jarrett (under attack), and President Obama's administrative department czars (intense scrutiny): They've all caught heat because they were deemed too Left or too liberal. And when they did, the White House did not utter a peep of protest.
The House and Senate snatched a big chunk of funding from ACORN and the Census Bureau dumped it as a contract agency in census information gathering. ACORN was, of course, one of Obama's staunchest grass roots voter energizers and a big recipient of Obama campaign money. ACORN, with its muddle-headed, lax administrative controls and its playing fast and loose with the rules, gave conservatives its head on a platter. When it did, the White House was mute. ACORN was a political embarrassment, and thus expendable.
Anyone who's in the Obama administration that has even the remotest left or too liberal present or past ties is now dead center in the cross hairs of conservatives. If they resign under conservative duress it's just as likely there won't be a peep of protest from the White House about them going either.
Obama hasn't ducked for cover only in the face of the attack on his liberal appointees and allies. There are also the issues. Obama agreed to extend the most odious of Bush abuses in the Patriot Act, strongly hinted that more troops and massive ramp up in funding are on the way to Afghanistan, and insisted that even after the presumed troop withdrawal from Iraq in 2010, the administration will maintain a "security" presence in the country.
Obama announced there'll be no public funds for abortions, smacked down former president Jimmy Carter who rightly branded attacks on Obama as racist, soft-pedaled the racism and xenophobia that fueled the so-called taxpayer march, and blew off the Congressional Progressive Caucus when it begged for a meeting with him to try and stiffen his spine on the public option.
The White House's mute silence when its friends are forcibly shoved out the White House door, and the soft shoeing on the issues, is not merely a political recalibration. It's a direct reaction to the GOP counterinsurgency against Obama. The Right isn't just dominating the political debate. It has driven Obama -- not to the center; he was never really anywhere else politically -- but to the right of center on some issues.
The first sign that Obama could be pushed to the right came during the election. When Republican rival John McCain, Sarah Palin, the Fox News Network, and the gaggle of hard right talk radio hosts hammered Obama as a tax and spend, big government, pro-minority pandering Democrat, he quickly moderated and even shifted his position to the right on everything from abortion to FISA. The aim was not to give conservatives any more ammunition to attack him as a wacky liberal or worse, a radical.
At times he and McCain sounded more like political Siamese Twins on the issues of expansion of stem-cell research, immigration, faith-based social services, expanded government wiretapping, building more nuclear power plants, global warming, fair trade, and the death penalty. The similarity between the two was even more glaring when Obama edged closer to McCain on his plans on health care and taxes and the Iraq War.
The borderline and blatant racist signs, posters, and chants heard and seen at the taxpayer march as well as the race tinged blasts that pulse through the right side blogs and websites. The furious smack down of Obama for his off-the-cuff defense of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates.
And the wild, race baiting antics of protesters at the health care town halls have taken a toll. An early September 2009 survey by the Pew Research Center found a drop in his approval rating among white independents, middle aged voters, and white women. These were crucial voting demographics to Obama. He bested McCain among them during the campaign. The slippage in white support has made Obama even more gun shy about taking a political position that will further stoke conservative anger against him.
The GOP has shown that it can play the race card, whip up a populist revolt to a fever pitch, and hog the airwaves with some of the most outrageous slurs, lies and slanders against Obama's political agenda and him. The attacks have worked and they have forced Obama to walk an even tighter tightrope. He could well toss more friends under the bus, and his positions on key issues that at one time endeared him to liberals and progressives could go under the bus with them.
Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. His forthcoming book, How Obama Governed: The Year of Crisis and Challenge (Middle Passage Press) will be released in January, 2010.
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Somebody accused Obama of being the "new Calvin Coolidge." This is a poor comparison because Obama has already led America to solve many of its problems - if something hasn't changed in nine months it's not because there has been no action. Merely because Obama does not fill his speeches with bluster and tirades does not make him "weak," he treats us like adults, not children (as we've become accustomed to have our presdents treat us).
I agree generally with much of Earl's post today.
Why in God's name the administration persists in thinking that there can be any GAIN in shifting again and again to the RIGHT makes no sense at all to me.
Between doctrinaire conservatives, mindless "dittoheads" and the like, as well as plain old stone racists (Yes, Virginia there ARE plain old stone racists aplenty, even in 2009!!) one thing is VERY clear:
These people will never, never, support him,....no
Witness the recent fa
Though the facts here are correct (except that the President did in fact meet with the Progressive Caucus), the interpretation is a little off for me. I think progressives expected President Obama to come into town and "settle all family business" like Michael Corleone at the end of The Godfather, acting out all our little revenge fantasies for the ills of the Bush administration. The truth is, we're not the victims of a weak president, but of our own out-of-control expectations. I think Mr. Hutchinson sacrifices real analysis for the sake of a few clever turns of phrase. Disappointing since I generally like his stuff.
The CPC wanted the meeting before the joint session of congress, he blew them off then.
Obama is becoming the new Calvin Coolidge of our times. His most visible trailt is his ability to be bullied. His image of weakness is so profound that the opposition feels free to interrupt his speeches, shout down his town halls, and threaten his supporters with guns because they know that there will be no reaction from the white house. Foreign policy has already started to suffer as both friends and allies take steps to create alliances that shut the US out. Soon our currency will be replaced in international finance and with it much of our control over world monetary systems. Obama has come to the unenviable position where both liberals and conservatives hate him. As his poll numbers fall he seems to be competing with W for the steepest fall of all time. But he still keeps smiling...
For those who are wondering about alliances being created to shut out the U.S. - one example...
Regarding a potential change in monetary system, back in March, Timothy Geithner said the administration was "open" to a discussion on a global currency. The United Nations is now calling for a new global currency:
http://raw
He's an adult. You need to grow up.
He only has right thinking around him, his choice. however if he keeps on this path listening to the minority, the majority who put him in office will show him what they think come election time..
I find myself scratching my head everytime I read your articles and saying "Damm this is a good writer!"
What a circus Wasnington has become. The president can't get anything done because he is worried about being re-elected. Then he wins his second election and then he can't get anything done because he is a lame duck. So when does a president get anything done? His first 100 days? I guess a president with courage fights for what he thinks is right, and says let the chips fall where they may.
I'd go even further. It looks as though Obama is a closeted Republican. He has repeatedly adopted their positions as soon as any comment, positive or negative, is made on any proposed policy.
It is inconceivable to me that it a lack of political courage. It cannot be true for the simple reason that NO ONE EVER has caved in on everything from a lack of courage! He would have stood for something - at least one thing if he had lost his 'nerve' even if it was to just prove he was some.
No this seems to go to a different place. Obama, like the Great disappointment - Clinton, seems to have used the Democratic party and the progressive and moderate members of the citizenry to improve his position with Corporate America. He has confirmed his ties to the Military-Industrial Complex and promised continued wars. He's ducked meaninful change of the SEC and Corporate "finance" into the graveyard of any proposal - a comitee! Obama has also given everything wanted by the banks to them with only an ocasional peep of protest. Only the insurance industry is still a point of contention and I'd be happy to listen to anyone who sees a glimmer of hope for a progressive and positive stance by Obama on the Insurance industry.
These are the facts we face now. We must start working to carry the message forward ourselves. Our knights in shining armor seem to all be co opted!
Obama has become the greatest disappoint in modern times. You can call him closeted Republican but that just beats around the bush. The real verdict is as obvious as it is unpallatable. He is a liar and has delivered the Democratic party to the financial interests of Wall Street so that he could get elected. The first black President is just another crook. I guess we are all finally equal now.
If Obama has been pushed to the right, it's because he's allowed himself to be pushed. He refuses to put up a fight, even when he's in the right on an issue. He even caved to the demands of Joe "You Lie!" Wilson and his ilk by adding unnecessary provisions to the health care legislation to bar illegal immigrants from being given benefits. This despite the fact that illegals where never eligible for benefits under the plans put forward by the Dems.
It's why I voted for Ralph Nader. Obama is not a surprise to me.
You're absolutely right. Obama showed his colors as a Senator. While his speeches are inspirational and nicely polished promising change, his voting record revealed a different set of values and foretold a future starkly different from what most people voted for. Here are a few examples of Senator Obama:
*Supported Bush era funding appropriations to keep the Iraq war going long after the war was exposed as a fraud on the American taxpayer.
*Vigorously opposed any investigat
*Voted for the reauthorization of the Patriot Act to retroactively justify illegal wire tapping of the Bush administration violating our guaranteed 4th amendment privacy rights. Now the government has unlimited wire tapping, snooping, and data mining of innocent citizens corraling corporations such as ChoicePoint to supply private information about your personhood without your consent.
I voted for Nader too and am proud and happy that he ran as genuine and unapologetic progressive. Ralph has proven himself truthful, courageous, and tireless over a 40+ year history of fighting against corporatism, war, environmental degradation and for greater oversight .
Ralph has stood up in June 2008 and called for the impeachmen
Ralph called for the abolition of NAFTA/CAFTA/WTO which are secret undemocratic trade arrangements that lower world labor standards, increase pollution and steal jobs from American workers.
Ralph called for the end of the Iraq War and withdrawal from Afghanistan and prosecution of the private profiteers long before it was PC
Ralph wants full Single Payer Medicare for All healthcare to replace the corrupt racket of health insurance companies.
Ralph said: "No bailouts for Wall Street Crook!" and has called for an investigation and regulation of the industry as it has looted trillions from pensioners, shareholders while paying their hedge fund managers billions in compensation for failure and robbery.
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Obama wanted the same things, but once in office, he found out that he can't buck the system; unlike George Bush! we know why, don't we?
Then you threw away your vote. It.s not that Ralph Nader is not a worthy person. It is that we have a two party system (not three, not four) and only candidates in those two parties can be elected. One can chose to not vote at all (essentially what you did) but that does not help the rest of us. Please work within the two party system and stop wasting your vote. You are only helping the people you do not agree with win.
Wrong! He voted for a true man of integrity and progressive principles with a 40+ year track record of superb leadership and success to back up his words and commitments.
Raise your standards!
Voting for compromised corporate candidates only perpetuates the status quo of Military Adventurism and Corrupt Crony Capitalism that benefits elites and punishes American citizens. As long as the 19th century two party political system is unchallenged, it will continue to produce compromise candidates who say anything to get elected but have no intention of making good on their promises once elected.
Where's the pressure from Progressive's? Where are all the marches for health care reform?
Progressives have not been applying much pressure to counter the far right.
Earl, you make some great points here...I have never thought that Obama would be the Great Progressive Hope...he exhibited time and time again in the campaign that he was a centrist at best, and one that would be willing to compromise a little to quickly with those who would demean, delegitimize and mock him without batting an eye...dang
If he fought every effing thing that takes place, you all would then, label him just like George Bush. He can't win for losing!!!!!
The fact of the matter is Obama doesn't fight for anything!!! He folds everytime the right says boo. A couple of weeks ago, Mark Lamont Hill (who sometimes does commentary for Fox) was interviewed by our local public radio station here in Berkeley, CA. He said that the main reason those racist fools over at Fox disrespect Obama is because he's such an easy mark. Everytime they go after someone he's even remotely associated with, or falsely accuses him of something they know isn't true, Obama immediately distances himself or as we've seen with Van Jones and others, he throws them under the bus.
The Republicans and conservative DLC have ruled politics for decades. For all those who thought President Obama was even remotely "progressive", I am betting by the end of 2010 if not earlier, most progressives who pay attention will know that President Obama never was or will be a progressive.
Yes, and it is foolhardy for those to think that he was going to stand for the progressive wing of the party...of course, the solution is to make it very hard for him to negotiate with anything BUT progressives among the Dems when we systematically weed out for good the milquetoasts, the wimps and the Blue Dogs in 2010...the
You are right. Obama blows with the wind. The only way to effect him is to put even more liberal/progressive Democrats in office in 2010 who can blow him back toward the left. But Obama has mismanaged his populist image to such an extent that there will be diminishing support for Demcrats in the next election and he will end up facing more conservatives in Congress than he does now. No one like weakness in a President.
Nader 2012. Time to do the right thing and support the genuine article and true progressive candidate.
This is a right wing country, the furthest left ever permitted is Dead Center. Obama consistently proves this , particularly with health care. He set the agenda at center and lets the debate occur right of center, they even use their own party as an excuse to do this. Conservative Democrat = scapegoat for the 1 party system, the Party of Profits.
The Right has been engaging in outrageous tactics and has fallen off the charts to provide a landscape that allows the Dems to actually use right wing ideas while appearing Left of the republican make-belie
It's a ridiculous theater of fake acting, over acting and a patently obvious script.
I agree on the tactics--but this isn't a right wing country.
The Prez overheard on a jet just after the election..
"I can't go right I can't go left"
Good point. The right may actually be clearing the way for Obama to go right by moving the goalposts out of sight. But Obama must be a willing participant in the ruse. Could it be that there is a tacit agreement between Obama and the right? Obama calls it "reaching across the aisle". The right calls it "the marketplace of ideas". The progressives will soon call it appeasement when they find that their cherished goals were brought lower by one of their own than by the opposition.
It isn't 2010 and I saw this coming months ago. President Obama, our best hope, has given in, rolled over, played dead and pandered to the Right too many times.
Maybe we should've let McCain take us into WW3 and gotten it all over with.
I voted for Obama in 2008. I may not do so again.
If he continues to pander to Republicans I would not be surprised to see someone challenge him in the 2012 primary. Right now, I would support that challenger ... any Democratic candidate but wimpy Obama.
He promised change. He hasn't, absolutely has not, delivered change.
President Obama is doing EXACTLY what he wants to do. It is up to citizens to realize he is a "center-right" politician. Some Republicans will appreciate that...his current "base"...n
I beg to differ. First--for whom will you then vote? I know people always ask this but I was there, voting for Nader in 2000. Look what happened. Secondly--I see only that Obama has rather magically transformed political debate in this country, in a matter of months, so that we are beginning to withdraw from our addiction to spectacle, an addiction that Clinton (and UK's Blair) was happy to feed, which started with Reagan. Spectacle and the lone ranting radio wolf are right wing forms. Thinking and hesitation are not.
Nader has been Truthful, Honest, Courageous, Tireless, Unapologetic and has held Bold Progressive Values for 40+ years of proven performance. He has the David vs. Goliath taking on the government, GM, and calling for the impeachment of Bush/Cheney.
Ralph also:
called for the end of Iraq/Afghanistan wars for years when it was unpopular
called for the abolition of NAFTA/CAFTA/WTO
supports Single Payer Medicare for All
was instrumental in creating the Freedom of Information Act
opposed the bailouts of Wall Street and GM which prop up corrupt Crony Capitalism
was instrumental in the Clean Air and Clean Water Act, seatbelts and air bags.
I'd support a challenger too. Unfortunately, all of the sitting presidents that faced a primary challenge within living memory survived, but then were defeated in the general election. Sure is a bad omen.
Palin-2012
And if you believe that then I have some prime real estate to sell you...
ON THE MOON:)
NOT FAR FROM NEIL ARMSTRONG'S FOOTSTEPS.
Yeah, right. Whatever your delusions desire.
What absolute madness to propose that Palin has any capability to run anything as complex as the presidency of the U.S. Let's at least offer some real statesmen and women who understand multiple, complex and competing issues. Palin would have a constituency for a fringe few. She would exacerbate exponentially the problems splitting this country thereby resolving nothing.
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