Obama Must Be Doing Something Right: He's Got The Fundamentalists of the Left and Right Upset

Obama is calling for change, service and reconciliation by we individualistic Americans. That is bad news for culture war, racial war, religious war, secular war, progressive war, conservative war warriors. The fact that the ideological fundamentalists of both the left and the right, of both secular America and religious America, are attacking Obama, and/or correcting him and admonishing him is a good sign that Obama is of indeed the right man for the job of President. He is self-evidently not about helping one side or the other in a divided America "win." He is about America winning.

People with vested interest in our ideological divisions, people like me -- authors who make our living exacerbating the differences between our various American tribes -- have found a lot of fault of with Senator Obama lately. Maybe we expected him to somehow become president without needing to be elected. Good God! He's playing politics! The sky is falling!

In order to change anything Obama must actually become President first, not run for pure-of-heart progressive-in-chief. Yes, that means he will use his money advantage and forget public funding. Yes, that means he'll reach out to evangelicals.

Obama happens to have his feet planted solidly on planet earth. Obama knows that in America whatever our secularists hope for we are-for the foreseeable future-a religious nation. If Obama wants to make big changes he knows he'll need all Americans on board including people some of his bedrock supporters don't like. That means that angry black men and women and angry white men and women and angry religious men and women and angry secular men and women will either get over their anger and embrace hope and forgiveness of the "other" or lose influence in Obama's America.

I am one of the people that Senator Obama has reached by the power of his inclusive and far-seeing character. I'm a former religious and conservative activist, one of those culture war, warriors. But I'm tired of hate. I'm tired of always having to be vindicated. I'm tired of seeing politics as a form of revenge, (as I chronicle in my book CRAZY FOR GOD -- How I Grew Up As One Of The Elect, Helped Found The Religious Right, And Lived To Take All -- Or Almost All -- Of It Back).

As a lifelong Republican (who reregistered as an independent out of disgust with the dirty-tricks, hate-filled Rovian Republican Party), as a former right-wing activist, as a white middle-aged middle-class man, if Obama can change my mind he can reach anyone, maybe even the people who say they are progressive Democrats but who are too rigid in their ideological "theology" to ever win an election and be happy about it.

Having been raised in a fundamentalist evangelical home I know fundamentalism when I see it. And the progressives carping about Obama becoming too centrist or too religion-friendly -- whatever -- reminds me of my mother complaining about this or that evangelical pastor or group who's theology wasn't "pure" enough.

The era Obama will lead us into is the new and green, post-consumer America. In that truest holistic sense he's the most "pro-life" candidate ever. We'll be concentrating on the common good rather than on we individual's perceived "needs" or on our latest "I want."

The Obama presidency will be all about "us" rather than "me," "we," not "I." Obama will encourage and fund service, connection and reformation within and by all classes and types of Americans. He has said that the centerpiece of his presidency is going to be a call to service. He includes military service, the Peace Corps, Teach For America and other government and nongovernmental programs on his list.

Obama says that as President he will encourage all college-age students to serve our country in return for financial aid and encourage all high school students to also get involved. He will also be a military-friendly Democrat. Expect ROTC to be back on campus alongside Peace Corps recruiters. Expect a wrong war to end and a stronger military as a result. Expect a world that actually respects us again.

Obama's message of "us" rather than "me" is finding a home in the hearts of tens of millions of non-ideologically driven Americans, black, white, rich, poor, religious, atheist... while making those who define themselves as idiological purists nervous. Hence the Religious Right in the person of Jim Dobson, has attacked Obama on the one hand and members of the American left are admonishing him on the other hand. They both have it wrong.

The old paradigm doesn't apply. Obama's America is not about ideological vindication. Obama is not about progressive Americans "winning" or centrists winning. Since the problems we face are global we are all going to have to begin to think as Americans first and whatever our identity-politics "identity" is, second.

Those of us who subscribe to private "truths" whether religious or secular, left or right will be out in the cold in the new America. Vindicating private truths will not be what Obama's America is all about. Rather we are going to become one nation again in a way that we have not been since Franklin Roosevelt took us to war.

This time the war that will bind us together again will be a war on old ways of thinking, old energy sources that are destroying our planet, old individualism run amok, an outmoded earth-destroying old consumer culture that finds unity in shared products, rather than shared aspirations.

I believe that those of us who trust Obama's character and those of us who have been reached by him -- and who continue to believe that he will lead us to a better future -- are going to have our trust rewarded by a great presidency. Hang in there Obama supporters.

Frank Schaeffer is a writer and author of CRAZY FOR GOD-How I Grew Up As One Of The Elect, Helped Found The Religious Right, And Lived To Take All (Or Almost All) Of It Back.

Follow Frank Schaeffer on Twitter: www.twitter.com/frank_schaeffer

Comments

[Titonwan]

I'm so glad to see everyone is all relaxed now and sees that Obama is finally making sense! I'm glad to see that there's no way I'll be voting this year.

[Kahawa]

Thank you, Mr. Schaeffer.

[wanj]

I will worsh in your temple!

You couldn't possibly have said that better....
Obama '08

[JimR]

You hit the nail on head!

[Trogenhorse]

Listening to all these people I wonder how many people heard what he said as opposed to what they wanted to hear?

I actually heard him when he talked about the role of religion. I heard him talk about the talk about bringing the country togerher. I heard him talk about the need for diffeent restrictions in the urban vs rural area of the country when it comes to guns

I heard him talk about "refining NAFT" for some areas like Texas it works for areas like Ohio it doesn't we need to negotiate those areas that need to be strengthened.

I heard him say "we will be as careful getting out of Iraq as we were careless getting in". I heard him say he will set the agenda to start bringing the troops out 2 bridg per month while talking with his generals.

People are not being honest when they say he sold them out. They heard only what was pleasing and not what he said in it's fullness.
I will say it again, I am a moderate. I supported him because when I listened to his ENTIRE stances, I realized he would govern left of center. I can live with that. I long for CENTER but can accept and work with left of center.

People give him a break or take the time to read his issues in their fullness

[TuneOutTheMedia]

Right on.

As a very Liberal Democrat, I am growing increasingly frustrated with the Far Left who seem to arguing that Senator Obama is somehow "disappointing" or "betraying" them if he does not agree with them on each and every issue, to the absolutist degree that they seem to demand.

The fact of the matter is that the United States of America is simply a Center-Right country, much more conservative than I would prefer, but that is the hand we are dealt.

After 9/11, our country lurched FAR to the Right, and it has taken time, patience and revelations to return the country closer to the middle. But in order to become MORE Centrist - or even (should we be so lucky) Center-Left - Senator Obama must first WIN.

And, in order to WIN, Senator Obama must reach more voters than simply those on the Far Left and the Center-Left. He must also win over the Center and Center-Right.

In short, just like in Chess, Senator Obama must control the Center before he can vanquish his opponent.

THEN - if he DOES win, and if the Democrats DO win more seats in the House and Senate - THEN he will have the power and mandate to ease the country further Left.

In the meanwhile, I implore my brothers and sisters on my Left to cease the attacks on Senator Obama and get back with the program to help him win.

[Squalish]

The language we use to describe such things is itself extremely regional and subjective. Accept every term of fascist propaganda (or, "Framing"), and anyone that opposes Bush is a left-wing fundamentalist. The press, to start with. Oh, wait...

My position is that the American Center is currently at approximately Bill Clinton, and moving leftward rapidly. When surveyed on the issues, instead of who people are voting for or what they consider themselves, America has always been what the media would currently label considers far-left. The conservative movement is based on a large number of single-issue groups - libertarians, the rich, evangelicals, bigots, authoritarian-followers. Melding together these groups with very strong narrow interests has been the apoliticals, who demand nothing but to be left alone and a mascot who doesn't look down on them. Bush has screwed them all, while declaring support from all of them. And by saying "less government, tax breaks, faith-based, immigration, 9/11, we will win Iraq, I'm just a Texas brush-clearer" in quick succession, he's managed to delude all of them into ignoring the 95% of his positions that each disagrees with... through his first term, at least.

WE didn't lurch far to the right in 2000. Our leaders - President, Congress, and the media - did. The Big Lie is that everybody went with them.

[PumaJ]

Frank, I do think you hit the nail on the head when you stated:

".... I know fundamentalism when I see it. And the progressives carping about Obama becoming too centrist or too religion-friendly -- whatever -- reminds me of my mother complaining about this or that evangelical pastor or group who's theology wasn't "pure" enough."

To me, fundamentalism, regardless if religious or political, is really about being limited by a certain set of blinders. Blinders that serve to keep one gazing straight ahead, unable to see the nuances along the way that may necessitate a going around, rather than through some obstacles. Such narrow vision, whether the result or cause of a certain mental rigidity, is dangerous for our nation to my way of thinking.

If we don't support Obama, we will have McCain as president. That causes me more concern than any of Obama's politicking.

[MissDaphne]

Frank, you are right on the mark. Thanks for a thoughtful and articulate take on what's going on.
As a citizenry, we need to get smarter!
All the best,
Anita

[orangepetal]

You are just as crazy as he is. He is running for President, I would imagine talents such as inclusiveness and minimalizing contrasts would be more valuable. He alienates, offends and divides. Now it is just the electorate. What will happen in the real world when serious things and people are at stake ???

[Gogetter]

Thank you for another thoughtful post.
"In order to change anything Obama must actually become President first, not run for pure-of-heart progressive-in-chief."
The fact that this even needs to be stated speaks volumes about the pathetic state of the democratic party. Obama supporters who don't get this need to take a reality pill. For example, the idea that Obama should risk the election filibustering the FISA bill is ridiculously short sighted. The republicans were licking their chops hoping that he'd come out against it. There's too much at stake to risk a McBush presidency.

[tubette]

Thank you for writing this.... I am so sick of the left vs. right mentality. The unbinding minds of small people who just want to fight, not cooperate. We haven't had anyone run for the presidency in years that even wants to talk about this issue.

Obama '08 !!!!!

[leftoflennon]

Well read, well thought out article !

[walkthewalk]

So which is it? Is Obama:

A politically naive, kumbaya dreamer OR a manipulative politician?

A flaming liberal idealogue OR a Bush clone religious zealot?

An irresponsible, national security weakening agent OR an Iraq War McCain clone?

You see where I'm going with this. American politics has been black and white for so long that we don't know what to make of a candidate who doesn't fit into any one box. After 8 years of George W. Bush, don't we want a President who appreciates nuanced opinions and thinking? Don't we want to stop fighting amongst ourselves and finally work together to make our lives better? No one group is going to get its way on everything, and no one group is going to be totally shut out. That's how we're all going to win.

Elect Barack Obama first. Then, as he's asked us to do, hold him accountable. That, in and of itself, will be a refreshing change.

[orangepetal]

Hello, he has no history, he is running for President. I think you give him alot of trust for someone who will have so much power. Why, because he asked you to. I cannot even believe that I read this stuff. Also if Europe wants an Obama, they have alot over there let them elect their own. In the meantime give me Colin Powell instead of Obama. Please.

[ImmanuelGoldstein]

Well lets talk about history. Colin Powell got up in front of the world and help sell the neoconservative agenda knowingly. Obama has enough 'history' to suggest he has more judgement than that.

[ObserverinVancouver]

You have to play the hand you're dealt and Colin Powell isn't in your cards. Instead of wasting time on lamentations about Sen. Obama, spend some time at his web site barackobama.comm) or check his entry in Wickipedia and read some of the footnoted articles (which are just a click away). Surely you care enough about the future of your country to take a little time to do that.

[Grada3784]

The other choice is a guy who's running after those he called agents of intolerance 8 years ago. And cozying up to those who slammed his family.

A lot of people want change right now. They'll certainly get some with Obama; whether they're happy with it is another story. With the Republicans, all you can count on is a change of underwear.

[kjdwyer]

You identify a sad political reality, however, I take umbrage with the following passage from your article:

"That means that angry black men and women and angry white men and women and angry religious men and women and angry secular men and women will either get over their anger and embrace hope and forgiveness of the "other" or lose influence in Obama's America."

The progressive movement has been abused, misrepresented and marginalized for 40 years now and we've had to sit by, like strangled Cassandras, and watch as the conservative agenda has ruined the environment, denied global warming, destroyed our public education system, continued to thwart meaningful healthcare reform, bankrupt our economy, waged unilateral war, subvert foreign democracies, chipped away at our and others' human and civil rights, allowed our infrastructure to crumble, irresponsibly cut taxes and even more recklessly spent us into penury. I'm sure I've left a few things out, but you get the picture.

Forgive me, Mr. Shaeffer, if I continue to harbor some rage (even with the veiled threat that I will "lose [my] influence in Obama's America") toward any person, whether he votes for Obama or not, for thwarting the progressive reforms that we so desperately need.

I will continue to support Obama because I've no other option, but please, do not tell me to simply "get over my anger." It not only belittles the unjustly maligned progressive agenda, but makes light of the far right abuses of the last 40 years.

[DuPageDem]

Your right-wing roots are showing. How does junking the Fourth Amendment, or any part of the Constitution, result in "winning for America?" FISA isn't just another political issue. It's fundamental to our life as a nation. Anyone who thinks the Bill of Rights can be bargained away as political trading cards can't be trusted.

[1LESSUV]

Though I agree with your sentiments, I think that Mr. Schaeffer is asking us to put aside our "marginal sense of justice," i.e. our focus on the "right" or "wrong" stance on any individual decision. I've been wringing my own hands in light of some of Obama's recent statements. But it's quite possible that moving our country onto the right track -- getting out of Iraq, getting universal healthcare, improving education, and essentially building the fabric of communitarianism that many of us seek -- requires some sort of national reconciliation.

Although I've called my own Senator (Feinstein) about the FISA bill to ask that immunity be stripped, I also recognize that the long-term good of the country may prove me wrong.