Obama's Critics From the Left: As Wrong as His Critics From the Right

When President-elect Obama said he'd reach out to the Republicans and all Americans, he was telling the truth. Apparently some people on the left hoped he was lying. Obama's "sin" in their eyes is that he is keeping his promises.

Other than the perpetually aggrieved paranoid cranks on the far right -- FOX News, Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, James Dobson etc., -- most Americans (no matter who they voted for) are just glad that someone brimming with confidence, intelligence and good will is in charge of our rescue, at last! (Watching President-elect Obama's recent press conferences, one could hear a collective sigh of relief from sea to shining sea.) Nevertheless, a few critics from the left are now demanding progressive purity from President-elect Obama that is not in keeping with his clearly stated campaign promise to bring all Americans together, and to put governance and competence ahead of ideology. In that sense they are working against the aims of his presidency.

A few progressive critics are bewailing the fact that President-elect Obama's cabinet is "too centrist," or made up of "too many former Clintonites," or that he's working with the Republicans, or that he is "too hawkish on Afghanistan." Turns out some Pharisaical progressives are into guilt by association; "Look at the bad company he's keeping!" they groan. General Jones?! Clinton?! Gates?! The sky is falling!

As someone who escaped the fever swamp of the Religious Right many years ago -- I know fundamentalism when I smell it, be it religious or secular. And the criticisms of President-elect from the left stink to high heaven of fundamentalist orthodoxy, albeit with a "progressive" twist.

Here are a few examples of the fundamentalists of the left trying to make Obama fit their political "theology:"

Chris Bowers writing in Open Left (Nov 21):

"I know everyone is obsessed with the 'team of rivals' idea right now, but I feel incredibly frustrated... Why isn't there a single member of Obama's cabinet who will be advising him from the left? It seems to me as though there is a team of rivals, except for the left, which is left off the team entirely."

Cris Hayes writing in The Nation (Nov 21):

"Not a single, solitary, actual dyed-in-the-wool progressive has, as far as I can tell, even been mentioned for a position in the new administration. Not one."

William Greider in the The Nation ( Nov 25)

" A year ago, when Barack Obama said it was time to turn the page, his campaign declaration seemed to promise a fresh start for Washington. I, for one, failed to foresee Obama would turn the page backward... Obama's [cabinet] selections seem designed to sustain the failing policies of George W. Bush."

And this from Noam Chomsky, the grand old man of the left himself, on Democracy Now!. (posted on Alternet Nov 28)

"Rhetoric we know, but what are [Obama's] actions?... The first choice was the Vice President, Joe Biden, one of the strongest supporters of the war in Iraq... The first post-election appointment was for Chief of Staff, which is a crucial appointment; determines a large part of the president's agenda. That was Rahm Emanuel... again, a longtime Washington insider. Also, one of the leading recipients in congress of funding from the financial institutions hedge funds... Obama's choices... [include] Robert Rubin and Larry Summers... among the people who are substantially responsible for the crisis. One leading economist, one of the few economists who has been right all along in predicting what's happening, Dean Baker, pointed out that selecting them is like selecting Osama Bin Laden to run the war on terror..."

What is the message from these cheerless Scrooges of the left? Joy? Celebration? The hard work of actual governance? Ba Humbug! We don't do winning! We don't do actual governance! We only do permanent opposition! Coal in everyone's stockings... again!

Before I continue please note: There is a line between opposition to say, a specific policy and undermining our new President-elect's overall efforts by casting doubt on every selection he makes (or doesn't make) for his team, let alone pitting his rhetoric against his actions in a manner that implies he is lying. This "line" matters, even if it's fluid and hard to pin down because this is a critical -- perhaps fatal -- moment in American history.

That said... There is a reason that the likes of Saints Kucinich (from the left) and Huckabee (from the right) are not the President-elect: most Americans don't want the Church Ladies of the right or the left running the country. Sunday school is one thing, the presidency another. Our country is not so much "center-right" or "center-left" as fundamentally anti-ideological. (Which, by the way, is one reason why the Sarah Palin nomination backfired so badly for McCain.)

There are two kinds of people, those that allow reality and experience to define and constantly modify their ideas and those who insist that their ideas define reality. The first kind make things work. The second type (be they right wing creationists, or progressive purists) stand on the sidelines wringing their hands and criticizing the doers for their "heresy," because doing anything in the real world always equals compromise, learning and change.

What they of the purist left want from Obama is an ideological orthodoxy of thought and action that does not actually exist, except in their imaginations. And where do they think they are living? This is America and that means that Obama will be trying to govern a country so diverse that Sarah Palin and Noam Chomsky both have a fan base here!

Moreover many of Obama's legion of young and energetic supporters have not heard of, nor do they care about, the Noam Chomskys or James Dobsons of this world. History is moving on. Obama is bigger than the pundits. He's bigger than the movements that have divided us. Believe it or not -- this is a new day.

As Thomas B. Edsall wisely noted in the Huffington Post (Nov 29) in Battle Royale: Center-Right Versus Center-Left In the Democratic Party:

"A close examination of the data suggests that the political and policy-making environment is more complex than either side [in the left/right debate within the Democratic Party] acknowledges, and that thinking in terms of a left-right dichotomy may distort policy options."

Under the surface gloss of the left wing criticism of Obama there is, I suspect, something else: the critic's psychological need to feel indispensable, not to mention superior to those of us who like, trust and will follow President-elect Obama because he strikes our gut as likable, trustworthy and deserving of loyalty based on the self-evident merits of his outstanding character. It's just not in their genes to ever be so "ordinary" as to become team players, even when their side has just won. They would rather be in permanent opposition than ever be accused of -- horrors! -- being mainstream.

Again; I know about this form of messianic mental illness all too well from my own delusional days as a leader in the fundamentalist evangelical world back in the 70s and early 80s. We were proud of being outsiders, yet resentful of not being included, and yet again weirdly and moralistically haughty because of our self-imposed outsider status.

For the fundamentalists of the left, it's no good just getting the job done, let alone doing it in a way that mirrors this diverse, complex and one-size-does-not-fit-all country we live in. From the point of view of the ideologically pure of heart, the only way to get the job done is an in-your-face crusade that humiliates former opponents. This is the don't-forgive-Lieberman "reeducation" theory of political change: it's not enough to just win then change things, you need to do so in a way that leaves anyone who ever disagreed with you punished and out in the cold, furious and plotting your downfall.

Here's the right wing ideologue's nightmare:
What if President-elect Obama keeps being truthful and doing what he said he'd do? What happened to all those on the right who have been proven wrong about things they said during the campaign, for instance the right-wing Jews who said Obama would be surrounded by anti-Semites, and then the first thing he does is make Rahm Emanuel his chief of staff? And what are the right-wing evangelicals, who said he'd be a socialist appeaser and friend to terrorists, to do now that President-elect Obama has appointed a pragmatic economic team, and persuaded Gates to stay on for a year at Defense and General Jones to advise him? And what will the anti-abortion community do when Obama does what he said he'd do and initiates programs that actually reduce abortions by lifting women, families, teens and children out of poverty?

Here's the left wing ideologue's nightmare:
President-elect Obama does not bring the emotional and psychological baggage of my boomer generation's schoolyard fights with him. He meant it when he said he doesn't see a "red" or "blue" state America but the United States of America. He's of the left but without the I-told-you-so smarminess of we boomer culture warriors. He's progressive but without the need to punish former opponents. He won handily but is not interested in putting his political foes in their "place." He actually seems to want to serve all Americans, even the "wrong" kind, even the "other."

President-elect Obama is smarter than his critics and a better and more strategic politician than his rivals. As my friend (blogger and commentator) Frank Gruber wrote to me;

"Every move he makes is confident. He is in charge and thinking ten moves ahead. If I was a rival politician, left or right, I'd feel overwhelmed -- what's he going to do next? It's even more baffling because Obama tells you in advance not only what he's going to do, but what you're going to do. Think about that debate when he told Senator Clinton he was looking forward to getting advice from her after he became president. At the time I'll bet she dismissed that as mere rhetoric. Wrong! Who is going to be Secretary of State? Or what about when he gave that speech at the beginning of the summer of 08 outlining every tactic the McCain campaign would use against him?"

As for we self-proclaimed commentators, we have a President-elect who has more intellectual firepower than all the punditry put together. How confusing! That's good for America. But that's something a whole class of professional carpers will never forgive. And so expect mirror image left/right attacks from the class of talkers to whom the glass is always half empty, because they insist that any water that might be in the glass is inferior if they didn't personally invent it!

One reason that President Obama is going to be a very successful President is precisely because his understanding of the cosmos is that his ideas (political, philosophical or theological) do not define it. That's called wisdom. That's called humility. And that is the very wisdom lacking in Obama's ideologically driven left wing critics, who never seem able to complete a paragraph with the words, "But I could be wrong." That is why their posture is already a crouch of disappointed expectation, even before President-elect Obama has been sworn in!

When President-elect Obama said that he will try to do what works, regardless of the ideological label or where a good idea comes from, he was telling the truth. Most Americans know how lucky we are to have this remarkable, pragmatic, subtle, thoughtful man for our President-elect. Most of us also know how lucky we are that our next president -- unlike our current White House occupant -- is more interested in being a good president than in proving his "side" right about everything. And most of us also know that the stakes are sky high and that now is a time to stand with our new President-elect, come hell or high water or, perhaps, because of the hell and high water we're already neck deep in.

Frank Schaeffer is the 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. Now in paperback.

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

Comments

[lennix]

thank you mr. schaeffer man it"s good to read things from smart people like your self and yes obama is right we got to come togather as of right now no time for pay back like the old saying gos kill them with kindness this whould make them fell more sad about what they did then trying to destroy someone they did this to them selfs as we see with old joe the left and right needs to suck it up and help this country anyway they can truth be told people are tired of both left and right thats way obama won this is a new day and the young and the people who can think has and will pull us though this so get use to it change is here this is the 21st century thanks again mr.schaeffer for your insight

[Michale32086]

@Mr Schaeffer

Very well said sir and this part bears repeating..

}}}
He's progressive but without the need to punish former opponents. He won handily but is not interested in putting his political foes in their "place." He actually seems to want to serve all Americans, even the "wrong" kind, even the "other."
{{{

This is the EXACT reason why I voted for Obama. Because over and over he convinced me that he will not be a DEMOCRAT President but rather he will be an AMERICAN President..

I have, and probably will continue to disagree with PE Obama on many issues. I probably will say to myself on occasion, "What the heck could he be thinking!??"...

But at this point in time, I have no doubt that President Obama will make the best decisions for this country, not necessarily for his Party.

NO ONE can ask for a better leader than that...

Michale.....

[canucklivinginUSA]

I will actually quite enjoy asking myself that question(what the heck was he thinking) and then see how he answers that. Its been awhile that I have been that excited about politics. I have a feeling Obama is going to challenge all my perceptions, and I welcome it

[moonflowerjewelry]

i voted for the man because he is smart with a capital S. because he is not an idealogue, and because of all the lefties and righties, he is the only one i truly believe has a real world plan for making and leaving this country and this planet a better place for everyone when his terms are over.

[Fongenie]

Frank, sir... you fired that point on all four cylinders! You literally took every word from my mouth and molded them into an ingeniously analytical piece of work, exposing the nitty-gritty of political persuasions. I thank you. *two snaps*

[theone718]

Unbelievably well said, no more words need to be added. If you don't mind I plan on passing this article around

[canucklivinginUSA]

I was thinking the exact same thing

[CharlesJ]

Well said, my thoughts exactly. Its not about red, blue, left or right, its about all Americans coming to gether for a common purpose. The exclusionary thought behind the left or right, their inability to see a greater advantage of being more centered and inclusionary will eventually be the undoing of both parties. Where as working for the good of ALL People will bring great success to anyone. I am so tired of the left and right, they always manage to leave someone out that ends up being trampled by the either movement. I am so tickeled to have a president elect that looks to all people stating this is not about me, its not about red or blue, its about the United States of America so inclusionary, so different, and very profound to have.

Great article Frank could not have said it better.

[jfor]

The handful of people you mention are not known by many and all of them combined do not have the viewership of a bad ratings night on O'reilly. Whiners will whine no matter what but don't take what these few say as gospel and imply they are going to influence America or Obama, It just will not happen.

[FogBelter]

HuffPost's Pick

Mr. Schaeffer, time will tell if Obama's balancing act is brilliant or self-defeating. The bottom line, and beyond politics, Obama needs a long term vision for the future and the ability to realize positive, tangible results for the Country. If Obama can pull this trick off then those who comprise his Cabinet will be as lost to time as members of every other President's Cabinet, more or less, have been. Until Goodwin's "Team of Rivals" came out, no one but the dustiest of academics gave a tinker's d a m n about the Cabinet of Abraham Lincoln.

As for criticism of Obama coming from Right and Left throughout his Presidency, he should expect it. I was a solid supporter of Obama, but I still believe that at the height of power the President of the United States is still an employee of the citizens of the country. Employees should always expect criticism from their employers ... it goes with the territory.

[JuneO]

Yes, I do think citizens have the right to criticize. I think what the author is saying is that a lot of people criticize simplying for the sake of criticizing. "Reasoned" criticism would be much more beneficial to Obama and to all of us.

[4wehttam]

"Employees should always expect criticism from their employers ... it goes with the territory."

There is a difference between criticism and wanting the president to govern ONE WAY (with a progressive/liberal agenda). I don't think that would work, you would alienate half the people that voted for you and ALL the people that didn't vote for you. Barack will do what's he's been talking about THROUGHOUT his campaign. He will govern from the center with a focus of bringing all of us together for a BETTER government.

[tubette]

Well said !!!! Guess people don't recognize the change is to depolarize and actually get something done.

[TwentyCharactersLong]

To be fair, depolarization is hard.

[Celestia]

(continued)
And you what I haven't seen this nice list of pure progressives who can take these positions Obama is filling right now.
I'm not saying there are no alternatives to Obama's picks, but if you looking for some non- controversial, qualified figure who fits the leftist standard, I don't know where that person is.
If you find them, you can tell Obama to make them Secretary of State or Defense Secretary.
And if Obama went out and hired a bunch of progressives, would that automatically make everything ok because he was fulfilling some kind of obligation? I thought this was going to be about policy and not improving the lives of all Americans, even the ones that didn't vote for him. Remember?
If all of these 'centrist' figures he's lining up come in and do their job and the economy begins to recover and health care reform is on the way and we're getting out of Iraq responsibly, does it matter if the people involved aren't 'progressive' to the left? It shouldn't.
We need to give them and this administration a chance. Obama is going to be every American's president, right?
I wish some people who just act like it.

[Celestia]

My thoughts exactly.
Obama's campaign ( in case some hardcore liberals haven't noticed ) was about unity and working together to make a difference despite your differences. If some progressives got caught up in the victory and just want to stomp the opposition, then I fail understand who they thought they voted for.
Listen, there's a country that needs to be run, and having people who kinda know what their doing already isn't betrayal, it's logic.
If the Clinton administration was the last Democratic one in the White House, your going to have people from that administration involved with the Obama White House. To bring in a bunch of progressive Washington neophytes this time in our history just a appease the left wouldn't be a very responsible thing to do.
People who are asking where the 'change' is need to remind themselves who just got elected president. All these 'hawish' Washington insiders aren't the president-elect. Barack Obama is. And their being brought in to do what he wants them to do, not the other way around. As long as he keeps his head straight and gets relative cooperation from people, I think we're going to be ok.

[benjaminblue]

One need not be a member of the "extreme left" to demand that the crimes of this administration be investigated or to demand that Mr. Bush and his merry band of bandits be held accountable.

One needs, merely, to be a patriot, someone who treasures the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

All Americans -- left, right and middle -- should insist upon confirming, finally, that the laws of our land are meant to be honored and enforced. All Americans should cry out, earnestly, for justice.

Mr. Bush and his bunch of thugs must be investigated and incarcerated for abusing the rules. They are criminals, and they must be treated as such.

[za2008]

So, why would anyone reveal their specific intentions and investigative strategy while the current administration is still in office and able to obstruct any investigation? This is an administration, by the way, that has an irreversible ability to pardon and make the transition extremely difficult and, by claiming executive privilege, has made any investigation nearly impossible?

Be patient! It's still November! January 20 is still almost 2 months away!

[JuneO]

Perhaps in a perpect world that would be the case. This is not a perfect world.

[canucklivinginUSA]

All Americans? You seem to forget that 46 millions didn't vote for him, which is safe to say that 46 millions don't want one of their owns to be prosecuted. Besides, do you want any of his policies to go through? Going after the Repubs won't get you that, I guarantee you. Vengeance won't get you anything

[WorkingClass]

Why is it that only the progressives are left out? Why is it that bringing the country together means excluding the left? If the right is allowed to keep its ideology then why not the left? Progressives are unhappy with the corporatist dominance of the new administration. So what? Do they have no right to speak their mind? Have they no right to try to influence policy? Why is it Frank, that Democrats take the right to their bosom while scolding and chastising the left?

[Rog49Thomas]

Because the tolerated political bandwidth in this country is extremely narrow and skewed to the right.

In most civilized countries Brother Dennis would be considered a moderate not some flaming leftist.

And political debate would not be stifled by labeling one's opponent or his ideas as "socialist".

[canucklivinginUSA]

Is he done picking his Cabinet, NO. And since you don't seem to pay attention, there's a progressive in the Cabinet, Melody Barnes. Get your head out of whatever you have it in

[Girl28]

I don't think he's finished picking his cabinet, and he hasn't made it into office yet, so everyone should just calm down. Obama never said that he would be a president only to the people on the left. He has always been a unifier. He wants to be a president who works on the behalf of all the people, even those who didn't vote for him. I don't understand why people are acting as if he's going back on his word when he's always spoken as a unifier. I personally would be a little dissapointed if he put all progressives in his cabinet. Finally, who's taking the right to their bosom?

[Americanformoderates]

America is becoming more and more centrist as the years go on, I believe, simply because no one wants to be thought of as radical and the growing trend toward becoming, well, practical. Whether that be social demagogues who insist on removing every traditional family value left in this country and giving out abortions like a candy dispenser all the while screaming about how terrible our capitalistic society is, or religious fundamentalists who believe that Gay and Atheists should be stoned and woman chained to the kitchen like dogs and shoot anyone who dares to mention a social welfare program.

The fact of the matter is, the country is not entirely progressive, nor conservative. People are progressive on some things, conservative or others. This leads to an inevitable centrism since each person's political values are about as different as their preference for icecream. Some like vanilla with a sugar cone. Some like chocalate with a waffle cone. Some like a mixture of both with no cone at all. One has to offer something that will, if not satisfy everyone, make it at least bearable.

[Poboy]

I value your opinion, Frank, just like I value those others you named, though not all equally.

I am not sure I understand what you are trying to say.

Are you saying that those people you named on the left should not speak out? about this or any issue?

Are you saying that President Obama should get our blind support? especially given our dire circumstances?

Are you saying that his nominees for his cabinet are inconsequential? that we should defer to Obama's wisdom?

Well, no matter your answers to any or all these questions. There are things that are undeniable.

1. This is OUR GOVERNMENT, not Obama's.

2. EVERY citizen of this country should determine its course, and we as citizens need to speak out more not less, that includes those people you named on the left and right.