An Open Letter to Barack Obama

Barack Obama's candidacy has inspired a wave of political enthusiasm like nothing seen in this country for decades. Now, many progressive supporters of Obama are urging him in a new open letter to stand firm on the principles he so compellingly articulated in his successful primary fight.

Please join Phil Donahue, Barbara Ehrenreich, Studs Terkel, Walter Mosley, Gore Vidal, Bill McKibben, Jane Hamsher, Tom Hayden, Zephyr Teachout, Juan Cole, Matt Stoller and many others in signing this open letter which will be delivered to the Obama campaign before the Democratic National Convention begins on August 25.

We are posting the letter today at TheNation.com.

The Letter praises the dramatic grassroots movement that has built up around his candidacy and outlines the stands that are critical to maintaining that movement's energy and passion.

"We recognize that compromise is necessary in any democracy. We understand that the pressures brought to bear on those seeking the highest office are intense," the letter reads."But retreating from the stands that have been the signature of your campaign will weaken the movement whose vigorous backing you need in order to win and then deliver the change you have promised."

If the Obama campaign listens? "An enthusiastic corps of volunteers and organizers," the letter states, "will ensure that voters turn out to close the book on the Bush era on election day....Only a grassroots base as broad and as energized as the one that is behind you can counteract the forces of money and established power that are a dead weight on those seeking real change in American politics."

People are invited to sign on to the Open Letter. See the full letter and a list of all signatories here.

Comments

[BlueOnBlue]

How many potential votes will this open letter lose for Obama? Looks like there are at least a few easily hoodwinked progressive right here who will cast their votes for someone else?

If McCain wins by a razor thin margin in one state, The Nation may be as much to blame as anything which happened in Florida in 2000. Are you prepared to shoulder that blame?

Let's just shut up and get on with electing the best man and the best PARTY in the race. McCain represents more YOYO (you're on your own) government. Obama represents WITT (we're in this together) government. Choose the right one or lose again.

[zjr909]

The trouble with political compromise is knowing when to stop (or, in the case of President Bush, when to start). You must compromise one thing to get support; then another thing to get some more support; then a third, and a fourth and so on until there's nothing left of what you intended to accomplish when you started out. Isn't that the way it usually works? The problem with Obama is that he seems willing to compromise even before it's necessary: his FISA vote, e.g. There was no indication that voting against it would hurt him politically. The vote was simply based on what the Republicans might have made of it. But, seriously, can you picture any debate wherein the enormously inarticulate John Mcain would be able to tie Obama's FISA vote around his neck like an albatross? Obama would have McCain so rattled he'd forget what he started out saying. I personally believe Obama voted against FISA not to appease the Republican slime machine but to keep from looking bad by having the majority of Democrats voting for something he was against. That would have made him look weak in front of his own party. So before sending letters to Senator Obama, how about cranking out a few dozen to members of Congress? Just to let them know they're supposed to rally around their candidate - not leaving him floundering.

[tyrdofwaitin]

Thank you Katrina. Very well put. What the progressives and left-of-centers don't realize is to main facts about Sen. Obama. First, he is no ideologue: that means that he does not hew to any one political stripe or ideology. What he is a brilliant, modern and progressive thinker much like Martin Luther King, Jr. was in his time; King was no ideologue but he did possess a heap of principles and integrity. So does Obama, but he will not tow all of our lines all of the time.

Second, Sen Obama is the first Black person in spitting distance of the White House: Would YOU want to be in his shoes? We progressives will have to allow that a Black person running for the highest office in the land has to endure way more than any white person. To wit: Have YOU ever heard of any white politician running for high office called "arrogant"? If you have, please post your citation right here.

Katrina, what Sen. Obama needs is gentle and persistent prodding from our widespread netroots population ---- He cannot do it alone.

I'm off to sign that letter!

[elbzee]

Nicely stated tyrdofwaitn!

[PumaAnn]

The boldest and most progressive candidate is out. O is just doing what he did in Illinois as senator: Playing it safe.

He never hid his tendency to do this. His supporters had all the information they needed to assess his personality on this.

It's funny that they are now worried that he's the wrong guy. Bit late.

[Veneita]

When the only issue for which there is a clear record of departure, I wonder if this letter is necessary? I don't like his vote but bush can no longer have people tapped without using the FISA courts. That's good, but I thought he should have voted against it. I have never seen people so presumptive that they send open letters to a presidential candidate telling him what to do. Barbra sent him an open letter on universal healthcare. Why would anyone think it would be appropriate to send an open letter to Senator Obama ? . . .

[joebhed]

Dear Senator Obama,

You REALLY never did promise us anything but slogans and pomp during the primaries.

However, today, we want to hold you to the standards we were creating in our own minds of being a progressive reformist, the type so sorely needed to make a dent in the corporatista control of our economy and our people.

Now, having been duped by the rhetoric and that truly magnetic smile, we want you to know that we are looking for something a lot more meaningful than anything you promised. We know you never promised anything meanngful, but, hey, we were desperate for anything but another Clinton.

Your cooperation would bee appreciated.
Pretty please !

Your progressive admirers.
at the Nation.

Vote Nader/Gonzalez in 2008

[darcy]

Dear joebhed,

I respectfully submit that you are exactly correct in your assessment, and I join you in supporting Nader this year.

Yours truly,

darcy

[kingshmoopy]

To any progressives who want to abandon the Democrats because of one percieved betrayal or another please don't.

There was a time, before I had children, that I may have joined you. But I cannot stomach the thought of my 3 beautiful children, more precious to me than anything else, spending one more minute than they need to under a Republican administration.

I may not agree with everything that Obama does or says, I was ticked abou the FISA decision. But it is all small potatoes when compared to McCain! There is literally nothing that Obama could do to make me abandoned his candidacy at this point when the alternative is 4, possibly 8, more years of stomach turning neo-con crap.

My children, all of our children, are too important for me to cross my arms, turn tail, and stomp away.

[Johnagain]

I have 2 kids and agree with you 100%.

[GoCards1978]

I'm signing the letter and voting for Barack Obama. It's not the time for juvenile behavior.

[zann]

Who knew so many HuffPo commenters were children.

Listen, kids, we're in danger. Come out of your corners. You've got to suck it up and act like you manage your own country.

This nation is fragile with debt. Factories and jobs are in China and India and Mexico. Foreigners own more and more of our lands, homes and businesses. Rich folk are putting their money in foreign currencies and commodities. The military and the oil industry have a stranglehold on congress.

Obama wouldn't have gotten this far if he weren't a politician who seeks alliances with powerful people, and sometimes puts those alliances ahead of his progressive streak. Still, he is a remarkable, sharp man and he actually could start the changes we need.

The whole game is for us to become the powerful people that Obama will have to seek alliance with. No more sulking, kids. I'm going to sign the Nation petition, and anything else that makes us more united and powerful.

[Rog49Thomas]

You mean you're suggesting I shouldn't vote for Brother Ralph or some other candidate with miniscule probability of being elected?

But what about my principles?

Don't I have to get 100% of what I want 100% of the time? (Or if not, 0%)?

[Rog49Thomas]

In March 1933 Thalman and Weis engaged in no doubt highly significant debates and differences of opinion.

Sometimes, it is better to take "half a loaf" when the alternative is starvation.

[Rog49Thomas]

Temporary amnesia - I forgot to mention Brother Kaas too.

[MariaHopeful]

There was no "movement" before Obama. I don't remember anybody drafting any petition to anyone else so as to keep them on the straight on narrow. What? The black man is not capable?

[Magee]

Katrina and her Nation magazine, along with other "progressives" supported Obama from the beginning and marginalized Hillary who was the front runner. So they got what they want. But wait! Now that Obama's the nominee, they're whining about him. How convenient to be so self righteous. Why not just support the man for heaven's sake. I do. Any Democrat will be a vast improvement over McCain and the Bush legacy.

[vippy]

Hillary was NEVER the frontrunner. Sorry, though close in votes the money situation was
way off and that was due to the fact that so many from Operation Chaos had voted for Hillary.
There is no other explanation other than all of her supporters forgot to send her money and
that is not likely. Rush had a lot of impact on this.

[111]

I'm not going to sign a letter to ask Obama to do anything. He voted to legalize and expand Bush's domestic data mining program. That is, as he said, the deal breaker.

I'm tired of Democrats who want to be Republican and call themselves Centrists. I'm tired of Democrats who thought Bush's spying on Americans was terrible but now that Obama said that it should be legalized and made even worse than what Bush was doing they say it's okay. I don't want to support a party who says that people who want to protect our Constitution are extremists, liberals, leftists, etc.

Obama is what he is and the Dems can have him. I'm voting for Cynthia McKinney and will probably vote Green party down the line because they more closely reflect my views.
I wish more progressives would just walk away from the Democratic party and embrace the one of the progressive parties. We saw this past winter and spring what we are capable of when we get behind a candidate.

[slc20]

I was pissed about the FISA bill, too.

Then i read that the FISA bill now closes the loop-hole Bush was using in order to spy on all of us.

It's not a good bill- and Obama said it wasn't- but it closed the Bush spying loop-holes.
Better than nothing.

[vippy]

Well, no one else is voting for Cynthia. And BTW she has made some major goofs too, so she
is not the answer either. You want perfect, you won't get it unless you can show us how.
However, voting for Cynthia or whoever else will hand the election to McCain and that is NOT what
we want. We start with Obama, it will get better, and then go from there, Remember
baby steps first. I feel the same way as you do but I am a realist.

[mcole]

lol. you're so sweet.

so, who else isnt voting?

[Helzapoppin]

Sorry, one deal-breaker too many. I've never supported Republicans and I'm no longer supporting Democrats either, as they have repeatedly proven themselves void of any serious principles other than their own personal interests and sense of self-preservation. Obama will very likely win, but he wont do it with my vote anymore. I said when this campaign started that no declared candidate was offering what this country needs to dig out of this hole we're in and avoid the complete collapse of the nation as a whole. And I still stand by that analysis.

[darcy]

I agree, Helzapoppin. The thing about Obama that most offended me is his proposed expansion of bush's faith-based (what a joke that name is!) programs.

[jmpurser]

The problem is he IS standing firm on his principles. And his principles are a long way from Liberal/Progressive.

FISA. Abortion. Death Penalty. Faith Base Initiative.

Think about it. Obama is largely same old same old.

[6louis9]

Agree. Obama has moved to the right of HRC. So laughable.

[jmpurser]

I wouldn't go THAT far. The Clintons are IMHO what an intelligent republican would look like. I see Obama as being well to the left of them but that doesn't make him either liberal or progressive.

The practical difference is if a Clinton was heading the Democratic party ticket this fall I would not vote. Since it's Obama I plan to hold my nose and vote.

[Camco]

Is anyone really suprised that Obama has drifted to the center? Or, has he? I've never seen Obama as anything but a centrist Democrat, but, unlike in 2000, there is a critical difference between a centrist Democract and Bush/McCain.

Always remember: the perfect is the enemy of the good.

I'll still do everything possible to get Obama elected.

[harveyr2]

Progressives have been hoodwinked by the sly politician, Barak Obama. He'll say anything to get elected. Its all about power for him; forget about change. You can't believe in him.