Oh, Yes She Can

Here's what is scary. It's not August. There aren't any Republican attack ads.

And yet, Obama is getting swiftboated... by himself.

Admittedly, as someone who will remain a Clinton supporter to the very end, I have been enjoying the rude awakening that many Obama supporters have recently received from !quelle horreur! Barack Obama, himself.

FISA, gun control, public finance, the death penalty, religious-based initiatives, late-term abortions, Iraq, turning his back on groups such as MoveOn, and throwing people like Wes Clark under the bus. They all add up to Obama's progressive base wondering with justifiable uncertainty: Who is this guy and what the hell is he doing?

Well, it seems that Barack Obama can and will do whatever he pleases -- particularly if it paves the way to victory. In order to win the nomination, Obama posed as the candidate of Change. Remember he was the outsider who wanted to restore Hope in all of us. He was the candidate we could Believe in. Not surprisingly, after 8 years of Bush fear-mongering and Republican-led emoting hate towards terrorists, Obama's offering of emoting hope and unity towards feel-good horizons was extremely appealing. The marketing worked. Back then, Obama appeared pure, honest, and trustworthy; Obama was definitely not the entrenched, untrustworthy Washington-insider, Hillary Clinton.

But who is Barack Obama now?

Unfortunately, none of us know who Barack Obama really is especially in light of his recent mercurial political positions.

Usually when someone behaves in such an unrecognizable manner, you turn to the person in question's past history for reassurance. Not so with Obama since his public record is so short. Indeed, Obama's public life started a mere 10 years ago and his uncanny ability to spend no longer than two years in any one post or place translates to Obama never being held accountable. That lack of accountability translates to Obama being an unknown entity merely offering up his lofty, poetic, and very pretty promises to trust. But lately those pretty little promises aren't holding up much -- let alone anyone's trust.

And I am not going to shut up and trust Obama for the sake of party unity. Just like I refused to shut up and trust Bush after 9/11. Remember, Dissent is Patriotic. Obama promised to be something different. He promised to stand up and do the right thing. He promised the Change that many people were yearning for. While I never believed him to have authentic principles, Obama's early supporters did. And those early supporters are responsible for Obama receiving the nomination. They voted for Obama specifically because he said that he wasn't the type of person that he has now revealed himself to be.

So why is Obama acting like his early supporters don't matter to him?

Because he can. He doesn't need you folks anymore. Obama knows that he has all of your votes in his back pocket. He knows with certitude that you will not vote for McCain. So as long as Obama stays more than a hair to the left of McCain, he'll do just fine, thank you. Obama really doesn't need to pander to all of you and your silly Progressive causes anymore. He and Michelle have got a general election to win and a large swath of (perceived) centrist voters to sucker.

But if there was ever a year that the progressives could have run on a strong, strident and non-negotiable platform against the Republicans, 2008 should have been that year. More than 70% of Americans are unhappy with the course of our country -- a country that has had Republican leadership for the past 8 years. If Progressives and their candidates cannot be true to themselves and their core-guiding principles now, then when?

2008 is the ultimate year for an unyielding progressive platform and agenda because on every major issue that Americans care about (like for example Iraq, the economy, the environment, health care, and national security) the Republicans (and the policies of the Right and Center-Right) have failed miserably.

More pointedly, in 2008 when more Americans identify themselves as Democrats and supporting Democratic principles, why in God's green Earth would Obama or any Democratic candidate for that matter ever run anywhere near the center? It's idiotic. Take a look at South Carolina where Obama received more votes than all of the Republican candidates, combined. Go further and add up both Obama and Clintons' votes in South Carolina, and you have a Democratic landslide! And South Carolina is supposedly a fairly conservative Republican state.

So it's not that Obama is merely abandoning the Left. No, it's that Obama is abandoning the vast majority of the American people and what they truly want from their political leaders after 8 horrendous years of George Bush.

Alas, as many Clinton supporters already know, it's not so bad living under the bus once one's been thrown there. The important thing to remember is to not get disillusioned and bitter with the political process. You (yes, We) can all still make a difference.

Here are some simple ways to stay a part of the system and send a message to the tone-deaf Obama:

1. Unhappy with Obama's turnaround on issues that matter to you?

STOP SENDING YOUR CHECKS TO HIM. Spend 5 minutes on Google and send money directly to organizations that support your issue or cause. For many grassroots organizations, a little money goes a long way--your money will be well spent and better spent.

Remember that Obama opted out of public financing--that means he needs your money. If you stop sending it, he might pay attention. More to the point, by sending cash directly to well-established organizations that support your cause, you will know that your voice is truly being heard and appreciated.

Furthermore, such organizations will not materially change their position on any issue to fit the prevailing winds. With these people there is no risk of getting burned or thrown under the bus.

2. Nervous about Obama's seemingly lack of core-guiding principles and even more concerned about how he will govern as President?

Start supporting Hillary Clinton as his Vice President. Clinton would serve well as a stern rudder to Obama's wayward sails. Hillary Clinton has a well-documented public record and history. Like it or not, we fully know Hillary Clinton and we know how she governs. We know her core principles. More to the point, we know that there are certain non-negotiable, core Progressive principles that she would never capitulate on.

Any Obama supporters who initially found Clinton unacceptable because of her triangulation and willingness to do anything to win, might as well listen to your own recent justifications about Obama and his own triangulation and willingness to do anything to win. Enough said?

3. Reminder to all: The Superdelegates have not yet voted. They cast their vote at the Convention in August which means Hillary Clinton's "suspended" campaign could be reinstated. (Because, Oh, Yes She Can!)

Of course, this reality is probably why the Republicans have remained mostly silent against Obama since they'd rather run against Obama than Hillary. The Republicans know that a small window remains open for Hillary to get the nomination. And a coup at the Convention is not entirely out of the question-- particularly in light of Obama's recent behavior in thumbing his nose at the Progressive base. Yes folks, it's not too late.

It's July 9, 2008. There are 6 weeks left until the convention in Denver. And I think all Americans should be paying close attention to see what Barack Obama does. Does he continue to flounder and move to the center compromising important Progressive principles? Or does he correct his wayward ways?

Democrats must have a candidate with clear conviction to beat John McCain in November. The question that must be answered between now and August is whether Barack Obama is that candidate.

Comments

[Kassandra]

Here we go again.

Still, it kinda makes me wonder what he is going to do with all that executive power bush has accumulated. I noticed Clinton voted against this piece of s*@t. Hmmmmmm

At least his bill makes a warrant necessary to spy on Americans. How comforting after 7+ years of warrantless spying! They got all the info they need right now.

I'm gonna donate any $$ I have to Al Franken's campaign. He needs help, esp now that Jesse Ventura (erp) has entered the race too.

[tgiles]

Oh, Yes You Did!! Great post Kristen. The Obama folks are getting a little agitated. It's never fun to get duped. Keep in mind Obama was/is the canadate of "Change" and indeed he keeps on changing.

[beautifuldisaster]

Kristen, being a HRC supporter you probably never read his books are know what he stands for. Besides the FISA, he's always been constant on views ( death penalty, religion, etc.) Some Obama supporters especially the very liberal are in for a rude awakening. HOWEVER, HRC and Obama's issues are very much of the same. What made me a FORMER HRC supporter is the way she ran her campaign and bailing out on the black vote when the black voters ALWAYS had her and her husband's back.

If HRC didn't run her campaign the way she did and stuck with the so-called experience needed in being a President and spending much of her campaign leaking out photos that Obama's a Muslim and he's the black boogeyman then she might have won the primaries.

[WarriorLemming]

I agree and support your post, beautifuldisaster, well said indeed!

[clevelandchick]

Just because Obama made a bad decision on FISA doesn't automatically make Hillary better. I suspect his triangulating these past few weeks is due to Hillary's campaign staff joining his team after she dropped out. This move to the right is Classic Clinton, we saw it in spades during the primary.

The Democrats are greedy gutless wonders, bowing to the most unpopular president in history on issues that most Americans know nothing about but sooooo afraid of being called "soft on terror" they cave time and again. Afraid to piss off the corporations and willing to collude - case in point Senator John Rockefeller who's received $50,000 from Verizon and ATT employees since 2007.

If Hillary was the Nom, dollars to donuts those T-Coms would be funding her campaign and she would have taken the same position as Obama on FISA. Of course since she isn't, she takes a different position. The luxury of nothing to lose.

Hillary's negatives do not change just because some of the shine has rubbed off Obama. I am of the mind that neither Obama or Clinton are what this country needs and this nation would never nominate the right person because they would be toooooo leeeebruuul. Denmark, here I come.

[WarriorLemming]

clevelandchick Quote:
"Just because Obama made a bad decision on FISA doesn't automatically make Hillary better. I suspect his triangulating these past few weeks is due to Hillary's campaign staff joining his team after she dropped out. This move to the right is Classic Clinton, we saw it in spades during the primary.

If Hillary was the Nom, dollars to donuts those T-Coms would be funding her campaign and she would have taken the same position as Obama on FISA. Of course since she isn't, she takes a different position. The luxury of nothing to lose.

Hillary's negatives do not change just because some of the shine has rubbed off Obama."


I bow to your amazing wisdom and insight, clevelandchick!

[warf33]

THANK YOU KRISTEN BRIETWEISER for being honest! There is one little item I've thrown out on the blogs and never been responded to about Obama. How is it that a man that "plays by the rules", was able to accept all the uncommitted votes and four of Hillary's delagates too, when he had taken his name off the ballot in Michigan? Anybody?..­........Th­ought not. For me, this was one of the first things that just didn't jive at the time and things have been on a steep slide downhill ever since. I have no urge to say I told you so.......a­ll you wanted was change and I'm sorry you have been played and then kicked to the curb.

[downwithbs]

Ask yourself the reverse question: how can the woman who agreed the vote in Michigan wouldn't count, whose opponent took his name off the ballot...h­ow can this woman call it a fair contest and lay claim to a big delegate advantage? To answer your question: Obama did play by the rules. And when he accepted the final assignment of delegates--a compromise worked out by Michigan officials--Obama was playing by the rules again. Astounding that you don't see this.

[WarriorLemming]

Good answer, downwithbs! Nice to see someone using both oars, lol

[PKSSK]

Kristen your bitterness only confirms that your support for Hillary was due to your former affiliation as a republican. For this reason, I find it interesting that you post this article attacking the democratic nominee when you know you are voting for McCain. Your dishonesty is flagrant and only serves the GOP agenda to further divide the democratic party in order to win the election for your candidate, McCain.

[funnyguy]

I've been watching Hillary Clinton for 16 years and I have yet to figure out what her "core values" might be. Apparently, a lot of Democratic voters had the same problem.

Don't count on her to be anyone's "stern rudder," including her own.

[HumeSkeptic]

I am an 0bama supporter. But I wouldn't even try to defend the indefensible. On this FISA bill, the Senator was just dead wrong. He let us down.

So, I am willing to take this one on the chin, Kristen.
.

[Shmuelman]

This has got to be a straight up satire or some odd shill. Plays the false "Obama has no principles" meme. Clinton was absolutely repulsive at the end of her campaign, she spent years triangulating as a Senator. Maybe if she stood up against the war in Iraq, she could have won the nomination, but she LOST.

[QueenTiye]

Here's me practicing "live and let live."

QT

[downwithbs]

Because Obama has modified some of his positions, you want us to withhold our campaign contributions and pressure him to choose Hillary as his running mate?

Have you forgotten how many times Hillary Clinton changed her positions, how many different "real" voices she kept finding, how she kept re-calibrating her delegate-counting methods to conform to whatever metric put her ahead that day?

And John McCain...w­e won't even talk about his reversals!

Sorry, but Barack Obama remains the most consistent candidate of this presidential election year.

[tbone99]

And that ain't saying much!

[sonderweg]

Seems the only bitter grapes around HuffPost these days are Obama supporters who are still upset that Clinton supporters aren't following in line like robots.
Good for Kristen. You tell 'em, girl.
Nader 2008!

[clevelandchick]

Now THAT'S rich....yo­u'll vote for Nader, a white man, before you'd vote for the Green Party Nominee Cynthia McKinney, a black woman.

Methinks that maybe the Obamabots were onto something thinking some of the Hillbots were just a tad racist. But wait! Wouldn't suppporting Nader over McKinney also make you a sexist for not automatically supporting the only woman running for president right now? Hmmm?

I would give you credit for not saying McCain '08 but you wouldn't deserve it.

[bluehorizon]

Nice....

[GuyRC]

As long as he stays a hair to the left of McCain he will do fine. That's true, and it's better than HRC who would right now be racing McCain to the furthest edges of the right. If you wanted a leftie you should have supported Kucinich or Edwards.

[Daisy1111]

BO voted FOR telecom immunity -- supporting the B u s h Admin.

HRC voted AGAINST telecom immunity -- opposing the B u s h Admin.

Look again, your guy BO is rightwing.

[beautifuldisaster]

And HRC was running her campaign out of Karl Rove's notebook AND constantly on FAUX network. In fact, all the Rightwings and FOX were all on HRC's team. BO maybe a centrist, but a rightwing? Get Real!

[clevelandchick]

She voted against it after she was for it...so convenient. Gee, I wonder why?

[GuyRC]

I think Obama can beat McCain if we support him. He is not "my guy". He is my choice over HRC and McCain who voted to invade Iraq.

[mommy31]

People please do your homework before you go out and vote. The media (for those of you who STILL don't know) is biased in favor of Republicans!!!!! They do everything they can to sway public opinion towards their candidate of choice. Anyone who has watched Obama's debates, read his books, attended his events, etc. would know that he has NOT changed his position (other than FISA).

The people's choice for the democratic nominee is Barack Obama. Why are we still utilizing blogs & media coverage talking about Hillary, her bitter supporters, & her being VP????? This blog should have been about what we as democrats can do to unite behind the democratic nominee. We do NOT need anymore devisiveness amongst fellow democrats. Hell.... the Republicans are sticking to us everyday.

People we are not always going to agree with 100% of everything that Obama says, but we can agree to disagree on a majority of issues that are truly affecting us NOW. I don't agree with FISA either, but I also do not perceive that as a more pressing priority than the economy, healthcare, gas prices, food prices, Iraq, and many other issues the are staring MOST AMERICANS in the face today.

As far as I am concerned, Hillary is a representative for democrats as is Obama. If you don't want to vote for Obama or even TRY to get informed on his positions then do whatever you choose and stop acting like you represent the majority of us.

[walk0nwalls]

The point is a lot of us DIDN'T read his books and actually thought that he was as liberal as the media portrayed him. In their minds this was a negative, in ours, a positive.

It's true we weren't informed, but we liked that perception and creation of Obama, even if it wasn't true.

It's true that perhaps only our perceptions are changing, but understand that a lot of us didn't look too closely, and he emphasized mostly the points that led us to believe he was something he was not. Which is, an actual progressive.

We made mistakes, but don't fault us for our disappointment. Ultimately it makes no difference whether Obama was consistent or not: we are just disappointed.

[zigzag1]

As someone who has always admired you Kristen and both the Clintons, if Hillary couldn't run a better campaign than she did, she doesn't deserve the presidency. She kept changing her message, lied about Bosnia and got caught, cried one day and acted like a shrew on others, and just looked so desperate she was begging. Sorry, Kristen, Barack cleaned her clock as he will McCains.

[AlButerol]

Judging from all the hateful reponses, you must be saying something right. I'm not a Clinton supporter but I agree with everything you said. People are starting to wake up to who Obama really is and it takes time to absorb the shock. It's sort of like the stages of grief. After getting over the initial shock and disbelief, they resort to anger as many are displaying here today. Eventually most will move on to despair and realize how screwed they are given that there really are no choices left (Obama, McCain).
BTW, I'm a Kucinich supporter. Despair set in for me a long time ago.

[bigbingtheory]

What hateful responses? We disagree with her and support the nominee. That's hateful? Anybody call the author names or something?
And for pete's sake, the idea that Obama supporters are nothingmore than deluded lemmings following him around like he' the messiah is just a myth opponents tell themselves to justify the fact the guy can motivate people better than most. Might I remind you that FDR was considered too capitalist for many in the Democratic Party and turned out to be the most liberal.

[MPeter]

No, you are a stoopid Rethug. If you were for Kucinnich, you would know what he stands for in the long run. He is a democrat to the core. As for you, you are a Rethug or a Clintonite in sheep's skin.

[AlButerol]

The despair I was referring to was that Kucinich was not nominated. I thought that was obvious from the context. Good lord, you've got a hair trigger. I think you're making my point for me.