What's It Going to Take, Barack? A Screed
I admire Barack Obama very much. He's smart as hell and his attempt to change the tone of politics has been admirable. But it has failed.
These right-wingnuts who have hijacked the Republican party aren't interested in bipartisanship. They're interested in one thing and one thing only: Power. They don't like to be out of it and they want it back. They're not interested in getting anything done except making sure the rich stay rich. They don't believe in global warming, they don't care about the poor, they don't give a shit that there are 47 million uninsured and most bankruptcies are due to medical bills of people with insurance. They love going to war. High defense spending gives them a woody.
Some of them ran from Bush at the end of his administration because he was politically toxic, but they never really disagreed with anything he did. They were pro-Iraq and, of course, pro-tax cuts. And when they needed to win the votes of the elderly, they were all for Medicare Part D, a giant government health program if there ever was one. They would have all voted against the original Medicare and now pose as its greatest defenders. Medicare, the epitome of socialized medicine.
They are hypocrites, liars and racists. The signs at the 9.12 rally were stomach-churning, replete with references to "zoos" and "Africa." Participants said ridiculous and stupid things like "America is being taken over by Muslims" and Obama was equivalent to Joseph Stalin and Hitler--men responsible for the death of 100 million people between them.
What's it going to take, Barack? Do you want to be liked so badly that you just refuse to see there is absolutely no placating these people? This is a democracy. We have elections so that the winners can get things done, not placate the losers or remain polite in the face of vicious calumny. Enough of Mr. Cool! Call these liars out ON A DAILY BASIS if you have to, and if you're so sure you need to remain "Presidential" send out attack dogs. The masses just to the right of middle, who voted for your replete with their doubts, are being swayed by this outrageous bullshit because they're not hearing the truth from you. You can't depend on Rachel Maddow to set the record straight, too many of these dazed souls are watching Bill O'Reilly because he's no smarter than they are, and they like it that way -- that's why they voted for Bush. These Americans don't respect intellect, they suspect it.
Attack the health insurance companies for what they are, leeches who make $300 billion a year doing as little as possible. Don't leave to all to Anthony Weiner. Say out loud that Glenn Beck calling you a racist is obscene, as it would require you to hate your own mother. Call them windbags, deluded and uncaring--or get Rahm Emmanuel to. NO MORE MR NICEGUY. It's not working -- it's already cost you the public option.
You won with 54% of the vote and have double majorities in Congress. ACT LIKE IT. Call us out into the streets. If they get 50,000 in D.C., we should get a million. The haters are never going to like you, they're never going to work with you, they encourage the birthers and the deathers and they're in the pockets of the corporate overlords. Publish their donor lists. Show indignation over signs that denigrate Kennedy.
Fight back, for crying out loud!
Follow Mark Olmsted on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MarquisMarq
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Cont'd
I don't think it's accurate to characterize Obama as wanting to be liked. If the man was shallow enough to be in this because he wants adulation, he certainly wouldn't have chosen to seek the presidency. There has not been a president who wasn't despised by some of the people at all times. It's not about placating people, it's about Obama remembering what the nut cases do not--he's the president of all the people, even the rabid crazies. There is a serious rift in this country that has the potential to destroy us. Obama's focus is on bridging the rift and moving forward with a policy agenda in the face of opposition. Please don't misread Obama maintaining his cool with being fearful or indecisive. He ran his campaign with the same sense of alm control. Some of his followers wanted him to take a more agrresive stand with his detractors. He won doing it his way. Obama doesn't need to call us to Washington. The tea party folks organized themselves; we can do the same thing.
All presidents are human, if anything the desire runs deeper with them to be liked than with most people. (Clinton is a perfect example).
I don't think Obama should use the same vitriolic tone as his detractors, but he can certainly be more forceful and specific. He should have said "This is what they people are calling a 'death panel' and explained what the real policy was--a mere reimbursement of the doctor. Instead he vaguely mentions "scare tactics" and then lets them drop the provision from the bill. He should have noted that Sarah Palin signed a "Health Choices Awareness Day" Declaration in April supporting end of life consultation, not let Keith Olbermann do it. Every savvy political commentator knew the Republicans weren't going to play ball months ago, while Obama kept trumpeting "bipartisanship" as he frittered away valuable political capital.
I expect leadership from this man and I'm not getting near enough of it. He has a reluctance to play hardball and an inordinate and unrealistic desire for consensus. It ain't gonna happen.
I think that Obama is fighting in the best way that he can; he's the president of the United States, not Mike Tyson. If he loses his cool, comes out swinging, he'll play into the hands of his attackers by becoming the poster child for the angry black man. I think that the president understands that the only thing that frightens white America more than an angry black man is an intelligent black man. It's not the wingnut elected officials that are leading the "Obama is the progeny of Hitler and Mussolin" contigency; it's Don and Ethel from small minded America. Those of us who supported Obama, who support his policies, we are the ones who can get into the fray and take on the fight. Obama has to stay above this. He can't take on Beck or Limbaugh. By even addressing their attacks, he gives them more credibility than they deserve. Rahm can't do it either. The labeling of Obama as a Nazi, the accusations of reverse racism. can't be given any credibility by his administration. To address them directly, to argue that they have no merit, gives them a semblance of merit.
hear! hear!
Barack needs to be more of a leader, but he's still too much of a Senator.
'...The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.
My that Mr. Yeats was a smart man.
This is the problem. The left is not mobilized in favor of reform to the degree that the right is mobilized on behalf of counter-reform. It's not just a problem with the White House (though it is certainly overburdened with Clinton veterans used to triangulating around right wing arguments rather than facing them forcefully with arguments of their own), with President Obama (though his drive for 'bi-partisanship' is certainly superior to his drive to do the right thing), or with Senatorial Democrats (though their need to compromise the meat out of reform bills is appalling) but with much of the left and the country as a whole. The champions of reform are caught in a malaise, and many of those not so mired in the muck of inertia are finding themselves falling into the category of 'the worst' as they flail in all directions.
We need determined, liberal leadership in the Senate (as we have seen in the House, increasingly) and we need a 'wartime consigiliere' in the West Wing. I think it's time for the ex-Clinton crowd to be swept out and for some new blood with a desire to actually fight and fight hard to be brought in.
I live in rural Louisiana. Too many here are listening to media that are spreading such contempt for our POTUS that the hate is growing like a deadly virus and their heroes are the usual suspects. I'm so ashamed to say they're acting like a bunch of buffoons and this is mildly put. Everywhere I go idiots are displaying rebel flags, gun sales in my little town have tripled and people are stocking up on can/dry goods. What do they know that I don't? This insane behavior is unsettling to say the least. The right is going too far and are acting totally irresponsible then they have the nerve to say this is not racially motivated? Please sir, do something. Call out to the hate mongers, speak up for the sensible Americans who voted for you. I'm one of them. I cried that night after watching the affect your win had around the world. It made me proud to be an American. But, if you can't make the changes that are necessary then I'm afraid of what the future holds for all of us, including you.
I like it!
I think you hit it right on the head here.
It's time to bring out Rahm Emmanuel!
The Chief of Staff sets much of the tone for a White House. He runs the day to day business of the White House far more than the president does, and thus in some sense sets the tone for the President's party and the country as well.
I find it hard to believe that the current administration attitude would be what it is unless the Chief of Staff thought it should be. Remember, Rahm Emmanuel is a veteran of the Clinton Era of triangulating to the right of the Democratic Party so that the Republicans cannot possibly assail your positions as liberal. The Republicans have changed their strategy and are now calling everything 'liberal' and 'socialist' whether it is or not. Instead of fighting, the administration appeared (until recently) to keep triangulating. I'd say much of that was Rahm Emmanuel's doing. He certainly played a roll in the decision not to lend White House endorsement to the EFCA.
I could not agree more. My biggest disappointment has been Rahm Emmanuel. That man gave me real hope that there would be some girding of the gonads and lies, canards and calumny would be given short shrift; instead he has been stupefyingly silent.
The more I see Obama, the greater the likeness to Michael Dukakis. Dukakis was a smart guy, but too nice. He just couldn't get angry or fight back. When asked in the debate how he would feel if his wife were raped by a parolee, he couldn't even fake outrage or much of anything resembling a visceral reaction. The Republicans hammered him into submission.
Since the Republican machinations in the stimulus bill fiasco, I've been baffled at how foolish Obama and his staff have been in failing to forcefully respond to the right wing--or even respond at all. Obama got played on the stimulus bill, yet kept on with the same "bipartisanship" load when it was clear the Republicans had no intention of being bipartisan. Heck, they even PUBLISHED FRANK LUNTZ's ATTACK POINTS ON ANY HEALTH CARE REFORM--before the battle even started! How could the Democrats have missed that????
Our country badly needs Obama to LEAD, not to placate the implacable radical right. Maybe Obama just doesn't have the fight in him necessary for these times. It certainly looks that way at this point and our nation is the worse for it.
I'm kind of seeing Jimmy Carter redux. I loved Jimmy Carter, but he's a statesman, not a politician. I'm starting to thing Hillary should have won and Obama should have been Secretary of State.
As much ranting and raving as there is coming from the right, one thing nobody will stand for is rolling back the big social programs like Medicare and Social Security. Once they are in place, they are permanent.
Mr. President, do what you have to do to get these reforms in place, even if it makes you a one-termer. You said you wanted to change the way Washington works but as soon as you're gone, it will revert right back to what it was with one exception. They won't be able to undo what you've done. So go for it. Go all the way. Do it for us and those who scream at you as well. Everyone will benefit.
I couldn't agree with you more. By not addressing certain things he is allowing too much to fester and foster, AND, these wingnuts are pushing the envelope to the darkest corners of their imagination.
Much as I love ya Prez O, forget them and do what you have to do. They will not come round...an
What's it going to take, Barack? Do you want to be liked so badly that you just refuse to see there is absolutely no placating these people? This is a democracy. We have elections so that the winners can get things done, not placate the losers or remain polite in the face of vicious calumny
This has been my claim all along...th
I agree with many of Olmsted's premise that leaving these losers in the dust is the only way...let them whine, let them thow their tea baggings and their boisterously loud town hell meetings..
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