On Fellow Disgruntled Shareholders of Obama's Campaign

Click the player below to here our song about Obama's capitulation "It Wasn't the Thing That I Bought". Lyrics below the blog.

The consensus of the blogosphere in the aftermath of Capitulation: Round 1 seems to be as follows:

Expanding the death penalty to include non-murderers and treating the fourth amendment as a mere suggestion may be betrayals of the progressive ideals that Barack Obama ran on in the primary, but now that we're in the high stakes of the general election, we must stand unwavering as our beloved candidate throws the very ideals that caused many of us to support him aside to pursue the oh-so necessary winning strategy that proves a surefire loser for the Democrats every time.

I was 8 years old when Michael Dukakis popped out of a tank looking like a Jack-in-the-Box with a strapped on yarmulke and don't remember any of it, but when it gets brought up every other day it's usually in the context of poor theatrics and costume design, and if only they hadn't put the stupid helmet on him he might've had a chance (I'm completely ignoring the fact that he took a principled stand on the death penalty in a tactless manner because it makes my point about Obama making an unprincipled concession on the death penalty sufficiently weaker.) I don't think the helmet was the problem, though the chinstrap really sucked. Bad.

The problem is that in a quest to impress the three people who drive lifted trucks who might vote Democratic, you'll inevitably end up looking as ridiculous as you should look trying to achieve that end. As long as Obama is racing to make sure we know that he thinks executin' isn't just for murderers, warantless wiretapping isn't that important, and that Wes Clark's completely accurate statements should be rejected, it's not a question of if his helmet-in-a-tank moment will come, but when?

Electoral strategy aside, what about that capitulation, strictly as a matter of principle? Should those of us who really do feel let down by all this be speaking up? I have to fall on the side of yes, and that's why wrote and recorded our song for this week, "It Isn't the Thing That I Bought".

Obama's campaign was a new campaign where he literally asked us to donate and "own a piece of this campaign". If you are going to do that, you're going to end up with shareholders, and some of those shareholders are going to say "this isn't the company we bought stock in. Mr. Chairman, we support you, but c'mon... enough of this nonsense."

It Isn't the Thing That I Bought

At the outset I'd like to make it clear
Whether it's right or wrong, it happens to be a bad idea
They try this every time, and I can't figure why
'cause the thugs they're trying to impress
aren't impressed and neither am I
and how dare anyone suggest
that if you own a paltry stake, you've got a right to protest
My check is small, but it isn't blank
Raising a voice is not breaking rank
So take us straight into '88 with cameras helmets and tanks

'Cause I own a piece of something
that isn't the thing that I bought
And don't tell me, that it's nothing
I won't be convinced that it is, cause it's not
So the least I'm asking, is fight for the things that you fought
'Cause I own a piece of something that isn't the thing that I bought

Because there's not abandonment implied
In a little bit of criticism from the people on your side
'Cause there's a million tiny stumps, working from the bottom up
Concessions in July will bring on more when November comes

'Cause I own a piece of something
that isn't the thing that I bought
And don't tell me, that it's nothing
I won't be convinced that it is, cause it's not
So the least I'm asking, is fight for the things that you fought
'Cause I own a piece of something that isn't the thing that I bought

Max and the Marginalized are a band and a blog. They do a song every week on the Huffington Post, all 40 of which are available for download here. Add them on Facebook.

Full US Tour in July and August - tour dates are here.

Follow Max and the Marginalized on Twitter: www.twitter.com/maxmarginal

Comments

[alohabunny]

Russ Feingold has sent out email notices that he is going to do everything in his power to kill the "compromise" FISA bill that will be voted on July 8, in the senate......................

he wants us all to email him with our support so that he can lead the charge against the Republicans posing as Democrats, including Obama............

HE IS OUR ONLY CHANCE......PLEASE EMAIL HIM WITH YOUR SUPPORT.

[itmaybetoolate]

I wonder what Obama's absolutes are. What are the beliefs about which he will not compromise? Where does he draw the line and say "You are wrong"?

[hopeless277]

Obama is a fraud. He would rather have Rush Limp-baugh say nice things about him than protect citizens against our facist government. He has lost my support and he will never get it back. Obama is a liar.

[mark77]

There's no way Obama can win with some people, no matter what he does. During the primaries, some people wouldn't vote for him because they said he was "too liberal" whatever that means (comparisons to McGovern, Carter and Kerry were made). There were rumors flying around that he's a secret Socialist.

Now you think he's cozying up with Rush Limbaugh? You might want to let Rush Limbaugh in on that, because all I hear from the golden EIB microphone is 24/7 Obama bashing.

[marye13]

Here’s the deal: O has not changed his stance. He has always said there should not be “red” or “blue” states; the problem is that the far left people put their own mantle on him – they were so busy screaming about no more C’s in the WH that they weren’t listening. Both BO and HRC said that the differences between them were miniscule. You O people got what you voted for – if you had been listening you wouldn’t be so surprised now. You heard what you wanted to hear – anything to get away from the past. What you don’t understand is that he is smart enough to know that he isn’t going to walk into DC and sweep the place clean. The system doesn’t work that way. It is called compromise – he will be president for all of us – not just for some. If you abandon him now we are really screwed. Voting Green will be a throw-away vote and just hand the election back to the repugs; voting for Mc bush is worse than more of the same. What you need to realize is that BO does represent change – badly needed change. Sorry if it’s not enough change for you – but doing anything besides supporting BO now is just going to make things worse. The alternative will not be a third term for the repugs – it will be a disaster of monumental proportions.

[IndependentTogether]

Fantastic post! My thoughts *exactly*. You have clearly been paying close attention, as have I. I think that everyone else out there lambasting Obama now are either trolls or they have haven't actually been listening to him. Shame. Obama's America looks like a great place to live... especially when you consider the alternative.

[chappelforpres]

I've criticized Obama on FISA, despite his opposing telecom immunity, for circumventing important Fourth Amendment protections. There is a better way. On government funding of faith based charities, however, I have found him to be very consistent. He's has always believed in empowering community organizations. Churches, clubs, neighborhood watch etc. Obama believes strongly in attacking poverty at the grass roots level, maximizing local involvement. Despite that support, he is at heart, a secular Constitutionalist.

Like it or not, Obama has not betrayed his principals. In the real world, your presidential choices are limited to two individuals. Change, more often than not, starts with a whimper, not a bang. It can be achieved incrementally and individually. Although that may frustrate some, it is a significant departure from the depressing state of today's politics. For many Americans, Obama is a radical departure from the conservative drumbeat they have known. Once these individuals begin to let go of their irrational fears and pat ideologies, the influence of the ruling elite will begin to ebb. Conservative politics will steadily lose its powerful grip on American thought.

Over time, Obama will become increasingly more progressive, as greater numbers of voters place their trust in him. He is an accomplished organizer, motivator, delegator and visionary. You've come this far. Give him his opportunity! Wasting your vote in protest on marginal candidates (fine individuals, many), or drawing lines in the sand in symbolic defiance, is not going to help you, your loved ones, or this nation.

[JanetE]

Are you aware of the fact that as Obama changes, changes and changes some more that we are all quite welcome to write to our state convention delegates and tell them why we are so unhappy and ask them to vote for Hillary Clinton at the Democratic Convention.

Are you aware that Obama is not a shoe-in? Are you aware that Hillary is considering/planning to place her name on the ballot at the convention? We can still get the real progressive deal, guys. Write to your state delegates and tell them to vote for Hillary.

[Fabienne]

So Senator Clinton, with her neo-con foreign policy statements and her vote for telecom immunity the first time around is more progressive than Senator Obama?

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

At least with Senator Clinton we know, for sure, what we've got. I've always said that Obama was/is an unknown. And what I'm coming to know, I don't like. So yes. I'll be writing my state delegates.

[JanetE]

It was so easy for Obama to say i never wanted the war, he was not in a position to vote and unless there is a magic 8 ball that can predict the past there is no way to tell that, given all the "facts" Clinton was given that he would have not voted the exact same way. Once he got to the Senate, they voted the same way 95% of the time.

He is politician. His is not a "new" kind of politics, it's the same old thing.

So maybe you think Hillary is the same old thing? OK. I'd rather have someone who's been around the block 35 times and has a former president as a husband than an inexperienced guy who we really don't know.

What will he do as president?
We really don't know now, do we? We don't know how many more of his initial ideas he will change, change, change. I would feel MUCH more secure with the Clintons in the White House. Our economy would improve drastically just like Bill did it when he was Prez. And when the WTC was bombed the first time, he actually made sure the idiots were caught.

Yes, Hillary and Bill. 18 million votes. Superdelegates ruined everything.

[Northernmom]

Hillary Clinton is still the most qualified candidate for the office IMHO, but she has committed to put Obama in the White House because she knows a Democrat MUST win. If the superdelegates and others change their votes and give Clinton the nomination, as some suggest, we'd be in great shape. But if Obama remains the candidate, everyone must remember that a Democratic president will bring a cabinet, advisors, and judges from the Democrats. You may not like what you have bought, but this buggy has to go all the way to the White House. There is no other choice.

[cjd411]

Interesting to read this article today. Since the primaries ended I've stopped obsessing over the election every hour of every day, and it was only in the past few days that I realized on my own that Obama is all of the sudden not the candidate I voted for in the MD primary. I'm really upset - what happened to the progressive liberal who was reflected in his voting records? The liberal this country needs so badly? Now I am reading about Obama and faith-based initiatives... shifts to the center... flip flopping on free trade... I see that I've been had. He rallied a base to win the primaries and now that he's got the nomination, he's left their concerns in the dust. All I can say is I wish I could get the $200 or so I've donated to this guy back and give it right to Nader...or I wish that I could have promoted Hillary as enthusiasticly as I supported Obama. I'd rather have a corporate democrat than one who is going to start preaching about religion! Obama is eroding his base quickly and he will pay for it in the general. He owes us all an apology... and a lot of money.

[Fabienne]

I can understand being disappointed with Obama's recent statements, but why anyone would move to Senator Clinton, with her "obliterating Iran" remarks and her votes in the Senator for the war, for the Kyl-Lieberman amendment, against telecom immunity and against banning cluster bombs, is beyond me. I suspect all these people with "buyers' remorse" are Clinton supporters to begin with. If you truly wanted a progressive candidate and no other, why not Kucinich?

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

Well then you would be surprised. My sister and brother-in-law took their Obama sign down out of their yard. And many others who started out with him are angry.

[111]

I agree, Kucinich is a much better choice than either Clinton or Obama.

[darcy]

cjd411, he never was a liberal. You O supporters saw what you wanted to see.

[riley85]

To all of you that think Obama will swing back to your side once he becomes president...
One word---Reelection.

[ohiodem250]

I was a field organizer in Iowa for one of the candidates this primary season - but after seeing the responses on these pages I almost re-registered as an independent because I don't want to be included in a lot with idiots like this guy. What do you think he meant when he said he is going to bridge the traditional left-right divide? Obama has been a centrist from the beginning and the Netroots are just upset because they thought they could co-opt his entire platform of the only true anti-war candidate. Don't get mad, Netroots, because you didn't do your homework. You can't call the BBB and file a consumer complaint because you didn't buy what you thought you did. That's your fault. Read the labels next time. And the reason I didn't end up switching my registration? Because this whole faith-based initiatives episode proved how much of a paper tiger the Netroots really is. Obama can do without a few thousand bloggers (hint: sitting at a computer typing stuff that no one reads does not make you an activist).

[itmaybetoolate]

"What do you think he meant when he said he is going to bridge the traditional left-right divide?"

I thought he was going to lay out a vision based on shared American ideals - our love for democracy, honoring the Constitution, helping your neighbor, working together to mend the social contract shredded by bush. I did not expect him to latch onto a ridiculous inane bush policy to court an evangelical minority! Nor did I expect to him look the other way when a law was passed that helped to undercut the 4th amendment. How have either of these things been a bridge for anything?

Why not take the faith based absurdity as an opportunity to educate the public about the separation of church and state; and to start a larger national discourse about poverty? Give me a visionary view of how you will address poverty. Don't give me some warmed over version of the policies of the worst president in modern history!

Really, is this the best he can do?!

[BLib]

He did if you listened to his speech! Stop attacking ideas and look at the policy. Organize with ACLU to work with inititiate to make sure it stays seperation of church and state. Make sure there are sound policies for complaint in case someone has a problem. That makes sense. Working together. You guys are exposing yourselves and it is not pretty.

[Fabienne]

I long ago rejected institutional religion in my personal life, but I see nothing wrong in giving federal dollars to organizations that are already organized to effectively provide services to the disenfranchised with the least expenditure of overhead, as are most of the religious-affiliated organizations. As long as they are monitored to avoid proselytizing or trading conversions for services, I see no problem with giving organizations with the will to help some funds to do so. I grew up in the Catholic Church and have long since ceased to believe in its doctrines, but the nuns who taught me in high school in the sixties were some of the most dedicated socially-active radicals I've ever met. As long as Buddhists, Jews, Hindus, Muslims, etc. are included in "faith-based" organizations, there is nothing to fear here. In my city, most of the effective work with drugs and child abuse is done through the churches in the inner city. Better this than the nothing we have now.

[JennyJay]

I am a maximum . . .DISGRUNTLED SHAREHOLDER . . . my admiration and respect for Obama began to errode with all that horrid fanny kissing he did to Bill and Hilliary - - they didn't deserve any of it. . . . He went hat in hand, on his knees, begging for their support. They should have come to him, BEGGING HIM to accept THEM in his new world. But no, that didn't happen.
On FISA, what the hell happened to this guy???? And now "Faith Based Aggenda" in the white house. . . . Religion BELONGS IN CHURCH, NOT IN THE FREAKING GOVERNMENT. I am extremely religious but I see this as more damn FANNY KISSING, just a different group.
ENOUGH ALAREADY!
If Obama keeps this up . . . . HE WILL FANNY KISS HIMSELF RIGHT OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE!

[JanetE]

I need to get rich quick. How much do you wanna bet that Reverend Jeremiah Wright is still consulting with Obama (yeah, that was a big act they put on to throw everyone off track)??? And how much do you wanna bet that Wright will somehow make his way into the White House as some sort of religious whatever to the President. They will paint him all red, white and blue and we won't be able to do a thing about it.

I DO NOT TRUST THIS MAN.

As far as asskissing the Clintons ..... isn't it obvious he is asskissing EVERYONE now?

[Fabienne]

Do you want him to win the Presidency or not? If you wanted a far left candidate, support Nader who has no chance of winning and allow the Republicans to keep the Presidency.

[111]

I think I may support Cynthia McKinney at least I will have voted for the best candidate instead of voting for someone I hate less than the other guy. I refuse to believe that I don't have a choice, because I do.

I'm tired of the threats about the GOP because Obama is embracing Bush/Cheney ideals and principles. FISA is not expiring, there is no reason for this compromise other than Obama agrees with the Protect America Act. I'm tired of Democrats like Pelosi, Reid, Hoyer and Conyers. Tired of watching people I voted for, like HRC and WFC, sell America out.

[charley0008]

The stupidity of this is mind numbing. Did you really expect that you would agree with every single thing a candidate did or said? Do you really think it is possible for a candidate to make everyone happy, to stay static, not have to respond to changing situations in a National election? Is there any balance for you? Any shades of gray amidst the black & white? Did you fail to notice that Obama was a man of faith, has never outright opposed the right of citizens to bear arms or the death penalty, for heinous crimes? In your lust to allow civil suits against the telecom giants who gave in to the Bush administration, is it your intent to destroy them? What about the 1,000's of people they employ, directly & indirectly, do they have to pay too? You are not interested in changing our country on the many levels it needs to change. Issues like Iraq, the economy, jobs etc. that is way too boring for you. You are single issue cherry pickers who read the headlines without the content. Political gamers, caught up in the sound of your own voice & all that matters is the game. Turning on Obama is just another game. Grow up.

[suigeneris]

Thank you -- nice to hear a voice of sanity amongst all this WHINING.

[Fabienne]

Agreed. I don't remember any of this when Kerry and Edwards, two pro-war candidates, got the nomination in 2004.

[JasonEverettMiller]

Ditto.

[arkgrfx61]

I am astounded at all the so-called Obama supporters throwing up their hands in defeat and feigned disgust.
It's quite mind-blowing to think that after the 8 years we've had of the extreme right....people all of a sudden want to go to the extreme left. Neither place is very good....we NEED the center to balance us out.
I trust Obama to do the right things...and he needs our support NOW more than ever.

[LeeScho]

As President, with one stroke of his pen, Obama could eliminate the entire domestic surveillance operations of all of the intelligence agencies and prevent any further transgressions by the telecoms.
Instead, let's elect McCain.
I am against the death penalty, but if you are going to have one, then yeah, let's put child-rapists at the top of that list. Neither President Obama nor the United States Congress can eliminate the death penalty, only our state officials can do that. So let's elect McCain because we are angry at Obama for something he can't do anything about anyway.
Obama wants his party to finally stop telling all Americans with strong religious beliefs that they are racists and wackos and dangerous and should be marginalized. But no, let's keep telling them that and force them to help elect McCain. (Some of them are racists and wackos and dangerous, but so are some liberals and progressives, so shouid we marginalize all of them, too?)
NAFTA has hurt thousands of Americans and helped thousands of others. Eliminating NAFTA cannot undo the hurt, but will then hurt the thousands it has helped. President Obama can look at the details of NAFTA and renegotiate the hurtful provisions. But let's elect McCain, who will not change a single line In NAFTA.
The list goes on.
You feel hurt and betrayed by Obama? By all means, vote for Nader, McCain or not at all.

[JanetE]

That's why Hillary Clinton will be my write-in. We missed the boat. Having an experienced president back in the White House advising his super intelligent, patriotic wife is what we need -- doesn't anyone here remember Bill Clinton's USA? We were in GREAT shape! Our economy was taken out of the toilet and made strong! Only to be placed back into the toilet by the Republicans.

Excuse me, but having oral sex with an intern was a punishable act but killing thousands of innocent American soldiers and Iraqis isn't? Lying to the American people about weapons of mass destruction isn't??? The Republicans punished the Democratic President for lying about sex ..... but the Democrats won't punish the Republican President for lying about the reasons to go to war???

Be real. We missed the boat by believing Obama over Hillary ... and now he's changing his story anyway. Now what?

[cjd411]

"Americans with strong religious beliefs that they are racists and wackos and dangerous and should be marginalized."

They are, and they should. Well not marginalized, but educated at the least. If we had a decent education system in this country, there would be a lot less of these people running around (see statistics on EU countries with excellent educational systems vs. the % of their populations that consider themselves religious if you don't believe me... education goes up, strong religious beliefs go down, in almost every case).

Yep, I will vote for Nader. Thanks.

[JasonEverettMiller]

Sounds like you're more in need of an education that religious folks, which includes such esteemed morons as Albert Einstein and Ben Franklin.

[Fabienne]

I am against the death penalty also, but, truth is, most Democratic candidates are for it. Perhaps Kerry wasn't, but he supported the war in Iraq, and if war isn't a massive death penalty, I don't know what is. Furthermore, the death penalty is a states' issue not a federal issue, except for the fact that the President appoints Supreme Court justices. Considering Obama's main rival, Senator Clinton, is also pro death-penalty, they would probably be about the same in this regard.

[Dorraj]

"That's why I am moving to Nader - the only true liberal."

Good lord. Sometimes i think democrats will never when the white house again. The hell with the FISA court and telecom companies. Hilary would have voted the same way. As someone who is liberal let me say liberals can be very tiresome and narrow sighted even more so than conservatives. I mean seriously you can deal with the secret prisons, illegal ware and us torturing people, but you are drawing the line on immunity for phone companies. The country is tanking badly, probably a couple of SC justices will be up and this how you act. Mccain is still in this race for one reason only. Democrats are too stupid to win elections.
Longer this war goes on, the more money we have to borrow from china, which means less our money will be worth. But go ahead and vote for the 100 year war guy. 95 to go. Conservative paint Obama as the most liberal guy in congress and yet that is still not liberal enough for you. If we as liberals are so smart why do we lose so many elections?

[Praedor]

I don't buy stock in loser companies, nor in unethical, immoral companies. Obama is a loser company, and unethical company, and an immoral company (or certain amoral).

I completely divested myself of Obama stock (and Democrap party stock) as soon as the FISA Constitutional Capitulation Junta Bill passed in the House.

I am voting Green or Libertarian in the Fall, up and down the ticket. No more supporting the Corporate Junta - and Obama has his head buried deep in the corporate ass at this point.

Do what you want, which you will anyway, but YOU will own the results, not me, and I will fight, tooth and nail, against the growing dictatorship. Just wait for the caging and silencing of the protesters to come in Denver for the Democrapic National Convention. You will all be quietly and passively placed inside chicken wire cages and forced to behave like good corporate citizens...and you will.

Good luck with that.

[IndependentTogether]

FYI: Obama's "stock" is on the rise. But lemme get this straight: you don't buy stock in loser companies (of which you have erroneously deemed Obama), and you going to vote Green or Libertarian?

Good luck with that.

[Jazzcomedian]

The left is pissed at Obama, and the right is pissed at Obama, so he must be doing something right.

[bongogirl]

You Think????????


OBAMA '08