Which Communities Are Still in High Sizzle Support Mode for Barack Obama?

We suspect that Rick Warren probably still is buddies with President Obama and keeps the photos of his big day offering Barack Obama's Inauguration day prayer prominently in his office, his home, his wallet, maybe on the dashboard of his car.

I know that there are a lot of folks out there who are as grateful today for Barack Obama running the nation as they were in January -- but we aren't hearing much from them of late. According to new Zogby numbers, Obama's numbers are down in nearly every category of voter.

The "Republicans for Obama" crowd led by folks like former Senator Lincoln Chafee, former House International Relations Committee Chairman Jim Leach, philanthropist and lawyer Rita Hauser, and Ike granddaughter and national security policy expert Susan Eisenhower seem to me less enthused for Obama today as they watch with dismay the Obama team make some of the mistakes in Afghanistan that the Bush administration made in Iraq. Men, women, resources, drones, aid, all pumping into the AfPak region without a clear strategy with benchmarks for achievement.

The progressive left is having a tough time with Obama's seemingly trigger-finger readiness to drop what progressives most want in a health care, or stimulus package, or other legislative efforts in order to satisfy a Republican right that keeps spitting on the president's plans.

Thus far, Obama's economic recovery efforts have kept more Goldman Sachs employees in their third Hamptons homes mortgages than average Americans in their homes and in their jobs.

And the gay community -- despite the very best efforts of "out" Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry to assure otherwise -- is doubting Barack Obama's resolve to change the administration's positions on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and to reverse the toxic impact of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

President Obama had a swell cocktail gathering at the White House for leaders of the gay community -- and called out a whole slew of gay leader's names no doubt making them feel pretty good. But the bottom line is that moving issues important to the gay community is a low-ish priority for the President and his team. Because it's clear that Obama just isn't spending capital moving those issues.

To date, he has not asked the Joint Chiefs for the "policy review" he feels is necessary to move the Pentagon forward on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Colin Powell has publicly stated that it is time for such a policy review. Even the once Salem Witch Trial style anti-gay paranoiac Senator Sam Nunn -- who once fired two of his own staff for being gay and worrying about their threat to national security -- has said times have changed and believes it is time for a "policy review." But Obama has not asked for it.

Cocktail parties are not enough. As NPR's Liz Halloran outlines, the gay community is vexed with the lack of action by the Obama administration. When John Berry powerfully and forcefully said at a recent Gay Pride Festival in Washington that "before the sun sets on the Obama administration, President Obama will reverse the Defense of Marriage Act and will end Don't Ask, Don't Tell", it didn't send a message of commitment.

Instead, these statements by the OPM Director, who is a fantastic guy and good friend, conveyed the political reality that the gay community is possibly in nearly last place when it comes to policy priorities.

When the sun sets is not soon enough.

Which communities are still in high sizzle mode for the Obama administration?

Steve Clemons publishes the popular political blog, The Washington Note

 

 

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Comments

[trinidadgirl]

Steve...wh­ilst I respect your opinion, you seem rather impatient with him especially on the gay issue.
I have no problem really with gays, but what bothers me about gays generally is that because of a sexual preference, they are expected to get this rights, that rights etc. What about the real underdogs of society...­the poor, the dis-eased (healthcare), the disenfranchised, the minorities or are treated with such prejudice and bigotry?

[Shawn Fraine]

The fact is, they have more rights than the LGBT community. In most states...i­t's legal to fire a person and to even not hire them because they aren't straight.

Also, "preferenc­e"...reall­y? Do you know any gay person? I know I never had a choice in the matter...i­f I did, I probably would have changed myself when I was younger (I've accepted myself now). I was depressed most of my young life because people like you told me that I had a choice...b­ut I didn't...a­nd I still don't.

So until you know what it's really like....pl­ease, sit down and shut.up.

[MamaBird62]

It's really pathetic that citizens expect 100% of what they want delivered via one politician in a few short months. I'm guessing these people have never studied American history, civics, or political science.

The person who said he could have "ended the wars" and withdrawn all troops right away is particularly clueless.

We are one shortsighted bunch with the attention span and patience of fleas. Has any battle for progressive change ever delivered 100% in a short time frame, every in US history? NO. It's always a long process marked with early compromise, long term commitment, patience and persistence.

I support President Obama and look forward to voting for him again in 2012.

[jan4insight]

x2!

[Shawn Fraine]

You're right...it­'s only been 40 years...le­ts wait 4 more decades...­. (sarcasm) I'm guessing you're not a minority.

[SeymourButz]

x3!

[jan4insight]

It's the the fair-weather progressives who are one of the biggest barriers to progress: "If I can't have what I want when I want it, wah, I'll take my football & go home, waaahhhh!"

Grow up people. Politics is a process. We'll be better off in the long run if you redirect that energy you spend dissing the President, and get cracking and put the pressure on your Reps & Sens, you know, in Congress - where they actually write and pass the laws!

[Juanx]

Many of the posters to this article would do well to read and listen to many of the messengers before making plans to abandon or not support President Obama. The covservatives and some fence sitting democrats have been the very, very loud minority oppontents of this administration. But, there has been a very, very, very "Silent Majority" of full supporters of President Obama and his administration. HE will prevail. "Change" is forth coming. Yes he can!.

[beyondthepale9779]

He can, but he probably won't.

[Pippilotta]

I am still amazed that someone of intelligence and high moral character like Barack Obama would be willing to run and take on the huge mess in this country left behind by the last pathetic administration. Hang in there, change is extremely difficult and takes time. I trust Obama.

[heal57]

ditto.

[superstition]

Oh, I definitely trust Obama as well. I trust him to deliver things like the DOMA brief. I trust that he will continue to fire troops for being gay. I trust he will defend DADT at the Supreme Court. I trust he will continue to ignore the Constitutional equality gay Americans have by virtue of their citizenship (read the 14th Amendment, Mr. Constitutional Scholar) by advocating separate-not-equal civil unions.

Why? Because these are things he's done already.

[Awake-and-Sing]

What high moral character?

He's proven that he was either a fraud on the campaign trail last year or a coward in office this year. Either are equally evil and if he caves on the public health insurance option, which he no doubt will, then he deserves to have his whole Presidency go down in flames.

I still have the knife in my back from when he betrayed the gay community over the DOMA brief.

What the Obamaniacs need to hear in the marrow of their bones is that there is something far more important that the legacy or even reelection of their political hero. That's the welfare of the people he said he was running for President to help.

He's done nothing but stab the various parts of his base in their backs to prove how centrist he is and shill for the same corporations that McCain would have shilled for.

He's was either a total fraud last year during the campaign or a coward in the White House this year who will not stand up and fight for what he said he believed in. Take your pick.

[Pippilotta]

I still say give him time. What did Bush/Cheney do for healthcare or the gay community?

[johnnymk]

Talk about an article which lacks substance!! Most of the artcle concentrated on the gay community which is an insignificant part of the population.
I was expecting more and better details on the topic.

[mrspractical]

I'm sorry so many people have been disillusioned. I personally never saw any substance to him, just charisma and symbolism. Hopefully in the future people will be more eager to challenge future candidates despite their surface appeal and find out what they're really made of.

[wonketteRAWKS]

So true. I'm sure the lobbyists are still sizzling for Obama.

[trinidadgirl]

Mrspractic­al......so who would you rather have? Close your eyes and just imagine mc cain and sarah! Ye gadzilla! The problem is magic potion Prez Obama is can't wave his wand everyday!

[backroadsbusiness]

I voted for Obama and had high hopes for change, especially in health care reform. But he seems to be approaching everything with too much caution - like he's already running for re-election. I think we need Obama back in campaign-mode, and not in maintenance mode.

[JonathanDS2U]

I just love the process by which public opinion gets molded. It's like there's some weird funny mirror factory somewhere, and then the public gets to think it's sort of seeing itself instead of seeing some massive, vast, unknown thing, and then the Internet hits or ratings appear to be up there regarding some so-called perspective, probably people manipulating the real numbers because of there being so much power there in terms of money and influence than there is with Diebold election machines, and that's how we think we're finding out who we are and how we feel.

Even if Obama's numbers go down, or go up, so what, if somebody sneezing makes the numbers dramatically shift the other way? Stop looking at what everybody else appears to be thinking, they started fabricating that image a long time ago.

[writerroz]

The problem is that President Obama delegated the work of changing and recovery to the Congress. We need to realize that after eight years of Cheney & Bush, nothing was working right anymore, and one person, Obama, can not cover each & every committee and department. Best if we keep constant emails, letters and phone calls going to our representatives and demand that they do every facet of the recovery, insluding Health Care as was promised by President Obama. Especially clamour that The Democrats take away Max Baucus's position on the Health Care committee, since Baucus accepts about as much money from insurance & drug companies as the Republicans.


Another problem is the media who rearrange the facts to suit their purposes. Also in their laziness and to cut expences, the media uses canned news as it is passed on from AP and others instead of puting the real news in their own words, thus all are reporting the same boring and silly tidbits about actors & entertainers. Since we're all getting sick of the hype about the rich and famous, too many tune out.

[BoyInBOYCOTT]

Anti War activist and voters who are angry about torture, Blackwater contracts,privacy, and no independant counselor on all the Bush War Crimes...t­his is a high concentration of youth voters. LGBTs are reaching the end of our patence on DADT and DOMA, and ENDA. Immigration supporters including nearly every Latin@ group NAACP and Asian groups are united wanting compassionate immigration reform.
Dems and Obama we are the base...and we expect the massive majorities we GAVE you, and the White House would get sh*t done.

the clock is ticking.

[kevinw]

So far he has performed pretty badly on issues that were used to excite campaign donors and voluteers during the campaign. He is protecting the added authority of the executive, like Bush. He has continued the spying on Americans and failed to correct FISA. He is still doing renditioning.
He has already made deals with the big Pharma. Next week, we will see if he is ready to scuttle the Public option. Many have asked would it not be better to have the best plan WE could get if the choice is to have no plan at all.

If the cave and scuttle the Public Option, then they also must drop the mandatory enrollment. Without the option. all you will be doing is moving these people from the rolls of the uninsured to the underinsured. Any progressive that is even thinking about going along with this surrender should insist on that. The insurance companies have agreed to provide a "low" premium product that does not exclude pre-exisiting conditions. They will offer other plans as well. There has been no public discussion on deducible, what are the minimal benefits provided or what the copay percentage is. I heard one discussion where they were talking about a 35% copay. AND YOU WILL BE MANDATED TO BUY IT. The Democrats and Obama have failed us. We need to put a "trigger" on our campaign contributions and efforts.

[larry278]

Pres Obama has become NATO, No Action, Talk Only. That places BHO in a new positon. It isn't a position of strength. He's getting deeper in the mud hole of far less than mediocrity & into a deepening, cynical, mendinactiy(sp?) & a bog of quick sand. The quick sand will draw him & his administration into oblivion. That will destroy & leave no trace of Obama & his administration. The USA's power elite can't save him, even they wanted to, when Pres Obama steps into the bog's quick sand. The USA's power elite will lose all of the money they put into getting BHO elected as POTUS, credibility & influence-till they buy another candidate for POTUS & get that candidate elected as POTUS. Power politics, buying candidates & office holders is really expensive. The USA's power elite writes that off as a business expense. It they don't own office holders, they keep throwing in more money till the buy & own the office holder.

[geroldf]

Power elite...qu­ick sand... quick sand ... power elite... blah blah blah. What a load.

Take your conspiracy theories and delusions of relevance over to redneck radio, they'll love it.

We'd all like it if Obama was doing more and doing it faster. I'd love to see the Commander in Chief just tell DoD - "DADT is done. Deal with it." Maybe he should. Maybe there are good reasons not to right now. But get your panties untwisted, cut out the whining, and do something constructive. Presidents have to deal with political reality. Backseat snivelers should go listen to Limbarger or watch some Beck.

[jefke]

Making substantive points about the lack of change brought about by Obama is NOT whining. I am SO sick of people being accused of whining if they criticize Obama.

anamericaninbrussels.com

[Tanyars5]

uh ohhhhhh...­.gallup poll has different numbers...­....... Obama is moving up in the polls

http://www.gallup.com/home.aspx

polls are polls we know most are inaccurate­.......far left stop believing them......­..Presiden­t Obama will be elected for another term

[cardineau]

I am a very left liberal and I will not vote for an Obama second term.

[Gingergirl]

Shame on you cardineau! Only 7 1/2 months into President Obama's first term and you are buying into all of the media hype. Shame on you, you fairweather voter/supporter!!! I don't believe you are really a very left liberal afterall---are you a righty in liberal's clothing?

[lisaman]

Funny, I am moderate Independant, and I will. If he runs, which if I were him, I would not. I mean who needs this crap?

[trinidadgirl]

Cardineau.­..that's your perogative!

[JEP]

Sorry, but I just can't quit the guy. I hope he isn't disillusioned at the fickle American electorate.

I do find it hypocritical the right blames Obama for everything that happens, when they were unwilling to point fingers at Bush for the mess they created.

As for the far left, they always expect too much, They tend to get just as arrogant and self-righteous as teabaggers. Neither extreme understands that compromise isn't desirable, it is necessary.

If you really want to point fingers, point them at the 'dogs, who betray their majority constituency every time, to protect corporate investors.

There is where guilt resides, not with the President.

Obama is doing everything he can do to push legislation through that, unfortunately, represents baby steps we all would prefer were giant steps.

Folks have no idea what sort of power the greedy billionaires wield. You are naive if you think the majority is empowered enough to overcome it, and as long as our "House of Lords" (the Senate) is owned by money, not The People, we keep taking those baby steps.

Obama's done quite well, considering the full-court press from every quarter of the status quo.

So don't blame Obama, blame the media for covering up the truth or for lying outright.

The 4th Estate now lives here, on the blogs, until someone with a soul as yet unsold buys a major news network.

[lovetolast]

Great post...tha­nk you!

[chelliza]

Yes! Great post.

[Tanyars5]

great post

[hawkgodess]

Yes! I agree! Go Obama! All anyone does is complain. Our pill popping, fast food, fat head society wants everything now. Ha ha! It has taken many presidents and much time to get where we are. Are people really that naive to think that the President can do much of anything quickly. He was the best choice and he's doing what he can with what he's got. Give him some credit!! He's definitely the smartest guy we've had in office in a long time!! Whew!

[suzc]

He was the ONLY choice given McCain's self-destruction for Palin!

[CTtransplant]

Wonderful post and well said!