The BlogPoliticsculture warsBarack Obama

Winning the Culture War

Obama has successfully stitched together a new coalition in American politics by uniting disparate constituencies behind a populist, progressive vision of middle-class economics and social advancement for all people regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation.
Craig Crawford
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News commentator, blogger, author

News commentator, blogger, author
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FILE - In this Jan. 21, 2013, file photo, President Barack Obama delivers his Inaugural address at the ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington. Obama's emphatic gay-rights advocacy in his inaugural address thrilled many activists. Yet almost immediately came the questions and exhortations as to what steps should be taken next. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
FILE - In this Jan. 21, 2013, file photo, President Barack Obama delivers his Inaugural address at the ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington. Obama's emphatic gay-rights advocacy in his inaugural address thrilled many activists. Yet almost immediately came the questions and exhortations as to what steps should be taken next. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

President Obama's Inaugural Address did not waste the moment. He declared victory in the culture war that social conservatives have waged for so long against liberals. He clearly sought to shift the balance of power to progressives.

But are his fellow victors so sure? Liberals have been beat up, demonized and let down for so long that I think they're having trouble accepting Obama's declaration of victory. And yet, it's up to them to provide the ground game that makes his rhetoric real.

This is about reversing the Reagan revolution and restoring what Roosevelt started.

Obama has successfully stitched together a new coalition in American politics by uniting disparate constituencies behind a populist, progressive vision of middle-class economics and social advancement for all people regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation.

Will he deliver? I think he will try. At least, he said so in his Inaugural Address.

I host your comments daily on my blog forum at craigcrawford.com (use your social media login to join the discussion).

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