2008 Sounds a Little Bit Like My Column This Week, Part 2
posted by on July 2 at 12:20 PM
Again, only a little bit.
But over at DailyKos, Kos himself—reacting to Obama’s moves to the right from an end of the political spectrum opposite that of the Wall Street Journal—has announced that he’s pulling back his maxed-out donation to Obama.
First of all, obviously Obama is a great candidate who is running a great 50-state race. That much cannot be denied. But he’s had a rough couple of weeks.First, he reversed course and capitulated on FISA, not just turning back on the Constitution, but on the whole concept of “leadership”. Personally, I like to see presidents who 1) lead, and 2) uphold their promises to protect the Constitution.
Then, he took his not-so-veiled swipe at MoveOn in his “patriotism” speech.
Finally, he reinforced right-wing and media talking points that Wes Clark had somehow impugned McCain’s military service when, in reality, Clark had done no such thing….
Now I know there’s a contingent around here that thinks Obama can do no wrong, and he must never be criticized, and if you do, well fuck you! I respect the sentiment, but will respectfully disagree. We’re allowed to do that here. But fair notice — I will never pull a Rush Limbaugh and carry water for anyone. Not for the Democratic Congress, and not for our future Democratic president. When anyone does something I don’t care for, I will say so. I’ve never pulled my punches before, so why start now?
Obama will be fine without my contribution, and he may even still get it before this thing is said and done, but it would be at a time when he has done something positive. That’s called rewarding good behavior. And if that opportunity fails to arise because Obama goes on a Sister Souljah’ing rampage, then no worries. Chances are good that the DNC would get the money instead. But at this time, I simply have no desire to reward bad behavior. Some of you don’t care about his behavior, or don’t think it’s bad behavior, or whatever. I didn’t ask any of you to follow suit, and don’t care whether you do or not. I didn’t pull him from the Orange to Blue list. I’m not going to start praising Nader or Barr. I’ll still vote for him. Yadda, yadda, yadda. At the end of the day, I’m pretty irrelevant in the whole affair. Obama is going to raise a ton of dough and win this thing whether I send him money or not.
I tend to think Kos is right: The loss of his donation won’t matter much to Obama. But it does highlight a tension you’re sure to hear more about—the netroots vs. Obama (and each other over Obama).
What's that? I should stop donating money to Democrats from now on? Okay, got it. Thanks for relaying the info. I can use that money for gas.
I'm quite relieved to have never gotten too emotionally attached to either candidate (HRC / Obama)
It's simple: I'm voting D this November. Everything else is just emotional ruckus with no payout for the mental faculties put into caring so deeply.
Kos is a self-absorbed wanker. It's all about him; I assume that from now on he will be keeping a scorecard, and giving or withholding based on how he does. I'm also sure Obama will be paying SO MUCH ATTENTION to what Kos says.
This discussion of the netroots, how Obama cultivated it, and how it may yet turn on him, reminds me of good old Hosea 8:7 --
For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.
It will be interesting to see how Obama rides this bucking Dem donkey of an ideologically strident, Web-based social movement...or if, goodness gracious me, he gets thrown by it as it bucks, neighs and flings its rabid foam, on its way to another self-immolating defeat by the R's.
Hee-haw.
Count me among those progressives/liberals who consider Obama's managing to piss off Kos a good thing.
Count me among those progressives/liberals who don't put FISA and grants to churches to perform secular services up on the list of all-consuming issues facing the nation and the world.
But now having been lured into paying attention to these issues, I have to say I don't see anything wrong with Obama's positions on them. What I see is subtlety and nuance, an ability to consider an issue without cultural bias.
This is not to say I've never seen Obama sell out on an issue. One recent pander comes to mind: his statement at the AIPAC conference that Jerusalem shall never be divided.
Endless Air.
Obama owes the "netroots" NOTHING.
The netroots is a paper tiger. A discordant bunch of independently wealthy, self-important moderates with almost no power, wishing they could get jobs as real journalists. They're too diffuse to leverage power or be betrayed.
Can you link to your column Eli? I want to read it and I'm not sure which column you're talking about.
There's being a dick - and then there's Kos.
Not quite sure what the diff is, actually.
I agree with Kos on this. I'm cool that Obama doesn't support gay marriage, I gave him money after he won the primary, but I'm not maxed out yet. I'll vote for Obama either way, but I'm not going to give more money while he's supporting FISA in particular. I decided this immediately, before I read kos said the same thing, so he's probably speaking for more than a couple of us.
On the other hand, the faith based funding is lame, but I get why you have to pander on faith issues.
If I had wanted this candidate, a centrist democrat hawk, I would have voted for Hillary.
This kind of bullshit is exactly why we've had a nearly unbroken string of Republicans in the white house since the 70's. Jimmy Carter was a flyer and it took the legacy of an openly criminal administration (sound familiar?) to get him there. Oh and the Demo who did win on his own merits? How did he do it? He fucking pulled to the right.
Hey liberal, blue state progressives do you want "purity" or do you want to win? The Republicans don't have to answer this question and the results speak for themselves.
11: Since when was Obama not a centrist? Anyone who makes non-partisanship one of their chief sells is not a progressive. His whole thing was not towing the party line and opening up dialog with the Republicans, so why are people shocked that he's "moved" to the center?
Tell you what. Let's get competent management in the white house and then we can worry about building socialism. If it takes some pandering to put a competent, non-ideologue president in office, so be it.
I don't care what Obama does now. I think he's a liar and two-faced. A typical politician who promised something different and delivers the same old oppression and lies. You can have him! I don't give a fuck if he wins or not. Now I really wish Clinton had clocked his ass! And all you soft headed lefty's will buy his bullshit until he tells you he can't pull out of Iraq. Then I'll laugh my ass off at how fucking stupid you've been!
The next great politicians will be independent. When Obama is judged from a liberal or conservative perspective, he always loses one side, sometimes both. But if the People of the United States can step away from bipolar thinking and instead judge policy using a more scientific reasoning, then our politicians can develop and actuate tangible change.
@9: Can't link it yet because it's not online yet, but it will be later on today and I'll link it then.
For @14's rant, flip the calendar back eight years, then substitute "Gore" for "Obama" and "Bradley" for "Clinton." Well, Vince, you really showed them that there was no difference between Gore and Bush, and I'll bet you can really show them that there's no difference between Obama and McCain. Sheesh.
BFD. The "netroots" need Obama in the White House more than Obama needs the "netroots" to get there.
We'll never support NO-Bama and will re-defeat him in November
@17 What the fuck are you blabbing about? I voted for Gore because Bush was just like his incompetent father. Obama is a liar. I don't vote for liars. And he will fuck you on Iraq. Hell, he'd fuck anyone to get what he wants. Just like the R's. And as far as no difference with McCain, I have a better idea of what McCain stands for then I do Obama.
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