As the process of electing our next President rolls into July, has the liberal base of the Democratic party come to the conclusion that the Obama campaign has, in effect pulled the wool over their eyes, and can no longer be trusted on any of the positions they have taken in order to win the primary?
As much as I detest the term "flip flop", it is an undeniable fact that the person Obama characterized himself to be, and eventually stand for, no longer exists. He once described the taking of union campaign funds as special interest money (especially when Clinton and Edwards garnered most of it). He now claims it is nothing more than a 527 for the working class. Of course, early on he pledged to take public financing if he became the Democratic nominee. Now that he is leading the way in campaign financing, he no longer wants any part of it.
But it doesn't end there. His positions on a Cuban embargo, FISA, supporting the death penalty in certain cases, and now, he is back peddling SLIGHTLY on his Iraqi timetable for withdrawal. He has even gone so far as to "redefine" his position on some late term abortion criterion. He once told us there were debates with John McCain he was "looking forward to having." He now avoids even the slightest mention of debates, town hall meetings and the like. These are not minor changes. These are wholesale changes on major issues, a definitive movement to the center, politically speaking from a Senator with the most liberal voting record in Congress. A movement which draws him closer to independent voters, yes. But in doing so, he also is moving closer to John McCain, and the Bush administration he so vehemently opposed in defeating Hillary Clinton.
The Illinois senator has excited many with the notion that he is a new, transcendent type of politician. General election campaigns invariably find candidates fine-tuning what they said during primaries. When politicians compete against others in their party, they must appeal to the most partisan, who tend to make up the majority of enthusiastic voters at that stage. But general elections require a broader appeal, particularly to the vast center of the nation's electorate. So it's not uncommon as spring fades and November approaches to see candidates de-emphasize or even cast off some of their most extreme positions in favor of policy more palatable to the middle.
Obama said his overall problem is that he was incorrectly tagged to begin with as being a product solely of his party's left wing, so that statements displaying a broad ideological range are portrayed as shifts when they are not. "When I simply describe what has been my position consistently, then suddenly people act surprised," he lamented earlier this week. The same people who are now surprised at what their messianic candidate has turned into.
With the results of the past month behind us, is it now fair to say that the Obama liberal base has soured at the Obama du jour? Have they indeed, reached an epiphany? The epiphany that they were sold a bill of goods AGAIN, and have consorted to enable the conservatives to stay in the White House, namely by voting down the one true candidate (Clinton) who would have a chance for election in November?
There is an elephant in the room, that being a larger number of liberal politicos by the week who (quietly) are increasingly aware that perhaps their golden child may in fact, be unelectable?
Let's face it. Obama is running against a candidate who represents an extension of an administration with a favorability rating just under the freezing point....in Celsius. Yet, he is neck and neck with their heir apparent.
I believe the true liberal base has been quietly concerned, and yes, appalled by the Obama shift away from their core beliefs. Trouble is, in their rush to hold a coronation for someone fresh on the scene, they have in effect, cast their votes for Bush yet again. And they know it. Towards the end of the primary season, Clinton was kicking Obama's ass like a drum. Only Michigan and Florida's unique brand of stupidity kept Clinton from winning, despite running a campaign out of the 80's.
My opinion? If we were to hold a national Democratic referendum as to who will represent the party....Clinton would win hands down.
So where do we go from here? No where. We are absolutely stuck with Obama, and hopefully a semi intelligent choice for a running mate. For all of the talk of the "One America" may have worked with the libs in the primaries, but right now, they would settle for "One Obama."
The shifting right by Obama is troubling. The lack of momentum is disheartening. The side stepping, the denials, the "mulligan" press conferences to correct gaffs spoken hours before........they are scary. While Obama played the primaries to win, he is starting to play the general election not to lose. And it isn't working.
And in my opinion, the liberal voting base is beginning to have buyers remorse. That is the World ....."According to Kimba." Thanks for reading.
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