top
US
US
Indybay
Indybay
Indybay
Regions
Indybay Regions North Coast Central Valley North Bay East Bay South Bay San Francisco Peninsula Santa Cruz IMC - Independent Media Center for the Monterey Bay Area North Coast Central Valley North Bay East Bay South Bay San Francisco Peninsula Santa Cruz IMC - Independent Media Center for the Monterey Bay Area California United States International Americas Haiti Iraq Palestine Afghanistan
Topics
Newswire
Features
From the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature

Reassessing Barack Obama

by Randy Shaw (reposted)
After arguing last November that Barack Obama should run for President, and feeling very positive about his candidacy in February, it is time for a reassessment. In the past months, Obama has impressed many with his ability to frame progressive positions in non-divisive terms. He has even been compared to a left-wing Ronald Reagan in his ability to communicate strongly partisan values in nonpartisan rhetoric.

But whereas Reagan’s conciliatory language masked his pursuit of a right-wing agenda, Obama seems to want to get along with adversaries even if this means adopting more centrist policies. In other words, evidence is mounting that Obama’s rhetoric is not a campaign strategy designed to broaden his base, but rather a signal that if elected he would govern from the center rather than the left.

The New Yorker recently ran a very lengthy story on Barack Obama. The profile probed deeply in seeking the key to Obama’s character, examining his parents’ backgrounds, comments from his classmates in Hawaii, assessments from those who knew him in law school, and input from people who worked with the candidate at virtually every stage of his professional life.

The piece included many comments from Obama on his approach to politics, particularly his philosophy toward social change. Obama’s basic sense is that one must take people and institutions where they are, and not impose too radical a change too suddenly.

Readers who made it through the extremely esoteric and wandering profile will feel quite good about Obama. He comes off as very thoughtful around public policy, respectful of dissent, and as a good person.

But for progressives already concerned about Obama’s attempt to “mediate” differences with Republicans over Iraq, the New Yorker article confirmed some troubling suspicions about Obama’s commitment to progressive change.

In a nutshell: unlike Bill Clinton, Obama has strong progressive instincts and as President would impose progressive policies if he could. But like former President Clinton, Obama is enamored with incremental change. In the political world he would inherit as President, Obama would be too willing to tout small steps as giant leaps. He does not appear to be temperamentally suited to standing firm against the rabid opponents of progressive change.

More
http://www.beyondchron.org/news/index.php?itemid=4514#more
Add Your Comments
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!

Donate

$170.00 donated
in the past month

Get Involved

If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.

Publish

Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.

IMC Network