http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3517995Oh my.
We're going to see more of this, from Skins's island.
defendandprotect Donating Member (1000+ posts) Wed Jun-25-08 01:04 PM
Original message
Obama Tilts Toward Center, Irking Some Activists
Obama Tilts Toward Center, Irking Some Activists
Stances on Spy Bill
And Corporate Tax
Buck Liberal Base
By SUSAN DAVIS
June 24, 2008; Page A8
Barack Obama's support of an overhaul of domestic-spying laws last week was the latest in a string of statements suggesting the Democratic presidential candidate is tacking toward the center to compete with John McCain.
On foreign policy, national security, tax issues and even local politics, Sen. Obama has made some decisions lately that belie his ranking by the nonpartisan National Journal as the U.S.'s "most liberal" senator.
During the primaries, he ran to the left of Sen. Hillary Clinton, securing the nomination in part by shoring up a base that included self-identified liberals and Internet activists who helped fill his campaign war chest.
Some of those supporters are irked by Sen. Obama's latest moves, but the general-election season will put increased pressure on both candidates to attract moderate and independent voters.
The latest Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, conducted in early June, showed that 58% of voters perceive Sen. Obama as a liberal and 24% view him as a moderate. In contrast, 34% view Sen. McCain as a moderate and 48% see him as a conservative.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121426892467498729.html...
robinlynne Donating Member (1000+ posts) Wed Jun-25-08 01:07 PM
Response to Original message
1. and I am one of those irked. You won't see me out in the streets working if he votes yes on fisa.
won't even register voters which I ALWAYS do.
not even one little bumpersticker.
I will vote for him. that is it.
I learned my lesson in 2004 when Kerry didn't count the votes in Ohio after I worked for months for him, forfeitting paying work which I needed.
The primitive can blame the malicious cartoon character primitive, "KelvinMace," for that.
Bev Harris was just $10 from getting Ohio for the Bostonian Billionaire, and the malicious cartoon character primitive obstructed her.
defendandprotect Donating Member (1000+ posts) Wed Jun-25-08 01:46 PM
Response to Reply #3
11. This is the LOSING argument that the DLC makes . . . a move to the right only helps McCain/GOP . . .
subliminable Donating Member (1000+ posts) Wed Jun-25-08 02:13 PM
Response to Reply #11
21. Exactly.
Harry Truman said it best:
"When voters are given a choice between voting for a Republican, or a Democrat who acts like a Republican, they'll vote for the Republican every time."
The more the Dem candidate acts like a Rebuplican (especially in this day and age) the more likely it is that the Naders of the world get more votes.
You don't win elections by shitting on your base. Don't assume that we have no other choice. If your message is the correct one, don't pander to a mythical "middle".
Dance with the one who brung ya.
defendandprotect Donating Member (1000+ posts) Wed Jun-25-08 01:50 PM
Response to Reply #1
15. My sympathies to those who truly believed in him . . . sad!
robinlynne Donating Member (1000+ posts) Wed Jun-25-08 01:38 PM
Response to Reply #2
7. Didn't work that well for Gore and Kerry....
robinlynne Donating Member (1000+ posts) Wed Jun-25-08 01:39 PM
Response to Reply #7
8. What I mena is, if Kerry had counted the dman votes instead of playing nice to "the other side" he would be in the whitehouse.
The Bostonian Billionaire would be in the White House if the malicious cartoon character primitive had buried his Hate-filled grudge against Bev Harris, and cooperated with her.
DangerDave921 (1000+ posts) Wed Jun-25-08 01:45 PM
Response to Reply #2
9. acknowledge
Running to the right is an acknowledgement that liberalism is somehow out of the mainstream. I don't get it.
defendandprotect Donating Member (1000+ posts) Wed Jun-25-08 01:46 PM
Response to Reply #2
12. No . . . it's poor "strategy" . . . it's DLC strategy which loses elections ---
crickets Donating Member (1000+ posts) Thu Jun-26-08 07:23 AM
Response to Reply #2
36. NO
It's the way to LOSE. AGAIN. Plausible deniabilityfailure.
AmyCamus (34 posts) Wed Jun-25-08 01:29 PM
Response to Original message
4. Odd number - "58% of voters perceive Sen. Obama"
If all Republicans say he's liberal, that means many Democrats must not think he is.
Unless it's a rejection of the term "liberal" by Democrats?
Odd number, anyway.
simskl (1000+ posts) Wed Jun-25-08 01:30 PM
Response to Original message
5. Unfortunately it's got to be done
there is no way a candidate will get elected in the country if they stray too far from the center line. All Presidential candidates do it and we have to try to figure out for ourselves what they really mean.
DangerDave921 (1000+ posts) Wed Jun-25-08 01:46 PM
Response to Reply #5
10. so they all lie?
And we're supposed to read the tea leaves? What a crappy system.
defendandprotect Donating Member (1000+ posts) Wed Jun-25-08 01:48 PM
Response to Reply #5
13. Actually, it is moving to the left that will get candidates elected . . ..
Moving to the right only helps the GOP ---
Nor do we need game playing in our elections with coded meanings ---
STOP playing along with it --
nevergiveup Donating Member (1000+ posts) Wed Jun-25-08 01:49 PM
Response to Reply #5
14. Exactly
If the Democrat doesn't track to the center it is over. It is painful but necessary. Democrats have had two presidential candidates since 1944 that have garnered more than 50% of the popular vote. I believe Obama will be the third.
More than 50% of the popular vote in.....Vermont.
defendandprotect Donating Member (1000+ posts) Wed Jun-25-08 01:54 PM
Response to Reply #14
16. Again, this is upside down DLC thinking . . . which only helps the GOP in their right-wing arena . .
Talking about elections without considering computer theft -- probably going back to the mid-1960's -- isn't really understanding ALL that has gone on in America since the coup on JFK . . .
which must actually be understood as "an overturning of the US government"--
OmelasExpat (531 posts) Wed Jun-25-08 02:08 PM
Response to Reply #14
20. When has centrist policy helped the majority of the American electorate?
With >$4 gallon gas, a failing market, and a foreign policy in the toilet, you'd think that Obama might second-guess the political maxim "The American public is always forgiving and forgetful, especially if you don't give them a choice."
Smart players know when the game has changed. Obama will lose more than he gains with this tactic, as Kerry did.
The bonfire's full of incipient doubts of the primitives.
sfexpat2000 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Wed Jun-25-08 02:23 PM
Response to Original message
26. When did he not "tilt" to the center?
Yeah, right.
We're going to see more despondency of the Obamaite primitives from here on out, now.
You can take that to the bank.
It's coming.
