What is Barack Obama Doing On The Daily Kos?
Hey, I’m a Republican, and I like Obama, but he’s turning me off quickly by his socializing in such strident confines…not to mention his vote against Roberts. Ironically, his post at the Kos that drew my attention (with the hat tip to Kevin Drum) is a call for un-Kos like civility:
There is one way, over the long haul, to guarantee the appointment of judges that are sensitive to issues of social justice, and that is to win the right to appoint them by recapturing the presidency and the Senate. And I don’t believe we get there by vilifying good allies, with a lifetime record of battling for progressive causes, over one vote or position. I am convinced that, our mutual frustrations and strongly-held beliefs notwithstanding, the strategy driving much of Democratic advocacy, and the tone of much of our rhetoric, is an impediment to creating a workable progressive majority in this country.
…From traveling throughout Illinois and more recently around the country, I can tell you that Americans are suspicious of labels and suspicious of jargon. They don’t think George Bush is mean-spirited or prejudiced, but have become aware that his administration is irresponsible and often incompetent. They don’t think that corporations are inherently evil (a lot of them work in corporations), but they recognize that big business, unchecked, can fix the game to the detriment of working people and small entrepreneurs. They don’t think America is an imperialist brute, but are angry that the case to invade Iraq was exaggerated, are worried that we have unnecessarily alienated existing and potential allies around the world, and are ashamed by events like those at Abu Ghraib which violate our ideals as a country.
It’s this non-ideological lens through which much of the country viewed Judge Roberts’ confirmation hearings. A majority of folks, including a number of Democrats and Independents, don’t think that John Roberts is an ideologue bent on overturning every vestige of civil rights and civil liberties protections in our possession. Instead, they have good reason to believe he is a conservative judge who is (like it or not) within the mainstream of American jurisprudence, a judge appointed by a conservative president who could have done much worse (and probably, I fear, may do worse with the next nominee). While they hope Roberts doesn’t swing the court too sharply to the right, a majority of Americans think that the President should probably get the benefit of the doubt on a clearly qualified nominee.
And yet you voted no on Roberts…okay, granted, some of the above is pretty icky, with its ‘progressive’ rhetoric, but strip away the goo and Obama is essentially right, despite the hypocrisy of his no vote.
But why the Kos? Here’s a clue for you, Senator…want to tone down the lefty rhetoric? Then don’t give undue prominence to one of the shrillest voices…or does traffic outweigh principles? Count the number of f-bombs and other obscenities on the pages of the Kos, and the hateful venom, Senator, and then ask why you want to lend legitimacy to this enterprise with your considerable prestige. I don’t know what’s more shameful, your defense of Roberts after voting against him, or the venue you chose to deliver it in…check that, it’s the venue…
UPDATE 10:13 p.m. central: If it’s not clear why I say Obama is wrong to lend his prestige to the Kos, you’re either not a regular or haven’t been paying much attention…but as an object lesson, take a look at this all-too-typical diary in response to Obama’s, and tell me again why Barack should choose to take part in this ‘community’…
So Obama was before civility before he was against it, and supported Roberts before he voted against him. Where have I heard that song before?
The point of his article was, “you left-wing moonbats should quiet down and leave Leahy alone”. Only appropriate that he direct it at the biggest home of left-wing moonbats. Like it or not, Daily Kos is the biggest Democratic website.
Well, that’s the problem, isn’t it? And can the solution be to give the radicals on the Left even more of a say by lending your prestige? I understand your point, and his, but he could have made the same point in another forum. It’s yet another example of kowtowing to Markos because of his fundraising skills…
I might propose an alternative first sentence–I’m a conservative and I want like Obama. However, I don’t think he’s got what it takes to be president. Not today. Maybe he could have handled the Clinton years, but this is a whole different ball game.
Regarding Kos’ fundraising skills–Obama will have no problems raising money on his own. And he’s more at risk at overexposure than underexposure at this point–the whole thing smacks of the poseur to me.
As an Illinois resident I can tell you that in his capacity in the State Legislature Mr. Obama wasn’t quite the open-minded, fair, and moderate person you see today. That aspect is all a media creation, aided by a friendly media both in Illinois and nationally. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that the Obama most people “know” is just a well constructed image that has little to do with his past experience as the representative of a very leftist district in Chicago. When I think of Obama I think of Senator Clinton. They are much more alike than not, except that one is more media savvy than the other. Obama is and always will be a man of the Left so his posts on Kos are not surprising, neither is his post’s call for moderation in such a forum. It is all part of the image making.
“want to tone down the lefty rhetoric? Then don’t give undue prominence to one of the shrillest voices”
Counter-argument: Shine your light where it is darkest. Perhaps that was the motivation.
heh-heh, yeah, Kos is the home of such hateful rhetoric. Librulz, always wishing impeachments on people. GOPers don’t do that–well only if it’s something REALLY important, like lying about sex with an intern. GOPers keep the conversation civil, like talking about remedying the crime rate by aborting every black baby…
Barack should’ve gone on Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity… you know, a voice of sanity and harmony
junkyard idiot, you’re living up to your name…first, the Bennett comment on aborting black babies was in the context of talking about how horrendous such an option would be (the even larger context was a statistical factoid from the book ‘Freakonomics’ – context: it’s not just for breakfast anymore) – if you don’t believe me, seek out Matt Yglesias, one of your own, on this issue.
Second, find me a single post – even one – where I’ve praised either Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh – or all conservatives the same to you (‘they all look alike to me’ – sound familiar)?
Third, if you can’t see that the Kos is full of hateful rhetoric, then you’re truly blind or, indeed, the idiot your nickname suggests.
Fourth – isn’t it wonderful when a married President in late middle age takes advantage sexually of an intern? What a great role model you have!
Fifth – your spelling of ‘librulz’ is Molly Ivins-esque, and thus, truly vomit-inducing…
Thanks for dropping by, though…don’t let the door hit you on the way out…