Obama White House Shows Progressives Not Much Love
| Mon Jun. 1, 2009 12:14 PM PDT
The crowd at this year's Campaign for America's Future annual conference--think of a DC-based ProgFest for liberal activists and policy wonks from across the country--was much smaller than in years past. The conference, which opened on Monday, seemed to have about one-fourth the attendees of last year, when about 2000 people turned up for the "Take Back America" shindig. This year's event was dubbed "America's Future Now!"
The drop-off is not surprising. In fact, it's the cost of success. Now that George W. Bush is long gone (even if the same cannot be said for Dick Cheney) and Barack Obama, the onetime community organizer, is in The House, it's natural that some of the fire on the left is gone. Winning can demotivate a political side. And I remember that in 1994, after the Democrats lost the House to the Republicans for the first time in decades, Representative Barney Frank told me that it was more fun to be in a fired-up opposition.
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What wasn't to be expected was the lack of love the Obama White House showed the conference's organizers. Obama himself came to the event in 2006 and 2007. He skipped it last year because he was campaigning, but he won its straw poll. After all, the annual conference embodies his base. As he noted during his 2007 appearance before the group, "It will be because of you that we take America back." He celebrated the campaign's efforts, noting that change comes from the bottom up due to the work of the sort of activists who were attending the gathering.
That was then. This year, Obama will not be making the mile or so drive from the White House to the hotel hosting the conference. Nor will he be sending Vice President Joe Biden. In fact, the three-day program is light on representation from the Obama administration. At the opening event on Monday morning, Jared Bernstein, Biden's chief economic adviser, made some general comments about the administration's policies and then quickly left before there could be any real debate or discussion between him and other panelists (who had expressed skepticism regarding the administration's various bailouts). Labor Secretary Hilda Solis was scheduled to speak at a panel on health care reform later in the day. And Celia Munoz, the White House director of intergovernmental affairs, was scheduled to give out the Paul Wellstone Leadership Award at the group's gala dinner on Tuesday.
That's it--not much of a payback to the base.
During the tough primary face-off between Obama and Hillary Clinton last year, many of the Take Back America types were on his side, making up that base of Democratic progressives who wanted an end to the Iraq war. But the Obama White House isn't showing its appreciation. At the moment, Obama is riding high and may not need that base. But there are rough battles to come--health care reform and cap-and trade, for instance--and in politics, you never know when tables will turn and you'll need your friends. It would have been a wise move--and just plain menschy--for the Obama White House to have shared itself a bit more with the folks who Obama said helped him to win America.
Comments
Well, he got elected, he
Submitted by Craig R. Lane (not verified) on Mon Jun. 1, 2009 2:14 PM PDT.
Well, he got elected, he doesn't need us anymore. Seeing how he as catered to his banking buddies, it looks like he never did need us or our money. Let's not make this same mistake in 2012.
Love Is Not Always Tender Caresses
Submitted by gryphonisle (not verified) on Mon Jun. 1, 2009 2:51 PM PDT.
If Obama is to become a Great President, it won't be up to him and his policies alone, it will come from Obama being pushed to do the Right Thing, the things that need to be done, not those most politically rewarding or pragmatic. The thoughtful, considered nature of this President is a welcome relief from the witlessness of the previous administration, but it remains to be seen whether Obama is merely thoughtful, and considered, or a great thinker. Is he a visionary who sees the big picture and who can visualize the destination beyond the horizon, or is he simply a pragmatist, a fixer and not an architect?
Regardless of what Obama is or isn't, he clearly wants to avoid the problems with which history has presented to him, and it will take the devoted followers and loyal opposition to make him do what is right, and not merely politically desirable. FDR became a great man despite several serious flaws in his reasoning (locking up American citizens based on ethnic heritage) because protests met him at every turn and forced him to do what needed to be done and not what he would have done if left to his own devices. If people think they can sit back and let Obama run with it, they will find themselves increasingly disappointed and possibly disillusioned. If people want Obama to close Guantanamo and bring those who authorized torture to justice, they will need to get out and make the noises that will keep the President on the right track, and not merely the easy one he'd prefer.
Those Who Get Power...
Submitted by ra meeks (not verified) on Mon Jun. 1, 2009 3:53 PM PDT.
...Are afraid to lose it.
I, too, after lots of contributions and an enthusiastic supporter of his campaign last year, am beginning to wonder if who we elected is who he is turning out to be. Don't get me wrong: Barney Fife would have been an improvement over the previous president. But it seemed to me that we had elected a lawyer with a background in constitutional law, who had a vision for the country that was far different and a step in the right direction.
Now, I'm wondering. From letting the ban on hunting wolves drop to this back-and-forth on whether or not to investigate the illegalities and warm crimes of Bush, Cheney, Gonzalez, etc., he seems to be playing it too carefully, especially when history is calling on him to make some very tough but necessary decisions regarding the past and future.
Yes, we can. Yes, we did. The question is: Can he? Will he?
Are we still around??
Submitted by Edith M. Conrad (not verified) on Tue Jun. 2, 2009 1:47 PM PDT.
Dear God I hope we are still around and paying attention. Clearly DC crowd is counting on the fact that we did the usual--went home to our lives and let "big brother" run things. But "home, our lives" are a mess--no job, maybe no home, definitely no health care, poor education, and so on.
I see loyalty as a two way street. I also do not consider myself the property of the insurance companies for them to control my health care while I pay my taxes into their bonus program.
DO NOT LET THE GOVERNMENT TAKE YOU FOR GRANTED!!!
I still support President Obama on some things, but I will no trouble at all in being out of here sometime soon if I do not see major improvements.
Obama and the Progs
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed Jun. 3, 2009 12:11 AM PDT.
Disgusting man...
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