Would a Serious Primary Challenge Force Obama to Move Left? Or Should We Just Dump Him?
Posted: December 4, 2010 Filed under: Action Memo, Democratic Politics | Tags: 2012 presidential election, Barack Obama, Blue Dogs, Joseph Cannon, Michael Lerner, New Deal 66 Comments
A primary challenge that would “save” Obama is what Michael Lerner, editor of Tikkun Magazine, suggests today in the Washington Post (via Memeorandum).
People who used to say, “Give President Obama more time” when the president was criticized for capitulating to the right, or who argued that Obama must have a plan to turn things around, are now largely depressed and angry. To many liberals and progressives, the president’s unwillingness to veto any measure that includes continued tax relief for billionaires is the last straw, building on a record of spinelessness that includes his escalation of the war in Afghanistan, abandonment of a public option for health-care reform, refusal to prosecute those who tortured in Iraq or lied us into that war, and unwillingness to tax carbon emissions.
With his base deeply disillusioned, many progressives are starting to believe that Obama has little chance of winning reelection unless he enthusiastically embraces a populist agenda and worldview – soon.
Lerner argues that liberals can “save” Obama by primarying him. Frankly, I’d prefer to dump Obama and replace him with someone who actually has some core values–preferably someone with liberal core values. But this idea of giving up on Obama seems to have gone viral lately, and I think it’s a good sign. Lerner offers a very liberal platform for the proposed primary challenge, including pulling all troops out of Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan, and pushing for a new New Deal here at home.
It sounds great, though unrealistic. Even the most liberal candidates that Lerner suggests wouldn’t support that agenda. Furthermore, some of the candidates he suggests are just plain silly (Rachel Maddow? John Conyers? Susan Sarandon? Alan Grayson?). But the good news is that elite liberals like Lerner are finally talking about alternatives to a continuation of Bush III after 2012. Let’s face it, whether we get Obama or a Republican, we’re still going to get Republican policies.
Could I be wrong though? Is there still a chance to prevent the Republican Party from retaking the White House and the Senate in 2012? Even a curmudgeon like Joseph Cannon seems to think so. Yesterday he discussed primary challengers to Obama, and proposed Oregon Democratic Congressman Peter DeFazio as possible candidate. In his latest post today, Cannon proposes starting a movement for a new New Deal.
A new New Deal. I like it. Where do I sign up?
Another positive sign for those of us who weren’t shocked by Obama’s betrayal of his prog supporters is that Obama himself has finally come out of the closet as a Blue Dog Democrat. As Wonk the Vote pointed out this morning, Obama pretty much outed himself back in March, 2009. From Politico:
“I am a New Democrat,” he told the New Democrat Coalition, according to two sources at the White House session….
Obama made his comment in discussing his budget priorities and broader goals, also calling himself a “pro-growth Democrat” during the course of conversation.
The self-descriptions are striking given Obama’s usual caution in being identified with any wing of his often-fractious party. He largely avoided the Democratic Leadership Council — the centrist group that Bill Clinton once led — and, with an eye on his national political standing, has always shied away from the liberal label, too….
Surrounded by 65 moderate Democrats on Tuesday in the State Dining Room, Obama was happy to portray himself as simpatico with a group of members who are largely socially liberal but fiscally more moderate to conservative.
Then on November 30, Matt Bai outed Obama on the pages of the Obama House Organ. (H/T Wonk the Vote–I missed this important article).
The body of Mr. Obama’s writing and experiences before he became a presidential candidate would suggest that he is instinctively pragmatic, typical of an emerging generation that sees all political dogma — be it ’60s liberalism or ’80s conservatism — as anachronistic. Privately, Mr. Obama has described himself, at times, as essentially a Blue Dog Democrat, referring to the shrinking caucus of fiscally conservative members of the party.
At this point, how can even the most Koolaid addled Obama supporter deny the truth? Obama is a Republican. If there is any chance at all to get a real Democrat into the White House, I say we join with Joseph Cannon and anyone else who will help out. Let’s work for real change that we really can believe in: A new New Deal.
peej
Carissa
ecocatwoman
mablue2
Mama Lopez
peggysue22
quixote
skydancingguestblogger
Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)
Sky Dancing 
Once again, I propose we try to get Jan Schakowsky to run against Obama.
Have you checked out this at Cannonfire?
It’s in my post.
Okay, my face is red. I just got an email from him about it and I had just opened your post.
That’s ok. lol
oh, check the media files … I uploaded something that’s graffiti around here. Haven’t had any trouble when I used it elseblog.
Peggy Noonan thinks Obama should just come right out and be a Republican.
BB,
I’m currently writing a post touching on the issues you’ve raised here. But this link you’ve just posted will perfectly fit into what I’m writing.
Maybe I can work it in.
Did you see Memorandum is linking to us now? (Does the happy snoopy dance)
No I haven’t. Wow!
That was very fast, although I though they would link to us in the early days of Cablegate. We beat most people to all the important links and excerpts that day.
Many big time blogs posted some of the stuff we had hours after we did.
It’s exciting isn’t it?
Kat, my post is listed first!
yay! Way to go, bb!
I can’t find it.
Where is it??? i was there and couldn’t find it!
Thursday’s/Branjor:
look under Lerner’s Wapo piece called “Save Obama – by running against him.”
Found it, thanks Wonk!!!
Good going DAK, BB, WonkTheVote, Mink, Sima, and MaBlue…hope I didn’t miss anyone.
!Applause!
Sounds good, MABlue. I can’t wait to read your post.
Dump
the blank screen”> because, as Hillary aptly says: “The best predictor of what someone will do is what they have done”.
From the Cannonfire article:
“We need Democrats who will boldly say that those who control 90 percent of the wealth should pay a commensurate share of the taxes. The top tax rate under Eisenhower was, in fact, 90 percent — and the country did great. Under Reagan, it was 50 percent. Today, it is 35 percent. Strange as it sounds, anyone advocating a “return to Reagan” policy would now be labeled a New Dealer.”
Some how we need to get to real numbers and not deal in the fantasy that Bush had the country in. Feingold is capable of discussing many issues like Hillary did. He might be the most serious contender for what BB is putting on the table.
The key to any candidate will be how well they can talk to the women who tend to see through baloney. Geriatric vote is also going to be important.
The best economy I ever lived in was in the late ’60s, right before Nixon took over.
Dump Obama definitely.
As to joining with Joseph Cannon, what is it that you said about Cannon’s attitude towards an important women’s issue (was it choice?) some time back? How many times have women fought alongside men in the past only to be betrayed after victory was won?
What ever happened to the Woman’s Party or the Justice Party?
Or are we just talking about being a new wing of the dem party, “new deal dems” (I like the sound of that)?
Jeez, have I ever said anything about “choice” that should rankle anyone here?
The New Deal site will not be about me. I’ve been afraid from the beginning that this thing would turn into a “referendum on Cannon.”
No. It ain’t me. It’s about the issues.
I’m not asking you or anyone else to join. I want you to LEAD.
That’s why I want to get this thing off the ground. It’s primarily a matter of website design and some writing and scutwork and video editing and getting people to work together. Nobody else is doing it, so I will.
And then I’m gone. Poof. Outta here. I’d rather be drawing comic books.
Look, writing is no fun if I have to watch my words for fear of alienating people from a larger movement. I dig the ornery, obnoxious oddball act and hope to return to it soon.
But building up this movement is important — so important that even this perpetually sour-tongued old cuss now feels obligated to make the attempt to get along with other people. (Even though I HATE that, and even though you all know that it’s pure pretense on my part.)
We need a left-wing analog to the Tea Party movement. Nobody ELSE was starting one up!
Once the things is operational, Kat can take over, if she wants. (I’ve said as much to her in private.) Whoever wants the job and is qualified to do it, can have it.
But the time to worry about that is later. Right now, let’s get the thing going.
Yes, a truly liberal movement would be most welcome, nay is not just welcome, but is desparately needed. Bon chance.
But building up this movement is important —
I agree, Joseph, and, for all the reasons you annotated. We cannot let what is happening with all of the misinformation and continued sabotage and attempting to prune out of existence, the New Deal, happen.
It drives me to distraction to listen and read all the BS out there and how gullible people like many of those in the TP and even seasoned Dems are falling and mimicing falsehoods which the scummy deficit hawks are doling out just like the snake oil salesmen they are.
I’ll be visiting your blog to keep current about what’s happening. And, I don’t much care who drives the wagon. What’s important is what you said “let’s get this thing going”. I’m there.
– so important that even this perpetually sour-tongued old cuss now feels obligated to make the attempt to get along with other people. (Even though I HATE that, and even though you all know that it’s pure pretense on my part.)
HA!
OK, then, let’s get going already!
Seriously… I would like to know what “women’s issues” you are referencing Joseph Cannon and his attitude. Yes, he has attitude on great many issues, but owning a penis is not shorthand for misogynist.
If it is choice, I can, with all honesty, inform you that Joseph is pro-choice.
He does the dishes, he walks the dog, he cooks dinner… the only thing I find that I can ascribe to him as being anti-women is the fact that he leaves the toilet seat up!
He leaves the toilet seat up? I really, really hate that. My son does it all the time. Ingrate that he is, he’s also an amazing human being so I can look beyond my minor inconvenience, as I’m sure you do. Nothing is easy these days. It’s not about choice BTW, it’s about equality. Are women equal to men, do they have the same opportunities, do they have the same power to determine what is right for them. Joseph is a much needed voice in the internet, and I don’t think you’ll find too many people here who disagree.
Second this. Well said, HT.
I actually have a theory about men and toilet seats. I think you can judge your relationship by the way you find your toilet seat after your man uses it. I have to tell you that one day….
The thing about choice was a question, not a statement, as I don’t remember exactly what BB said. It was something pertaining to women.
Excuse me for bringing it up. You are all very amusing.
OT holiday fun – enjoy
http://www.youtube.com/user/AlphabetPhotography#p/a/f/0/SXh7JR9oKVE
i’ve watched this a bunch… even tho it’s rehearsed and staged, it’s impressive.
I am a little concerned that the Republicans just don’t have their act together enough for the next election either… Ms. Palin was in town here yesterday (south carolina) signing books and the number of folks swooning over “Reagan in a skirt” (their description, not mine) was disconcerting. She again asserted that she was thinking about running. If she does… I don’t think Obama will have much difficulty getting re-elected.
It really seems that continuing the Bush tax cuts is going to be the last straw for a lot of Democrats.
the whole missed opportunity for real health care reform was the last straw for me. Take that back… the whole darn election was the last straw. It just got worse from there. I’m hoping the next go-round will be more of “throw any incumbent out” and maybe then we can get some real change. (i’m grumpy because our gamecock football team is getting embarassingly pummeled.)
The last straw for me was the McClurkin episode. That was before the primaries started, I think. How any liberal could support Obama after that, I’ll never understand.
ah yes… part of the 40 days of faith and family tour. The writing was on the wall about how duplicitous the man would be.
“A caller on NPR suggested that business get a tax refund when they actually create jobs, but pay the higher taxes so that it is a put up or shut up situation for the ‘rich create jobs’ slogan”. Found this comment on Paul Krugman’s last post.
Interesting idea.
BB – Let’s work for real change that we really can believe in. – Yes indeedy.
Per VW at another link in previous post regarding defeat of oligarchy:
***In other countries, it has only been done when the opposition unites. As long as the opposition to corruption and cronyism is splintered into left, center, green, libertarian, tea party, then the oligarchy is secure.***
How do we get people to trust again? There have been more than a few blog posts regarding uniting – especially last year. Herding cats is a good analogy. Things have most decidedly gone South now more than any of us naysayers could have dreamed. Pundits are using more hard facts simply because it is undeniable – situation needs to be dealt with stat.
You are speaking of changing the present Democratic party back to basic Democratic issues?
DK – Did you see Memorandum is linking to us now? – Much deserved recognition. I can’t thank this group enough for all their dedication and hard work presenting facts on issues day in and day out for years. Congrats!
Yup … I got an ecstatic call from BB this morning! We’ve been doing the snoopy happy dance all day about it! We’ve just be active one month now!!!
Ouch! (Krugman)
I was just pulling this for my Sunday Reads post…ouch indeed.
I’m trying to figure out if I believe this one from the Daily Beast… I hope I’m didn’t highjack another item!!!
“The White House has drawn a line in the sand:” My eyes glazed over after that. This WH wouldn’t know how to draw a line in the sand even if there were two dots for them to connect.
Wonk, you think they read this bit: Help! White House Loses Constitution, Unaware of Article II | MyFDL
Wonk, of course they know how to draw a line in the sand – they watch the kids on the beach then copy – Pick up dead twig, put point into sand, push stich from point A to point B. Voila, line in the sand. What they don’t know is how to stand and deliver, and there’s the rub.
My guess is the only way Obama recognizes sand is if he’s on vacation.
HT @ 8:13, I guess I should amend that to say… Obama & co. don’t know how to draw a *liberal* line in the sand. They sure do know how to draw the closet conservative one.
Minx @ 8:10, Gibbs probably read it in his pajamas, snort
From the FDL link:
So glad we elected a much-ballyhooed constitutional scholar.
Any “move to the left” from Obama would be for the campaign sake only. Once nominated, he’d revert to who he always was, a Trojan Horse.
I’d love if I could vote for someone – and I would for any “not-Obama” candidate.
That being said, Obama was installed to warm the seat for Jeb – no one can change this preordained plan by TPTB
Well, as you can see by my screen name, no one has to twist my arm much to join with Cannon whose post made me feel elated and energized instead of depressed and cynical which is how I’ve been feeling since the primaries.
A New New Deal is just what we all need in this country and it cannot come too soon. I think we cannot be so arrogant to not believe that we as a nation could never fall. I’m sure Rome, Britain and the Soviet Union felt that way once upon a time. So could we. Imo, a New New Deal is the only way to go.
How many Americans know about FDR’s 2nd Bill of Rights? Not many I bet.
One of the recent and better books about FDR and Eleanor is by H.W. Brands’ “Traitor to His Class: The Privileged Life and Radical Presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt” which includes that crucial info about FDR’s 2nd Bill of Rights. It’s one of the best kept secrets of FDR’s legacy and so appropriate for our times. This Economic Bill of Rights is just what we need now.
The New Deal will never die no matter how much Republicans and all New Deal enemies have tried and keep trying to dismantle it since it’s fruition now including Obama.
I also don’t know if many know that it was Eleanor who opened Franklin’s eyes to social injustice (he grew up much more sheltered from other classes than Eleanor ever was at their age) which she witnessed first hand when she worked for a while on the lower East Side of NY. She brought him down there to see for himself the dire poverty of the mostly Jewish and Italian immigrant population which shocked him. It also shaped who he became as POTUS. It and her education over in London shaped Eleanor into the woman she became.
For those interested, imo, the best biography of Eleanor Roosevelt is Blanche Wiesen Cook’s 2 Volume Bio of the years from 1884-1938. I’ve been waiting for Vol 3 to appear and will gobble that up once it does.
Also, one of the most important women to work for FDR was Frances Perkins http://tinyurl.com/r7mge (HRC followed in Perkins and ER’s and FDR’s footsteps, imo). Perkins was FDR’s Labor Secretary and was a key player in the New Deal coalition. Many say Social Security was her brainchild and she convinced FDR of it’s necessity.
Here is a utube capture of FDR’s fireside chat about an Economic Bill of Rights in January 1944. He died three months after that chat and no Dem has picked up on this (probably they have been in the dark about it as the majority of Americans have been) and followed FDR’s lead. Now is the time for this to come to fruition.
So, I’m there with Cannon and BB and others.
Wow. I was blown away by FDRs Fireside chat. I wonder if we’d take things more seriously as a nation if we could only listen, and not have all the distractions of tv and commercials. In other words, if what mattered was what was said, not how whoever looked while saying it.
Anyway, I’m both depressed and fired up now. Where’s our FDR? How do we create/foster/discover a leader like that?
It’s hard to imagine any one ethical coming up the political system these days that isn’t wiped out by the process.
Yea. I think the person is going to have to be ethical by stealth. Discover the bigger/greater man/woman within and run with it.
Sad thought, that.
Sima,
FDR said:
“We had to struggle,” he declared in 1936, “with the old enemies of peace — business and financial monopoly, speculation, reckless banking, class antagonism, sectionalism, war profiteering. … Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as they stand today. They are unanimous in their hate for me — and I welcome their hatred.”
There was a reason people kept voting FDR back in office. Because he worked for us and not for the ones who hated him. And, that is just the opposite of who and what is now residing in the Oval Office.
I don’t know if there is more pressure today on a Congressperson or Senator in terms of the temptation of money, although the wrong-headed Court decision in Citizens makes the opportunity for corruption easier.
The pressure a Rep or Senator is faced with to go along with a vote as they get whipped by their party is a pressure that will always be there. That quid pro quo thing I think is as strong now as it was then.
I often wonder if an FDR could even get elected today?
I don’t know. I just hope he/she can for all our and our kids futures.
@newdealdem I think FDR was a surprise, ethical by stealth so to speak. I’m not sure about the relative pressures of the moneyed class and politicians towards corruption, but I bet it was just as bad back in the 1890s, the 1870s, the 1920s.
However, I bet that if someone suddenly lets their ethics show, and ends up in control as leader, the rest of the politicians will mostly follow.
I’m wondering what people think of Jim Webb.
I don’t really know that much about him myself. I know he’s to the right on a number of issues (and was Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs and then Secretary of the Navy under Reagan). However, he’s one of the few national Democratic politicians explicitly extolling FDR these days, is talking a great deal about class and income disparity, in many ways appears to represent “traditional Democratic values”, and appears clearly anti-Stevensonian.
leave the man alone he is doing the best he can with what he have you dummie vote for the rep to be in office now you blame obama why the hell didn’t nobody blame the bushes for his screw ups you are just blaming obama because he is the first black educated president if you can do better why the hell don’t you run for president in 2012 I’ve already got over 1million people to vote for obama in 2012 and if i was obama i wound’nt want to be re-elected i have never seen poor people who dont want help thats what he is fighting for not the dam rich if you make a million or billion dollars how the hell will paying higher taxes will hurt you rich people hell paris hilton spend 10thousand dollars on her dogs a birthday party last week think how many kids she could have feed and oprah paid 2000dollars for a pair of ugly shoes so what the hell do rich people have to complaint about even some rich people asked obama to raise there taxes but all in fairness you dont want a black man telling a white person what to do just like on my job there are 2black supervisor all the white employees ask for transfer to other department but guess what they didn’t know that the owner of the plant was a black man its time to pull together all this slavery shit is over it will never to like it use to be because black people wont take the shit any more i rather fight dying for my freedom and i will but you best believe a whole lot of others will go down with me so give the president a change and let him do what we voted him in office to do all president screw up they’re not god,
I think we should keep this comment for the sake of posterity.
It’s not even worth responding to because t’s way too incoherent.
yup, we let it out of spam because it was almost perfectly incoherent
Let’s see how he’s trying to help poor people.
1st Obama endorses the Bush agenda of spying on and killing americans
2nd Obama attacks Unions (the F! the UAW moment screams republican)
3rd Obama double downs on Bush Wars, (now they are Obama wars)
4th Obama attacks Teacher Unions (teacher unions now hate OBAMA)
5th Obama does not attack the Banks? he bails them out? (sorta like what the GOP does)
6th Obama passes the Bob Dole Health Care Bill (Bob Dole is a republican)
7th Obama kills the Public Option
8Th Obama kills Drug Importation
9Th Obama APPOINTS an insurance executive to manage his health care Bill
10th Obama does not APPOINT Dawn Johnsen
11th Obama hand picks the cat food commission to destroy Social Security
12th Obama supports Blanche Lincoln, a candidate who hates Unions, and has no chance of winning
13 Guantanomo still open for business
14.Patriot Act renewed
15. renditions continue
16. Bernanke reappointed
17. Americans targeted for assassination
18 Obama is all for sending more USA jobs off shore
19 Obama is for tax cuts for the RICH!
20. Obama and the TSA porno Scandal
21 Obama freezes federal wages for 2 years
22 Obama extends tax cuts for wealthiest Americans and wants to lower taxes on richest inheritances and capital gains
yup, socialist agenda! helping poor and middle class folks near you!!!
Why, is his diaper dirty?
Cornel West, spot-on as usual: