General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: So is every complaint about Obama wrong? Or some people just don't like to hear them? [View all]DWilliamsamh
(1,445 posts)As a reasonable person I agree with your assessment that there are things the President should be criticized for, despite the fact that he has indeed accomplished a lot for which he deserves praise. Personally I understand that he is far better on ALL things than McCain would have been, or practically anyone who could win the Republican nomination at this point in our history. There more things than I would have like that I disagree with him on, but I am realistic enough to understand that there is no one who will agree with my point of view 100% - outside of myself that is.
Personally I only "get defensive about Obama" when I hear people talking about primary challenges and such from the left. I am left of Obama on more than a few things, but I KNOW that the result of actually forcing him to run primaries against a more left leaning opponent would do nothing but guarantee his loss in the general next year. To a much lesser extent vociferous and nonstop harping on his failures to the exclusion of his successes will also harm is prospects in the general. None of that means I think he's perfect. None of that means I can't think of other liberals and Democrats who I think would be better on the Whole than the current President. But the reality of the electoral/political process is that if the incumbent President running for re-election is reelected - it is NEVER someone form his own party that is. I know that sounds obvious but essentially those who go on about primarying him, are positing a scenario where either a "better Democrat" or a liberal could get elected. That ain't going to happen. I don't care who you run against - it could be Al Gore Or Howard Dean - both of whom I think would make better Presidents than President Obama. The result would be an Republican victory. And if you don't like Obama - just wait till you get a load of the next Republican president.
But as a reasonable person I also strongly disagree with your assertion that the President "should be liberal. Always." That smacks of doctrinaire and a demand for some sort of ideological purity that just doesn't exist in the real world......not to mention it is obvious from reading just on DU that there are as many definitions of liberal as there are liberals, myself included.