"Obama and Biden don't understand their own base"

[bobbolink]

Email from TIKKUN....

Rabbi Lerner's latest analysis of the decline in Obama's popularity is on the front page of Huffington Post--fifth item down on their home page as of this moment. If it's no longer there by the time you check it out, click here (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-michael-lerner/obama-and-biden-have-no-c_b_742647.html). It is titled "Obama (and Biden) Have No Clue About What's Bothering Their Political Base."

Lerner is responding to a critique of the Obama "base" (that is, all those who worked hard for his election and now feel disappointed in what he delivered) from Vice President Biden who described the "base" as "whining." Funny that Obama and Biden never described as "whining" those Republicans who have insisted that the Bush era tax windfalls to the richest be kept, or those Democrats who insisted that the public option for health care be dropped, or those militarists who have insisted that ending the war in Afghanistan would be counter-productive to American interests, or those tea-party people who have sought greater repression of immigrants, or....well, anyone who criticizes him from the Right gets a hearing, anybody who criticizes from the Left gets dismissed in this demeaning way. And then they wonder why those people being dismissed that way are not vigorously out there trying to convince their neighbors about the importance of keeping a Democratic Congress? That's why Rabbi Lerner starts his article by saying that although he is going to be supporting Democrats personally, he knows it's not going to be an easy sell to convince others who have felt betrayed or even humiliated by having allowed themselves to hope that Obama would continue in his presidency to articulate the kind of ideas that won him the support of the progressives who made possible his victory in the Democratic primaries of 2008. A shorter version appears in the S.F. Chronicle Wednesday, Sept. 29.

Please do read the article, make comments on line at Huff Post, or in letters to the S.F. Chronicle, or on our website www.spiritualprogressives.org. Please note that Rabbi Lerner is not urging people to refrain from supporting Dems in the election, but trying to help Obama, the Democratic Party leaders like Nancy Pelosi and other inveterate compromisers addicted to abandoning principle for the sake of retaining power, and the media and others understand WHY THE DEMOCRATS ARE LIKELY TO LOSE IN NOVEMBER--and to refute the simplistic notion that his progressive base had unrealistic expectations because they were all unsophisticated about politics and expected him to change everything immediately. Far from it--his base would have been far more energized had President Obama continued to articulate and fight for a more principled program and used those fights to educate the American public to a progressive worldview, rather than capitulate to the one-dimensional, market-oriented, corporate-subservient, military/intelligence/industrial/health-profiteer-oil industry worshipping, Wall Street - guided "common sense" regurgitated every day by the media commentators and television and radio talk show hosts who shape American public discourse easily when there is no counter force to challenge them. It's not that the progressives wanted him to win more legislative victories--they wanted him to stick to principles win or not, since winning by compromising away the essence of what you are fighting for is a hollow victory indeed!!!!

Rabbi Lerner's argument is stated in greater detail (and hence in a more sophisticated and nuanced way) in his editorial in the Sept/Oct 2010 issue of Tikkun magazine. So instead of having to read the versions of Rabbi Lerner's thinking that have been reduced to fit the sizes that the media will publish, you can get the nuanced and sophisticated version in Tikkun magazine (or soon, Tikkun Magazine on Line--and your sub to Tikkun will give you access to the on-line version).

If after you've read it you feel as enthusiastic as many of those who already commented on Huff Post, send this out to all your friends, post it (with our permission) on your website and/or FaceBook or other social media, and get friends to talk about it with you! And then, help us out--keep Rabbi Lerner's voice being heard, by joining the Network of Spiritual Progressives at www.spiritualprogressives.org! We'll even say: "please."

[bokchoy19]

1. What???

In what dimension can Republicans judge another party's base?

[Luminous Animal]

2. Rabbi Lerner is not a Republican.

And thank you, bobbolink

[bobbolink]

4. Thanks. Isn't it interesting the ignorant assumptions that people make?

Lerner's comments are tame compared to Cenk's, but certainly a voice Obama should hear.

This is all sad beyond words. :(

Hope you're having an OK day in spite of it! :hi:

[madrchsod]

3. obama appeals to the left when it is convenient

but his heart is strictly in the center.

[awoke_in_2003]

18. Center?...

that is rather generous.

[bobbolink]

26. !

My thought exactly... VERY generous.

Hmmm, maybe "center right" was the intended phrase?

[Little Star]

35. Center Right is more like it.

[bobbolink]

50. Exactly. Makes true centrists look "looney left".

[Recursion]

57. Teabaggers think they're "mainstream" too

Though it's kind of misleading to pretend there's a single right-left political spectrum. But, in that model, claiming Obama is anything other than left-of-center is kind of stupid.

[frylock]

51. and the center has moved way over to the right these days

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. Thanks for sharing this!

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Newest Reality]

6. There is a difference between understanding the

base and managing it. They do go hand in hand, however.

This manipulation is an art form, in my opinion, and it will continue to function until the harsh realities fomented by the rhetoric and damage control become uncontainable. As that rhetoric becomes demonstrably more out of sync with actual experience, tensions and frictions will grow in the yawning divide it leaves.

The problem centers around a growing, palpable cognitive dissonance that will become even more obvious as we continue down this path. The immediate and concrete reality that larger numbers of people see and live, (along with the expectations that emerge from said) grows more distant, distinct and out of phase with the time-tested methods used to manufacture consent, divide and distort consensus, and shape the perception of significant proportions of citizens.

[bobbolink]

7. You make a very good point. However, I would change the word from "manipulation" to BULLYING.

And if what you're speaking about includes poverty, and the class distinction, then I would concur wholeheeartedly.

They are becoming more and more distanced from REAL PEOPLE.

[awoke_in_2003]

21. Bullying is the right word...

the "STFU, stop you whining and vote" is coming through loud and clear.

[bobbolink]

23. And its working out quite well for them.

That shit from Biden about the "whining" did it for me... I don't vote this year. And I have heard from a lot of other people the very same thing... that did it for them.

Yup, its working out quite well.

[awoke_in_2003]

32. I really used to like Joe...

looks like he let the curtain drop.

[bobbolink]

33. I'm sorry. You are facing a lot of disappointments, and that is hard.

I know that its much better they be honest like this, so that we know who are enemies are, but .... it still isn't easy to take.

:pals:

[Newest Reality]

30. I agree, the

word "bullying" is a better choice of words, all things considered.

I would say that what I was relating actually centers around class distinction, (read: class war) and poverty as the most obvious manifestation of the matter. So, we do agree, methinks.

Inequality and the upward, hierarchical distribution of power, finance and property are, (despite the prominent, divisive issues held out as shiny baubles of media distraction) the underlying and essential aspects of the current crises where systemic collapse becomes yet another weapon of the "shock and awe" economic strategy.

What is most interesting, these days, is how emboldened the keepers of the gates and minions of the elite are becoming. It makes me wonder if all this flaunting of strategies and gains is a flaw or strategic way to foment some kind of result or response.

[bobbolink]

40. Thank you for the intelligent reply.... you offer a lot to chew on. What I will respond to is your

last sentence.

Obviously, I have no access to the inner thought process of the Blight House (thank the goddess!), however, given the strategery of the cheerleaders, my guess would be that it is a " strategic way to foment some kind of result or response".

That would certainly fit.

Unfortunately, we are not organized enough to be able to handle that strategery. :(

[bobbolink]

8. Thank you, unreccers. I realize the reality and truth of the matter is causing you to grind your

teeth.

It won't change anything at all, except give you higher dentist bills.

[Fumesucker]

9. K&R, thanks for posting..

[bobbolink]

10. Thanks!

This is shaping up to be a party-wide Civil War, and its sad that the administration insists on throwing kerosene on the flames. :(

[bullwinkle428]

11. K&R. There's no question that those of us on

the so-called "professional left" are being set up as the "fall guys" for any possible losses on Election Day.

[bobbolink]

12. I'm glad Cenk finally spoke the obvious.

I don't want to be here on Election Day or after... it is going to be UGLY.

It is all very, very sad.

[awoke_in_2003]

24. it will be pinned on us...

because it couldn't possibly be lack of leadership

[bobbolink]

27. And, if we were organized, we would be planning a comeback right now.

:cry:

[closeupready]

13. K&R

n/t

[stray cat]

14. the base is only capable of throwing an election not winning one

25% of a national vote gets you nothing. Like the tea partiers - a win requires recruiting moderates a loss just means staying home and crying in you soup

[bobbolink]

15. Thank you for proving Lerner's point. Don't forget to unrec.

I gotta say this... at least you are consistent in your hatred.

Bye now....

[awoke_in_2003]

29. the country keeps moving...

further and further to the right, and when a small group says "no more" then we are told to STFU and vote. Yeah, we will vote. We will again be ignored. And the country will just keep drifting. Hey, but at least you will have political "victories" like the Health Insurance Industry Bailout Act.

[dogday]

38. Tell that to the grass roots who got him elected in the first place.

Good to know that they actually did not do anything to help get a Democrat in the White House. I know that will make them feel a whole lot better. :sarcasm:

[Recursion]

17. What does he mean by "fight"?

He seems to be scrapping quite a bit.

[bobbolink]

19. I think its pretty self-explanatory, don't you?

If you really don't get it, why don't you contact Rabbi Lerner? He is quite approachable.

Unlike Obama and the rest of the elite.

[Recursion]

42. No, actually, no matter how often I see people ask him to

I literally have no idea what people are talking about when they say they want him to "fight". He's forcing legislation through a Senate that is on the whole very opposed to his agenda. He is fighting, and more often than not he's winning.

[bobbolink]

43. Why am I not surprised that you don't understand.

So, you will be one of the ones BLAMING us for YOUR loss, right?

Good luck with that.

[Recursion]

45. What loss? I think we're going to keep both chambers

But, yeah, if we do lose I'm not going to say it's because we insufficiently alienated moderate and conservative voters.

[bobbolink]

46. Have fun gnashing your teeth come November.

[golddigger]

20. Open mouth and insert both feet.

[Catherina]

22. Recommended

"Far from it--his base would have been far more energized had President Obama continued to articulate and fight for a more principled program and used those fights to educate the American public to a progressive worldview, rather than capitulate to the one-dimensional, market-oriented, corporate-subservient, military/intelligence/industrial/health-profiteer-oil industry worshipping, Wall Street - guided "common sense"

[bobbolink]

25. Exactly. Compare the wisdom of those words with calling their biggest supporters "whiners".

That political strategery is working out quite well for them.

It would be hilarious if it wasn't so damned sad.

[democrank]

28. K & R

[Forkboy]

31. K&R

:hi:

[bobbolink]

34. Thanks!

:hi:

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

36. He's a centrist politician who believes that distancing himself from the left is "smart" politics.

LBJ thought so too in 1968...until Gene McCarthy proved him wrong.

[Recursion]

47. He's a centrist politician who can count to 60 NT

[VMI Dem]

37. Rec.

[bvar22]

39. The Democratic Party Leadership is creating a BIG Vacuum on The Left.

Much Bigger than the one created by Bill Clinton and the DLC "Centrists" during the 90s.

The results are predictable.
Vacuums will be filled.
Its Physics.

It is also predictable that the "Centrists" will blame The Left for the effects of the vacuum that THEY themselves have created.
....as predictable as the Sunrise tomorrow.


"If we don't fight hard enough for the things we stand for,
at some point we have to recognize that we don't really stand for them."
--- Paul Wellstone

[bobbolink]

41. Your quote by Paul Wellstone says it all.

Sadly, he predicted this state of affairs, and sadly, he isn't here to help us.

:cry:

[laughingliberal]

49. +1000 nt

[cordelia]

44. Rec

[laughingliberal]

48. Great analysis! K & R nt

[frylock]

52. knr

[bobbolink]

53. Thanks!

The unreccers are having a party. :party:

I guess that's their idea of "winning". :(

[Odin2005]

54. K&R, Thanks,Bobbo!

[LWolf]

55. "The Left Hand of God:Taking Our Country Back From The Religious Right."

His book, and well worth reading.

So is the article you linked. Thanks for posting.

[Forkboy]

56. Kick

[dajoki]

58. I couldn't agree more...

This statement sums it up for me. It's not that the progressives wanted him to win more legislative victories--they wanted him to stick to principles win or not, since winning by compromising away the essence of what you are fighting for is a hollow victory indeed!!!!