BULLSHIT! Obama did NOT run on a more "leftist agenda". He was center-Left and IS center-Left

[KittyWampus]

He never pandered or pretended to be someone he is not.

He isn't moving to the center. He IS center-Left.

Just like every other Democratic primary candidate who had a shot of actually winning.

And he already HAS changed the way politics works in the Democratic party.

He is competing in all 50 states.

Not just for himself but down-ticket Democrats.

In every fucking state.

THAT IS CHANGE.

And if he wins using the 50 state strategy and moves some purple and red states behind him there will be even greater changes in political alignments NATIONALLY and not just in the Democratic party.

[AndyA]

1. You just keep on believing that.

Time will tell. :eyes:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25404397/

[KittyWampus]

3. you are providing an opinion from a Mediawhore to prove your point? PATHETIC

that bullshit article doesn't even list any policy positions, votes, quotes that show Obama "moving to the center".

You will have credibility when you provide actual before and "after" examples. Which your chosen Mediawhore failed to do.

[AndyA]

6. There are other sources besides MSNBC.

Open your eyes and look for yourself.

You can start with his support of the FISA bill before the Senate right now. Enjoy being spied on?

What's really pathetic is how some people seem to have blinders on all the time.

[cbc5g]

17. I enjoy having a Democratic President that can get things done

not a democratic candidate that loses because he is perceived as soft on terror.

[ananda]

2. No. Obama is not left at all.

He might be center rightwing or just rightwing,
while McCain is erratic being extreme rightwing
on some issues and more left on others.

[KittyWampus]

4. You are clueless if you thing he is rightwing. Who knows what planet you hail fromn

but here on earth, Obama is center-Left.

[bowens43]

5. Nope. He definatly has moved from left to center.

There is absolutely no doubt about that. If you don't see that , it's because you chose not to see it.

[GihrenZabi]

7. Irrelevant

Left or Center, Obama promised "change." That's what is riling up the Left. Kow-towing to the Bush Doctrine isn't change...nor is running left during the primary and running center during the GE. It is very much the standard playbook.

That doesn't make Obama a bad guy or a bad Presidential candidate, but it does piss off his liberal base that he so desperately needed to win the primary.

[JuniperLea]

26. Well said!

I'm not too keen on what I've seen in the past couple of weeks, but I'll vote for him... no question!

Democrats will never, ever walk lock step. That is absolutely as it should be!!! I'm sick and tired of people trying to tell us we need to give up all our critical thinking skills and just walk in goose step stride. This is bullshit.

I will vote for the Dem. I've said that since the day Edwards dropped out, I never chose sides in the big primary battles, and I'm not going to back down from voting for the Dem now. I don't flip flop. I don't say I will, then don't. I don't say I won't, then do either... leave that to the politicians.

The thing that really sickens me though, is he really doesn't need to pander. He had this all sewn up. All this wishy washy shit is going to cost him votes. Not mine though. But I think I'm stronger than a lot of people.

[crankychatter]

8. These born again Liberals were saying he's too liberal to be elected in the General

only weeks ago

This is a campaign to keep the party divided until August

disaffect as many Obama supporters as possible

I have NO idea what DU can do about it... but I don't like having my hands tied while I get punched in the face, do you?

I have to go to other forums to call them like I see them

You might try the ignore feature... I re-instituted it the other day

I ignore almost everyone bashing the candidate with incessant criticism... same shit OVER AND OVER AND OVER... they go to ignore

I looked at my list and it's all the supposed "Clinton supporters" that were on ignore before

Some of the concern is genuine... I will read the constructive criticism... but frankly, most of it's bullshit

As you have stated

[blondeatlast]

9. What other forums do you go to?

I like DU and have been here a long damn time, but I want kick McCain's ass, not our candidate's.

You can PM me if you'd prefer.

Appreciated!

[crankychatter]

13. I like posting incendiary crap on craigslist

It's work season so I don't have the time I did during the Winter and primaries

if you go to common dreams you'll find out that purity trolling is a refined art...

legendary progressives and activists have endorsed Obama, only to get flamed on CD...

I'll peck around after I get moved... (new house tuesday)

I am just glad they let me cuss here... even if I can't flame the obvious shit starters

Right now, voter registration groups are THE BIGGEST, MOST BEAUTIFUL bunch in the world

you will get some solidarity there... in three dimensions... maybe a hug too...

here? I just started ignoring them again

I'm not a premium member but maybe you could get some stuff going on in the Obama forum?

[hedgehog]

10. Trying to describe Obama as Left or Right is like trying to

describe a cube to inhabitants of Flatland! He's like Mario Cuomo; something new that can't be pigeon holed easily. Doesn't anybody remember back in the Primary season when people were complaining that he was dissing the accomplishments of the Baby Boomers? His entire campaign has been about getting past the Left-Right impasse!

[90-percent]

11. Disappointment

I thought Obama, being a Professor of Constitutional Law, would be, like Frank Zappa described himself, a CONSTITUTIONAL FUNDAMENTALIST!

I'm not too happy with his FISA position, but maybe he has some prosecution tricks up his sleeve he will pull out after Inauguration Day?

Sure hope so, any way!

-90% Jimmy

[lligrd]

12. I Am Off The Charts Left And I Have No Problem With Obama's

recent statements.

I have always been torn on gun control issues. I hate guns but always remember that without the right to own them we would be part of the United Kingdom today. I have never owned a gun but the current administration left me considering the possibility that I might need to purchase one some day.

Immunity for telecoms stinks and Obama said he was against it but the latest FISA bill is a vast improvement over what we had before. And although, the immunity clause is questionable in its legality and morally reprehensible, the truth is that without it, the telecoms would be in danger of bankruptcy if every American impacted were to sue. Where would that leave us?

Besides, it is not really the telecoms that I am most upset about. It is the crime infested administration and their multitude of heinous crimes including illegal invasion of another country, murder, torture, destruction of evidence, human right violations etc. There are still plenty of crimes to investigate and try them for.

[Solon]

14. I would characterize him as center-right, rather than center-left...

Kucinich is center-left.

[TheKentuckian]

24. People think Kuncinch

is center/left in the current political environment?

That's out of touch with reality.

Here in the real world McSame is seen as center/right and the right wing openly calls him a leftist.

I can see the trip to a world where people like Clinton and Obama could be seen as true centrist but the distance to get such candidates to even edging to the right is quite long.

[PumaJ]

15. Obama center left?

Actually, in his book "The Audacity of Hope", he describes himself more as a pragmatic progressive and centrist.

My sense of Obama is that he is a type of revolutionary, one that is far more interested in representing as many of us, the American People,
as possible than he is interested in any rigid partisan stance.

Based on his comments regarding the FISA bill, I am thinking that he would find a fight on the issue of denying immunity to the telcos as
more of a political "red herring" at this point in time. In other words, such a fight would be a major distraction in his campaign to
win the presidency.

The man does know Constitutional Law, after all. Probably more so than those who are protesting the bill, including certain rabble rousing
senators.

[rodeodance]

16. well last night he pandered to Clinton donors telling them he was

considering delaying the tax on the rich bill. and the donors would be in that category


"He never pandered or pretended to be someone he is not.

[depakid]

18. I guess you never attended a rally

Because if you did, you certainly heard something VERY different than what I heard.

Not that I bought it- but progressive (not centrist) IS without question how he intended to come across- and that's what got him the nomination.

[yardwork]

19. Obama, like Hillary, is center-right.

There is very little leftist about either Obama or Hillary. Their voting records are clear.

Anyone surprised by Obama's vote on FISA and other issues hasn't been paying attention.

[Peacetrain]

20. Yep that is how I see him also

We got to see Senator Obama up close and personal for an extended period of time in Iowa.. and he is now what he was then.. center left.. could not describe him any better.. he has an agenda..but is willing to acknowledge the other person has a point of view..may not change his mind or what he is about set out to do..but he sees the big picture..that is for sure

[hedgehog]

21. I've seen speeches Obama gave back when he was in the Illinois Senate

that are practically word for word what he said in his stump speech in the primary. He was that consistent that long, and it resulted in a meteoric rise, and you want us to believe that he's changing his tune, now?

[hedgehog]

22. I've seen speeches Obama gave back when he was in the Illinois Senate

that are practically word for word what he said in his stump speech in the primary. He was that consistent that long, and it resulted in a meteoric rise, and you want us to believe that he's changing his tune, now?

[demokatgurrl]

23. I agree on one point, disagree on the other.

He did not pretend to be anything he's not. But he WAS painted, by others, as being more left-wing than he actually is.

And I guess I disagree a teensy bit on one other thing- I'd say center, not center-left. Everything has moved right, including Democrats. Thanks to the DLC.

[LWolf]

25. Except that I consider him to be center-right, and moving further right all the time. n/t

[butterfly77]

27. Thanks...

some want to paint him into a corner and act as though everyone voting for him are liberal but, they aren't and I am not I don't agree with everything that the Dems do and I don't believe anyone does.

Some are CONS or Obama haters who will not be satisfied no matter what..Its funny how the same people who are claiming that we think Obama walks on water seem to feel that he should. I notice that Obama has to be perfect and no one has asked this from any other candidate. Remember this: " I am not a perfect man"..

[Radical Activist]

28. He had the most liberal record of anyone running but Kucinich.

I think the people who claim Obama is moving right are grasping at straws.