Eugene Robinson: Obama Scores a Victory, Along With Some Vindication

[babylonsister]

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/obama_scores_a_victory_along_with_some_vindication_20101220/

Obama Scores a Victory, Along With Some Vindication

Posted on Dec 21, 2010

By Eugene Robinson


President Obama must be tempted to respond to his progressive critics with a quote from the old-school rapper Kool Moe Dee: “How ya like me now?”

Repeal of the military’s bigoted and anachronistic “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on gays in the military—a campaign promise that seemed to be slipping out of reach—doesn’t fully mend the relationship between Obama and the Democratic Party’s liberal wing. But it’s a pretty terrific start.

Progressives needed a clear, unambiguous victory to ease the sting of those extended tax cuts for the rich. They got one Saturday with the Senate’s historic vote to end “don’t ask, don’t tell”—and Obama won vindication for the slow, patient, step-by-step approach that drove gay and lesbian activists crazy but ultimately produced a stunning result.

snip//

Now that Congress has acted, the military will move with caution to implement the change. Judging by what has happened in other countries that took this step, however, the process will probably move much faster than anyone expects. A year from now, we’ll all be wondering what the big deal was.

For gays and lesbians currently serving in the military, this doesn’t mean they necessarily have to make public their sexuality. It just means that soon they won’t have to fear being discharged for being who they are.

And for President Obama and the left, this is an important milestone—a reminder that even in dysfunctional Washington, what Sarah Palin derided as “that hopey-changey stuff” can still produce real hope and change.

[Lint Head]

1. Vindication? Are any of these things going to bring back the

progressives or any others who have family members dying, dead and broke because they can't afford health care?
The Re Pubic party is going to attempt to dismantle everything that has been done one way or the other. They are ruthless.
Killing and death is profitable for Re Pubics.

[nofurylike]

3. "the progressives" aren't gone. and we are learning how to work

with the new health benefits. and we are working to take them further, and make them better.

it is the 15% that are pseudoprogressive who boycott elections even knowing full well that "they are ruthless."

true progressives realize what progress takes, and throwing the country away to the repukes is not it.

[great white snark]

9. Very well said.

:thumbsup:

:kick:

[nofurylike]

20. thank you very much, gws. nt

[ClassWarrior]

12. I have no idea why some people obsess on that so-called "15%" when they haven't voted...

...for the past three decades.

What you call "true progressives" are the base of the Dem Party, and it seems like many of the people around here who claim to be middlers want to drive us away as well.

NGU.

[nofurylike]

21. thank you for replying, ClassWarrior. yes, we are the base. one

thing: at least the "middlers" vote and try to work for common ground within the party that is progressive.

many of them share progressives' ire at those who threaten democrats with election boycotts, and extra parties - i.e., supporting republicans - purely in order to punish dems for not doing the impossible ... yet.

thanks again!

[Phx_Dem]

15. Amen. n/t

[nofurylike]

22. thank you so very much, Phx_Dem. nt

[elleng]

19. ...

:thumbsup:

[nofurylike]

23. thank you, elleng, very much.

:hi:

[JoePhilly]

27. +1

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

11. -1

[MannyGoldstein]

2. What did he trade for this?

I don't want to think about it.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MannyGoldstein]

7. You're thinking Rethugs were allowed to do this because

it was the right thing to do?

I hope you're right.

[jefferson_dem]

8. Nevermind.

Happy Holidays! :hi:

[Lasher]

5. This does nothing "to ease the sting of those extended tax cuts for the rich"

Speaking for myself, it does nothing whatever in that respect.

[bushisanidiot]

6. Thank you, Mr. President!!

for keeping yet another promise to us! :)

[Larkspur]

10. Back in 2009, I recall gay activists heckling President Obama and major donors

withholding their money from a fundraiser that VP Biden was to attend as guest speaker. Those acts of rebellion prompted the Obama Admin to work harder to repeal DADT instead of working harder to make excuses why DADT can't be repealed soon.

No, the President has no right to say "Do you like me now?" Progressives need to learn what the gay activists did and do it for other issues we deem important. Criticizing President Obama alone is not enough. When his campaign calls you for money, tell them "None from me until {i}such-and-such{/i} issue is resolved." When money talks, Obama listens.

[jefferson_dem]

13. So since he made the big push and actually got DADT repealed...

I assume your check to OFA is in the mail. If you wish to contribute electronically, here's a link for your convenience.

https://donate.barackobama.com/page/contribute/dnc08supportofaOrg?source=www_navbar

Cheers!

[Larkspur]

17. I'm proud to say that I never donated to OFA in 2008 nor do I intend to donate to them now or in the

future. I'm not an Obama cultist.

Obama needs to be pushed to do the right thing and if the push includes withholding money, Obama is more likely to respond to your issues. That's the lesson the gay activists teach us about Obama.

Obama has placed a Trojan horse in the recent tax cut bill passed by Congress. If it's true that he plans on announcing cuts in Social Security next year, I'll be calling the White House and slamming him for betraying Democratic principles.

[That Guy 888]

14. What does DADT cost the top 5% income elites? That's why this victory was allowed

I've heard a guest maybe on Thom Haartman's Show, advance the theory that our politicians fight over "social causes" for and against, but are united in their obedience to the individuals and corporate economic elites that make up the top 1-5% of the wealthiest "Americans" (in quotes for those corporations that have mail-drop Corporate Headquarters offshore and factories in China).

If Obama seriously challenged those individuals and corporations to benefit poor and average American citizens, then he would be bringing "Change" that I could believe in.

[niceypoo]

16. It isn't about winning

It's about returning to fiscal sanity

[Number23]

18. Oh my Lord! Eugene Robinson made a Kool Moe Dee reference!!

I haven't heard that name in a million years!!!

Rec'd for great content and 80s musical flashback.

[nofurylike]

24. sweet praise, ah!

:hi:

:hug:

[Number23]

25. It is indeed!

:pals:

[nofurylike]

26. ta

:pals:

[mmonk]

28. I'm glad it happened though I don't understand why he fought it

in court. I would expect a Democrat to do the right thing in this regard, so my applause though genuine, is tempered. I remain a critic.