Team of Centrists

[DeepModem Mom]

CNN: December 1, 2008
Commentary: Why Obama's picks will make Bill Clinton smile
By Julian E. Zelizer

PRINCETON, New Jersey (CNN) -- Many observers use historian Doris Kearns Goodwin's term, "A Team of Rivals," to describe the Cabinet that President-elect Barack Obama is assembling. They use the term to characterize choices like former Obama opponent Sen. Hillary Clinton -- expected to be nominated Monday as secretary of state -- and current Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, who is being asked to stay on by Obama. But a more useful term might be a team of centrists. The most striking characteristic of the current lineup is how the personalities reflect the centrist vision of the Democratic Party promoted by Bill Clinton and his colleagues at the Democratic Leadership Council in the 1990s.

Obama has called on experts who aggressively promoted globalization and deregulation on economic matters, pushed for welfare reform, and accepted the necessity of military force and a strong defense. There are exceptions, but overall thus far, it appears Obama will be advised from the center.

Some of Obama's core supporters are surprised and upset with his choices, while others say his choices are a logical reaction to the crises facing his administration. A close look at Obama's development since 2004 suggests centrism should have been expected. There is little evidence beyond his history as a community organizer to indicate Obama is left of center. That's part of the irony of the attacks made by Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin against Obama for his association with 1960s radicals and statements about progressive taxation.

When Obama was introduced to the national scene at the 2004 Democratic Convention, his keynote speech focused on the need to overcome political polarization and long-standing divisions. In the most famous part of the speech, Obama said, "there's not a liberal America and a conservative America -- there's the United States of America."...

***

We can expect Obama to make more appointments that please the left, but the general tenor of his Cabinet will be Democratic centrist. The irony is that Bill Clinton, once dismissed as a popular president who lacked any core principles and who would not have much of a lasting effect, is now looking like a president who will cast a long shadow over the Democratic Party.

This should not be taken to mean an Obama administration will just be "Bush lite." The past eight years of rightward-leaning Republican administration have shown stark differences with the Democratic centrists of the 1990s. Obama might very well break with his past by using this centrist team to promote left-of-center policies, but odds are he will continue building his program around the legacy of his centrist predecessor, Bill Clinton, who is probably smiling just a little more as he watches this new White House take shape.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/01/zelizer.centrist/index.html

[Captain Hilts]

1. Obama, like Clinton - both of them - is a centrist. Not a progressive.

People projected a track record of progressivism on him that just isn't there.

Consulting Colin Powell and Sam Nunn and Jim Cooper during the primaries should have set off some alarm bells to people on the left.

[villager]

2. Yes and no. But conditions will demand "non centrist" responses

Conditions both "ecological" and "economic." Let's hope -- since the new President is so fond of referencing Lincoln -- the better, and more visionary, angels of Obama's nature prevail, as opposed to the more cautious ones.

I'm still hopeful about this administration, however...

[yurbud]

3. the center has been pulled far to the right. Obama's cabinet makes Nixon look like a Maoist

[wolfsbane]

4. Change Occurs Everywhere

In my opinion, Obama has made himself more than clear as to his stance on most of the important issues, and at least laid some groundwork for his strategies. I think we're looking in the wrong direction by defining his picks as leftist, centrist, or even rightist. Doing that is only breeding the same politics that have slowed our progression to the near halt its at today. One side gets the power, reverses "what the other guys did," and implements their own ideology. Then, somehow, we're worse off, but lo and behold the next guy informs us that it is the predecessors fault and on and on we go.

President-Elect Obama has been quite clear in expressing his desire to integrate members of both sides to solve the problems that we are facing. That is the only way we will install lasting change. I'd strongly suggest anyone who is having trouble understanding where he's coming from to read his book, "Audacity of Hope." I would have hoped individuals as concerned as many are by his choices would have taken time to research at least somewhat on the candidate they voted for. I am in no way surprised by his picks thus far. In fact, I could almost, and this would definitely surprise me, see John McCain getting a position in the Administration, although I believe it more likely he will provide a link of mediation through his positions in the senate and republican party.

Regardless, from what I've gathered, I am not surprised by his choices thus far. As history has taught us, nobody, especially a politician, is going to do the right thing, ever, in everyone's eyes. Look at FDR, several fiscal-conservatives and, yes, even a few "insiders" and "republicans." What did we get? The New Deal.

The point is, crazy shit happens just when its least expected. As for me, I'm withholding judgment.

Corndogs.

[DeepModem Mom]

5. Hi, wolfsbane! Thanks for a thoughtful post, and welcome to DU!

I'm wondering if there's a glitch, however -- since your post count is at zero, and I'm obviously responding to at least one post!

[wolfsbane]

6. All I want for christmas is a post count.

Yeah, I've posted a few, but, alas, I am still just spinning my wheels.

I think I will blame Bush for my lack of a working post count. :D

Corndogs.

[DeepModem Mom]

7. LOL!

:D