Wa Monthly: THE KRUGMAN-OBAMA CAGE MATCH CONTINUES

[laststeamtrain]

THE KRUGMAN-OBAMA CAGE MATCH CONTINUES....When Barack Obama's campaign decided to post a bit of oppo trash talking against Paul Krugman on its website, they didn't know what they were getting themselves into. Krugman hasn't let up since, and Matt Yglesias comes to the rescue here. But after performing rhetorical CPR, he adds this:

"That said, I'll freely grant that I'm getting a bit tired of defending Obama and his campaign. Stuff like this from Krugman clearly hurts them, but the easiest way to deflect claims that Obama is the more conservative choice would be for Obama to say so himself in a clear and direct way. Given that Clinton is very much running as her husband's wife, it should hardly be impossible to make the case that establishing continuity with the moderate Clinton administration is the moderate choice."

Believe me, I sympathize. But look: Obama has clearly chosen his course, and there's really no way for him to give a wink and a nudge to folks like Matt and me to let us know that he's just kidding about all this kumbaya stuff. After all, it's part of his whole appeal to both independents and moderate conservatives, and his candidacy depends on that. So if you're a liberal in Obama's camp, you just have to cross your fingers and trust him.

Because in the end, this is what it all comes down to. Is Obama kidding or not? Does he really believe that he can enact a progressive agenda by reaching out to Republicans and bridging the red-blue divide, or is he just saying this as a way of shaping public opinion and winning an election? And if he does believe it, is he right?

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http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2008_01/012936.php

[rodeodance]

1. "if you're a liberal in Obama's camp, you just have to cross your fingers and trust him."

[Yael]

2. He has no need to waste any time/money trying to sell the base

He knows they will vote (D) regardless of who wins.

After all, it's part of his whole appeal to both independents and moderate conservatives, and his candidacy depends on that. So if you're a liberal in Obama's camp, you just have to cross your fingers and trust him.

Yep -- have said this a few times the last few days. His focus is on what he is calling "Obamacans, Obama Republicans" -- Independent and Moderate Republicans.

If tonight isn't the last time we hear a progressive platform out of him, guarantee we won't hear a hint of it after 2/5.

[DJ13]

3. Its obvious Krugman is a Hillary supporter

I personally think these supposedly "non-partisan" hacks should just tell the truth about who their supporting so their readers arent mislead into believing they really dont have an axe to grind.

Something along the lines of how the financial opinion writers now report their investment holdings at the bottom of their articles should be required.

[Larkspur]

4. I doubt he is

Krugman is a NY Times columnist. It's his job to critique political leaders.