Obama people: You have to PROVE your candidate deserves progressive support

No more vagueness. No more "let's all be buddiewuddies" with the Right. Get your guy to be strong, be passionate, to speak for the Excluded Majority.

As Jim Hightower once told us, there's nothing in the middle of the road but "white stripes and dead armadillos".

Now's the time for real conviction and real stands, Obama folks!

Reaching out to progressives will put you over the top! Continuing to avoid us means defeat.

I don't recall any of those guys stepping up like you demand. Why hold Obama to a higher standard?

claims that he is a progressive.

trash our candidates...it is sooooooo right wing...

Obama is liberal enough.

I keep asking self-identified progressives what it means and I never get an answer.

I think it is just a way to separate from a major political party. In fact, I see them as a third party.

But he's way more liberal than Hi:thumbsdown: :thumbsdown: ary.

since edwards dropped out. Must have shown them something...

Dear Cynthia,

John Edwards just announced that he is suspending his populist presidential campaign that had put corporate greed and economic injustice under the spotlight. We wish him and Elizabeth well. And we thank all of you who've worked so hard for John Edwards or for progressive stalwart Dennis Kucinich (now focusing on reelection to Congress.)

No matter who we've supported so far for president, many PDAers have seen firsthand the enthusiastic, youthful, multiracial movement that has embraced Barack Obama. The Senator hasn't been totally progressive on the issues, but our engagement with the inspiring Obama movement--which includes tens of thousands of open-minded newcomers to activism--leaves us hopeful. If the Obama movement succeeds, it could play an important role in the remaking of the Democratic Party that PDA is helping to bring about. (See PDA Advisory Board member Tom Hayden's recent endorsement of the Obama movement.)

As important as the presidential race is the fight for a progressive Congress. PDA chapters have been endorsing solid progressives for U.S. House seats. Eight have received national endorsements already.

Two of our endorsed candidates are battling for seats in Maryland and Illinois. Their campaigns are the most pressing--and need our help now to put them over the top.

Donna Edwards in Maryland's fourth Congressional district. (Contact diane@pdamerica.org to volunteer to phone bank for Donna Edwards.)
John Laesch in Illinois' fourteenth congressional district.
PDA's other endorsed candidates are: Clint Curtis, Corbett Kroehler and Samm Simpson (FL); Randi Scheuer (IL); Dr. Bill Durston (CA); and Mahdi Ibn-Ziyad (NJ).

Let's work to put more progressives in Congress.

And wherever activists gather, especially in the Obama movement--and wherever Congressional or presidential candidates gather--let's continue to promote and distribute the full progressive agenda.

In solidarity,

Tim Carpenter
National Director

Obama is now the alternative to HRC. His chances to win the nomination hinge on him winning the support of those whose actual progressive choices were forced out of the race by the media and the big donors before most of their supporters had a chance to vote.

The guy has nothing to lose by reaching out to us. And everything to gain. We're the ones who can make sure he beats HRC. But he can't beat her on his current program of vagueness.

But you already knew that before you posted such a disingenuous questions.

No one who lets a Republican like Mark Penn run her campaign could be progressive. No one who calls for a Scoop Jackson foreign policy could be either. We need a clear break from the status quo, and your candidate just wants to manage it better.

Wow.

It's really impressive, and focuses on protecting the least of us - right down to juvenille delinquents.

Obama could win as a REAL Democrat. He needs to believe that to win.

The most important thing to consider is how they'd govern - not how they're campaigning. If we're going to move forward with a progressive agenda, we need to build a stronger coalition first. That's what I see in Obama, and it's clear he's drawing his support from the bottom-up more than the top-down.

:shrug:

Are they the Kucinich, Gore, Edwards crowd?

It is your responsiblity to make the decision, based on your own exploration of the candidates and making your own judgements.

I won't vote for your candidate and you can cry into your pillow when he loses. But, please, by all means keeping trying to convince the Republican soccer moms... You all get so excited when Republicans vote for your candidate and when progressives leave the party. Says a lot about Obama supporters.

n/t.

I'm tired of those who berate us, bully us and call us names because we won't fall in line behind them and worship the Almighty Obama. He may be the Second Coming to some, but to the rest of us he has countless critical flaws that cannot be overlooked.

I don't give a hoot who you vote for. I've never pushed my candidate. And frankly I'm sick of sanctimonious people like you.

They are here for US. We aren't here for THEM. And it's time to stop letting them act like they're doing us a favor in deigning to lower themselves to stand as Dems.

"squash like grape"

crimes from the bush administration would do the trick, I think.

:hi:

peace~

You guys have got to accept that this ISN'T a right-wing country anymore, and that we don't have to present ourselves as simply slightly less right wing to win. Just have some confidence in the people and in the best of our values. Is that too much to ask?

Oh, and it's time to admit there's no good reason to hedge on getting out of Iraq anymore. "Phased withdrawal" is this year's "Peace With Honor".

Is it asking too much to expect him to push hard and early to pass the Employee's Free Choice Act(an act only people who are planning to vote straight-ticket Republican oppose)?

Is it asking too much to clearly break with the "free trade" myth and start a new trade policy that respects workers and the environment as much as profit?

Thanks Bornaginhooligan.

At this stage of the campaign there are only two choices, vote for one of the remaining two Democratic nominess, or just drop out altogether.

Enough is known about Obama and Clinton to come to a reasonable conclusion as to their suitability for the Presidency.

Play or fold.

and has a progressive voting record both in IL and in DC. Is he perfect? No. But if I looked for a perfect candidate, I wouldn't ever be able to find a candidate for national office.

There is NOTING middle of the road about him if you look at the totality of his votes. I mean, Sen Clinton herself has alleged he is too liberal.

We have talked of his record; we have talked of issues.
We have explained his qualifications. It is never enough.

No matter how we have described his candidacy, we are accused of coming up empty.

We are challenged and belittled so much that our ignore lists keep growing.
It has become hard to trust questions such as yours. As soon as we start to answer,
our answers are just minimized.

If you are serious about wanting more detail, please go to his site and read his positions.
http://www.barackobama.com/index.php

Take the time to read his two excellent books.

"Audacity of Hope"

http://www.amazon.com/Audacity-Hope-Thoughts-Reclaiming-American/dp/0307237702/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201735098&sr=8-1

And "Dreams of My Father.
http://www.amazon.com/Dreams-My-Father-Story-Inheritance/dp/0307383415/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201735138&sr=8-2

These actions will give you far more information to make your decision than we can here.

You are a thoughtful, classy individual and I would appreciate your thoughts on this. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4304367&mesg_id=4304367

to you or anyone fucking else. I could give a shit if you vote for Obama. Do your own fucking homework and stop making petulant demands.

but this is going to make me feel better when I vote for him on Tuesday.

How disgusting. :crazy:

Go to his web site and learn something instead of believing every stupid-ass piece of propaganda some blogger contrives.

I meant I'm supporting him mostly out of disgust at Mrs. Clinton.

but still, it's ridiculous how many people have difficulty being enthusiastic for a guy who was a community organizer, civil rights lawyer, helped reform IL death penalty law, reformed campaign laws, expanded health care to IL children, passed numerous benefits for the poor, and got it right on the Iraq War. The bastard. Who wants all that good stuff.

But I still feel more like I'm voting against her than for him. I am really, really pissed at Hillary right now.

But I guess I just always look for the good to vote for regardless of the opposition. :hi:

Because of who I am, whom I love, and the things I have experienced in my life, my heart swells with pride to see a black American so close to winning the Democratic nomination. That is a "race card" I am not ashamed to play.

And if he keeps us in THOSE conflicts, he won't be able to do anything progressive at home. That's half the reason the DLC wants the party to have a hawkish foreign policy: hawkishness forces Democrats to be Republicans on economic issues, the issues that really matter.

need to follow the most electable Dem, if not you're looking at 4 or 8 more years of McCain.

Why is it down to two candidates that, while they would be an improvement, are BOTH to the right of public opinion on more issues than not? Why couldn't we at least have a nominee who is clearly committed to breaking with the foreign policy status quo?

Why should five states(two of which have no delegates since they sabotaged the DNC plan for the primaries)have had this much power?
Give me one good reason why the rest of us should have been left out in the cold.

We didn't need to lower ourselves to this to win, people.

the voter not the party. (in essence the same reason that FL should not have been dismissed) But instead the primary emphasizes the results of a few states that do not represent the country at large. Next, the media need to be taken out of the equation. In France for example, the law requires that each candidate gets equal coverage! Don't know if we will ever get REAL election reform, but certainly the later needs to be part of it. Given the way American society is structured I'm afraid that it will never happen, and that is my (European) point of view.

The Iran Counter-Proliferation Act was a total package on how to deal with Iran that had support of most Democrats. It was not the same as Bush's bullying Iran package at all.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-970

Obama does not support a permanent occupation in Iraq and has also passed legislation to start getting to the bottom of the Iraq contractors.

http://obama.senate.gov/press/070928-obama_iraq_secu/

His clear position on Iraq is based on de-escalation, which is the approach everyone from Feingold to Kerry to Murtha support.

http://obama.senate.gov/press/070130-obama_offers_pl_1/index.php

think carefully.

Don't get me wrong: I am shamelessly advocating Obama, and I will ask for your vote.
Still, I believe that this should be a point of principle for Edwards voters,
because these are the hallmark issues of the Edwards campaign.

And Hillary Clinton does not support these issues with the same conviction that Obama does.

Hillary Clinton will keep us in Iraq longer than Obama, and she voted to begin the war.

Not so with Obama:

“When I am this party's nominee, my opponent will not be able to say that I voted for the war in Iraq; or that I gave George Bush the benefit of the doubt on Iran; or that I supported Bush-Cheney policies of not talking to leaders that we don't like. And he will not be able to say that I wavered on something as fundamental as whether or not it is ok for America to torture — because it is never ok… I will end the war in Iraq… I will close Guantanamo. I will restore habeas corpus. I will finish the fight against Al Qaeda. And I will lead the world to combat the common threats of the 21st century: nuclear weapons and terrorism; climate change and poverty; genocide and disease. And I will send once more a message to those yearning faces beyond our shores that says, "You matter to us. Your future is our future. And our moment is now.”

— Barack Obama, Des Moines, Iowa, November 10, 2007

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/foreignpolicy /


Hillary Clinton takes corporate lobbyist money. Not so with Obama, and you can check
www.opensecrets.org for details.

“I am in this race to tell the corporate lobbyists that their days of setting the agenda in Washington are over. I have done more than any other candidate in this race to take on lobbyists — and won. They have not funded my campaign, they will not get a job in my White House, and they will not drown out the voices of the American people when I am president.”

— Barack Obama, Speech in Des Moines, IA, November 10, 2007

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/ethics /


Hillary Clinton has fought poverty in some meaningful ways, but it is not her life's work.
Obama has been fighting poverty as a community activist since 1983: it is his life's work.

“I'm in this race for the same reason that I fought for jobs for the jobless and hope for the hopeless on the streets of Chicago; for the same reason I fought for justice and equality as a civil rights lawyer; for the same reason that I fought for Illinois families for over a decade… That's why I'm running, Democrats — to keep the American Dream alive for those who still hunger for opportunity, who still thirst for equality.”

— Barack Obama, Speech in Des Moines, IA, November 10, 2007

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/poverty /


Aren't these issues what John Edwards' campaign were all about?

He appeals to the ordinary citizen that share his goals for the nation, be they Republican, Democrats or Independent. And armed with this majority he will be able to gain the (forced) support from Republicans in Washington. That has been his whole philosophy. Change coming from the bottom.

This is how he will fight: ....He explains it quite clearly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XLyQNJsCv0

You use transparency at every level of government and use public pressure to shame opponents to vote for what their constituencies want. (see reference to independents and republicans OUTSIDE of Washington)

I do appreciate his open government proposals, which are visionary, and will take that into consideration as I decide who to back now that Edwards is out. Shaming folks would be a good way to effect change.

Power of grassroots!
I was attracted to Obama's campaign style - outreach level - before I fell in love with Obama. There were almost no signs up for Obama anywhere - lots of Hillary and Edwards and Republican signs up - but we had the confidence that we had done the ground work and put the resources into the door to door work rather than posting Obama signs in random places. And we helped them turn out in record numbers! AWESOME experience!

vote for whoever the fuck you want to. Why does anyone have to impress you? Jeez...what do you use that space between your ears for?