Commentator: Contrary to "Progressive Belief," Obama Has Not Departed From his Campaign Rhetoric

[brentspeak]

While there is some truth in this commentator's essay, he conveniently omits mention of Obama's many progressive-sounding campaign promises (such as his broken promise to renegotiate NAFTA). And, as the reader response following the essay points out, none of this exonerates Obama's corporate Beltway actions whatsoever. West's criticisms remain valid.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rich-rubino/contrary-to-progressive-b_b_5781734.html

Contrary to "Progressive Belief," Obama Has Not Departed From his Campaign Rhetoric
by Rich Rubino

There is disenchantment on the left with Barack Obama. Many progressives agree with sentiment recently expressed by Professor Cornell West, a professor at the Union Theological Seminary, who recently told Salon Magazine: "He posed as a progressive and turned out to be counterfeit. We ended up with a Wall Street Presidency, a drone Presidency."
Despite this claim by Professor West, Obama did not campaign for President in 2008 as a tribune of the left. Instead he campaigned as a candidate of bipartisanship. On some campaign issues Obama was even to the right of President George W. Bush. In fact, Obama was elected in part by winning 60% of moderate voters and 20% of conservative voters.

snip

On both the issue of Afghanistan and the potential use of predator drones in Pakistan, Obama was, in reality, to the right of the Bush administration. This was not a progressive position.

snip

On domestic issues, then Senator Obama voted for the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, which allocated $700 billion to bailout the banking system. Opposition to the bailout became a battle cry for liberals. In fact, U.S. Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) publicly exclaimed: "Is this the United States Congress or the Board of Directors of Goldman Sachs?" Goldman Sachs employees were the largest donors to Obama's 2008 campaign, contributing nearly $1,000,000 collectively. The Financial Services industry donated a collective $43 million to the Obama campaign. Somehow, progressives seemed not to have noticed this not so subtle pattern of behavior on the part of Obama. (Not true that "progressives seemed not to have noticed" this at the time, BTW ).

Moreover, in 2006, then Senator Obama voted for reauthorization of The USA Patriot Act, whose repeal became a cause célèbre with the progressive intelligencia. In 2008, Obama came off the campaign trail to vote for the reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which expanded the federal government's warrantless wiretapping program. Accordingly, it should come as no surprise that President Obama signed a five-year extension of the statute.

[Enrique]

1. i've always believed this to be true

when people insist Obama is a progressive, I always think that's a claim Obama never made. Especially during the 2008 primary when Obama supporters were greatly exaggerating the differences between him and Clinton.

There are a few narrow instances where he misrepresented himself to appeal to progressives, the ones that come to mind are free trade, oil drilling, and surveillance. Also on the Bush tax cuts, and on the Employee Free Choice Act. There might be more but they are isolated.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. His promise to escalate the war in Afghanistan in 2008 was the deal breaker for me.

[sendero]

3. Complete..

.... bullshit. Starting with the public option, promises of transparency, and anyone who wants to google his campaign speeches and compare them to his actions will easily see.

One thing Obama clearly has in common with Bush, the apparent belief what he SAYS is all that matters as if no one is paying attention to what he DOES. And judging from posts around here and idiotic articles like this one they are right.

[el_bryanto]

4. Yep this is pretty accurate. nt