Obama warns progressive lawmakers to avoid a 'circular firing squad' ahead of the 2020 election

[ansible]

Source: AOL

Former President Barack Obama issued a warning to Democratic lawmakers to avoid a "circular firing squad" within the party that would devoid policy progress, particularly ahead of the 2020 presidential election. Speaking in Berlin during an Obama Foundation town hall, the former commander-in-chief said he worried about progressive lawmakers falling victim to "rigidity" within Washington.

"One of the things I do worry about sometimes among progressives in the United States, maybe it's true here as well, is a certain kind of rigidity where we say, 'Uh, I'm sorry, this is how it's going to be,' and then we start sometimes creating what's called a 'circular firing squad,' where you start shooting at your allies because one of them has strayed from purity on the issues," Obama said. "When that happens, typically the overall effort and movement weakens."

Pointing to examples like his passing of the Affordable Care Act and the Paris Climate Agreement, Obama also emphasized the importance of compromise in making progress within a democracy among citizens and lawmakers who don't agree with a given core philosophy or policy.

"You have to recognize that the way we structure democracy requires you to take into account people who don't agree with you," Obama said. "That by definition means you're not going to get 100 percent of what you want,"



Read more: https://www.aol.com/article/news/2019/04/06/obama-warns-progressive-lawmakers-to-avoid-a-circular-firing-squad-ahead-of-the-2020-election/23707633/

[shanny]

1. Did he also warn moderates?

'cause you can't have a "circular firing squad" unless all sides are firing.

[pangaia]

2. Tell me about it...

[More_Cowbell]

3. Yeah it seems like it's always progressives who are being told to hold their fire

But this election season, I'm not so angry at it as I would be. If we can take the Senate back, we can undo a lot of the Trump damage and hold both houses for a long time, I think. So I hope that's our main goal.

I do think that the party is left of a lot of candidates, and it's hard to keep voting for moderates, when the GOP gets to elect the craziest of the crazies.

[Cha]

5. We Got the Democratic House Victory with

mostly Moderates.. Flipping 45 red seats to BlueWave Seats.

President Obama doesn't want trump again like all of us.. he's speaking from experience.

Link to tweet

Second, a lot of Bernie Sanders supporters weren’t big fans of Clinton. So Stein campaigning on the idea that Clinton and Trump were similar made it harder for Clinton to win over those voters — even if Sanders voters didn’t vote for Stein, they may have stayed home out of disgust.

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/jill-stein-democratic-spoiler-or-scapegoat/

"The Liberal Case Against Bernie"

Senator Bernie Sanders’s presidential candidacy poses a conundrum for progressives. Not since 1936, when Franklin Roosevelt said that he “welcomed” the hatred of corporate interests, has a serious presidential candidate offered so aggressive a challenge to the conservative powers that be. At the same time, however, a dangerous lunatic is president of the United States, and Sanders, of all the major Democratic contenders, is the one who will make Donald Trump’s reelection most likely. Eight years of a Trump presidency could mean the end of meaningful democracy in the United States, along with many of the rights that women, minorities, immigrants, LGBTQ people, and others now take for granted.

Let me clarify: I’ve been a fan and supporter of Sanders ever since he was elected mayor of Burlington, Vermont, in 1981. I was honored to be asked to testify before him in Congress years ago, and I voted for him in the New York presidential primary in 2016. I did so, however, not because I imagined he might win the nomination, but because I hoped that a strong showing by Sanders would help wake up Hillary Clinton to the importance of addressing economic inequality, and also to honor his brave criticism of Israel’s occupation of the West Bank.

I was wrong. Sanders turned so negative toward Clinton that it hurt her in the general election. Even though he campaigned for her after he lost the nomination, roughly 12 percent of Sanders’s supporters switched to Trump, and enough of the rest supported Jill Stein’s kamikaze candidacy that it helped tip key states to Trump.

I see he's into reality.

https://www.thenation.com/article/bernie-sanders-electability-eric-alterman/

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=42334

[mcar]

21. +1!

President Obama knows what he is talking about.

[Sunlei]

37. Love when Obama provides counsel & praises Sanders- "good new ideas like Medicare for all"

references

'Obama has been providing counsel to Bernie Sanders....."

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/06/11/obama-2020-elections-sanders-warren-635165


"Democrats aren't just running on good old ideas like a higher minimum wage," Obama said, "they're running on good new ideas like Medicare for all, giving workers seats on corporate boards, reversing the most egregious corporate tax cuts to make sure college students graduate debt-free."

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/09/07/president-barack-obamas-speech-transcript-slamming-trump/1225554002/

[Cobalt Violet]

20. +1000

[Cha]

4. Pres Obama knows from Experience.. Everyone does who

paid attention to what happened.

The BlueWave 2018 showed what we could do with Unity.

Link to tweet

Second, a lot of Bernie Sanders supporters weren’t big fans of Clinton. So Stein campaigning on the idea that Clinton and Trump were similar made it harder for Clinton to win over those voters — even if Sanders voters didn’t vote for Stein, they may have stayed home out of disgust.

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/jill-stein-democratic-spoiler-or-scapegoat/

"The Liberal Case Against Bernie"

Senator Bernie Sanders’s presidential candidacy poses a conundrum for progressives. Not since 1936, when Franklin Roosevelt said that he “welcomed” the hatred of corporate interests, has a serious presidential candidate offered so aggressive a challenge to the conservative powers that be. At the same time, however, a dangerous lunatic is president of the United States, and Sanders, of all the major Democratic contenders, is the one who will make Donald Trump’s reelection most likely. Eight years of a Trump presidency could mean the end of meaningful democracy in the United States, along with many of the rights that women, minorities, immigrants, LGBTQ people, and others now take for granted.

Let me clarify: I’ve been a fan and supporter of Sanders ever since he was elected mayor of Burlington, Vermont, in 1981. I was honored to be asked to testify before him in Congress years ago, and I voted for him in the New York presidential primary in 2016. I did so, however, not because I imagined he might win the nomination, but because I hoped that a strong showing by Sanders would help wake up Hillary Clinton to the importance of addressing economic inequality, and also to honor his brave criticism of Israel’s occupation of the West Bank.

I was wrong. Sanders turned so negative toward Clinton that it hurt her in the general election. Even though he campaigned for her after he lost the nomination, roughly 12 percent of Sanders’s supporters switched to Trump, and enough of the rest supported Jill Stein’s kamikaze candidacy that it helped tip key states to Trump.

I see he's into reality.

https://www.thenation.com/article/bernie-sanders-electability-eric-alterman/

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=42334

[MBS]

12. +1 n/t

[Sunlei]

38. Thought it was interesting aswell, when McCain vs Obama- some Clinton supporters Voted R

*some Ds get so disgruntled*

[Honeycombe8]

14. The warning is for all Democrats.

However, by definition, a moderate doesn't have "purity" to begin with, being more moderate and therefore more willing to lean left more than he likes, or to the right more than he likes.

It is at the far ends of the spectrum where there is rigidity.

[workinclasszero]

27. Nope

It appears that the "circular firing squad" is only pointing one way.

At progressives.

[shanny]

28. as always

dirty effing hippies

[workinclasszero]

29. Same as it ever was....

[shanny]

32. love that song

thanks

[workinclasszero]

36. Me too

Talking Heads were genius!

[Honeycombe8]

34. Have you heard any moderates insist on a "pure" moderate as the candidate?

No, because there is no such thing as a "pure" moderate. Moderation, by its very definition, involves a range of positions, even some to the left and to the right of the moderate. In both major parties.

It is those on the edges who look more for purity, I think. Because they have more definite, and stronger, views on things. And they are trying to change things, since America is, by and large, a moderate nation (it's half conservative, half liberal...so combined means that America is in the middle).

There are some issues that most Americans agree on, like climate change.

The Democratic Party has a platform. All Democratic candidates support that platform. The far left (and I guess the far right) want to push that platform more to the left, IMO. So they look for candidates to do that. That requires a purity test of sorts, since most Democratic candidates will be more typical Democrats (that is, more moderate).

There's nothing wrong with being moderate or being far left. But I think the moderates have a wider basket and fewer restrictions on candidates. They are more accepting of compromise, I think. But people on the edges, having stronger views on some things, I think are less likely to accept compromise. But that may mean no legislation at all. Or no winning candidate. Which I think is what Obama is warning about.

[KG]

6. I had to chuckle a bit....

[DeminPennswoods]

7. Obama's nature is to be nice and try to get along

It's not surprising he'd say this, but I don't think the Democratic primary electorate is in the mood to
"play nice" anymore. Primaries are meant to winnow down candidates. It's rough and tumble politics not for the faint of heart. I personally do not think an Obama-type centrist is what voters are looking for in 2020.

[MrsCoffee]

8. Yeah, what would he know about rough and tumble politics anyway....

An Obama-type centrist, lol. If Obama could run again, he would be elected by record margins.

If only we could be that lucky.

[shanny]

11. his hand-picked successor

is not in the White House. eom

[TimeToGo]

13. Who was that?

[MrsCoffee]

16. Oh please.

Obama didn’t endorse anyone until it was clear she soundly trounced Sanders.

And we know why she isn’t in the White House. There were no “centrist” ideals when you look at the actual issues she ran on instead of propaganda sound bytes.

[INdemo]

18. Many of Hillary's campaign advisors and managers were inexperienced

and were appointed to her staff in many instances because of loyalty.
Hillary's problem was that because her campaign funding was overwhelming and with a weak competitor her campaign staff skipped the States that were normally in the Democratic column and did not campaign in those areas strong enough.
In 2008 for example Obama went to Northwest and Northern areas of Indiana and campaigned heavily there in the Hoosier Rustbelt. He won Indiana in 2008 with its either 9 or 11 electoral votes
I think Hillary's staff advised her on the basis of the poll numbers .

[DeminPennswoods]

41. Think that is true

She mostly campaigned in Pgh and Philly here in PA. Her dad's roots are in the Scranton area and he and at least 1 brother are Penn State grads. Yet she did little to no campaigning in either Scranton or Centre County/State College/Penn State. It seemed as if her campaign thought her massive media buys were enough to carry her to victory.

[TexasBushwhacker]

31. Putin's is

Trump would have been installed by Putin no matter what.

[McKim]

15. Amen

Goin along to get along is not enough anymore. We have to capture the youth and young adult vote to win the future. Older people are rather more comfortable as they had advantages no longer available to the young. There is urgency for change that must be addressed in our platforms. I think Hillary lost because she was too much in the middle.

[shanny]

30. +1

countering tRump with "America is already great" when so many were struggling was tone deaf, imo

[Honeycombe8]

35. I think Obama is a moderate, but not a centrist.

Two different things. He was a progressive in the area of health care and maybe one or two other areas. But a moderate in most, IMO. I thought this when he was campaigning, too. A lot of people thought he was progressive, and were angry that he turned out to be moderate. But I had thought all along he was a moderate. And that's okay. Most Americans fall into the moderate category, IMO.

[oldsoftie]

9. This was posted yesterday:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=57362

[MBS]

10. worth watching the whole video for full context

Obama starts speaking at about 3 minutes in; starts addressing the specific issue of how to make change happen at about 16 minutes (including the quote that got so much press), then continues for about 7 minutes more. Wisdom worth heeding.

Extensive Q & A follows-also interesting.

[Sunlei]

24. Thank you for posting. Obama spoke to us the Ds in the USA. I follow him very closely.

Obama will give many speeches in the coming 2 years, most of them will have Q & As after.

I wish DU would have an Obama forum because every talk/speech is very important wisdom & insight for the entire D party.

[MBS]

26. Agreed on all points!

[Honeycombe8]

17. Compromise is necessary in a Democracy.

It just is. The best politicians recognize that. If you hold out for perfection, you get nothing. You don't wait on the sidelines for 100%, foregoing getting 80% in the meantime.

Making progress is the goal. The ACA was not single payer or universal care, but it was a step in the right direction. It's easier to build on that than to keep trying for 100% for years, starting from ground zero.

Expecting purity in a candidate is a fool's game, anyway, since no such thing exists. You don't throw out someone who can win just to insist on someone who is more pure, according to one's opinion. No candidate does us any good, if he's not elected.

Having said all that, I still don't see anyone that I think is a great candidate, although I think some are good. I'm hoping the debates clarify and a couple rise to the top and capture the enthusiasm of the public. A lot of the public....not just a segment of Democrats. I think we need to appeal to left leaning independents, as well. Enthusiasm is necessary to get people to run, not walk, to the polls. It's less about ideology to me. They all support the Democratic Party Platform, which is climate change, working for the working people & middle class, health care for all, protection of Social Security and Medicare, etc.

[oldsoftie]

19. Its like demanding a $3.00 an hr raise and refusing to take $2.00. You end up with NOTHING.

Take the 2.00. Then work to get the rest

[Honeycombe8]

33. Exactly. nt

[disndat]

44. Yes, are you listening, AOC?

Obama means you too.

[oldsoftie]

45. THANK YOU!

[LogicFirst]

22. History repeats.

And look where it got us the last time.

[Sunlei]

23. He said people, meaning people like the Ds right here in DU. I like everyone running.

I like everyone running, I wish there were more!

[Rizen]

25. He's right; it's why we lost in 2016

I've seen a lot of green party members fall into this very trap.

[Yavin4]

39. In this century, the Republican party has steamrolled the Democrats

From Gore in 2000 to the lying about WMDs to the financial collapse to the Republican obstruction to Obama to now Trump, the Democratic base wants real and lasting change.

It's up to the party's leadership to deliver to the base in return for their loyalty. That's how every organization runs whether it's business, sports, or the local book club. Leadership either delivers results or it gets replaced.

Demanding people to follow regardless of the effectiveness of its leaders is mis-guided.

[rocktivity]

42. DING DING DING! Yavin4, you're our grand prize winner!

Last edited Sun Apr 7, 2019, 10:57 PM - Edit history (2)

Demanding people to follow regardless of the effectiveness of its leaders is misguided.

"There's nothing in the middle of the road but yellow stripes and dead armadillos."
-- Jim Hightower

"Given the choice between a Republican and someone who acts like a Republican, people will vote for the real Republican all the time."
-- Harry S. Truman

It's hard to have confidence in the effectiveness of Dem leadership when most of them been too scared to speak up, never mind fight back. If Dem swing voters in particular are becoming less enamored with Dem moderates, that might be the reason why.


rocktivity

[YOHABLO]

40. It's this idea that the Dem Party has move sooo farrrr left. Bullshit.

Our country is Progressive by nature. We've evolved, we are wiser about what we need as a country. We know who the leeches are and it's not the poor and middle class. We need jobs with a living wage, we need health care, and we need to take care of our deteriorating infrastructure and environment. We need to end the violence, get the guns off the streets and out of the hands of the mentally disabled. We need to pour our resources into education and unload the financial burden on students trying to make it in this world. It's all very simple, and doesn't need any moderation. I personally don't need to be warned about the infighting within the Democratic Party. I think most Party members know what is at stake. It will be the forces outside the Party that will attempt to corrupt and divide. They will use social media and the help of MSM to do so, but we can only hope that people will have enough intelligence to know what to filter out as propaganda.There's more .. but I'm hitting 'post reply'.

[disndat]

43. I think Obama in his infinite political wisdom

I think Obama is aiming this message to newly elected Democrats like A,O.C. who has a big mouth and little experience.

[FiveGoodMen]

46. Thanks for outing yourself as a top ignore-list candidate!