A Divisive Obama Undercuts the Presidency

[Zoom-boing]

A divisive Obama undercuts the presidency

By Patrick H. Caddell and Douglas E. Schoen
Saturday, October 30, 2010

President Obama's post-partisan America has disappeared, replaced by the politics of polarization, resentment and division.

In a Univision interview on Monday, the president, who campaigned in 2008 by referring not to a "Red America" or a "Blue America" but a United States of America, urged Hispanic listeners to vote in this spirit: "We're gonna punish our enemies and we're gonna reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us."

Recently, Obama suggested that if Republicans gain control of the House and/or Senate as forecast, he expects not reconciliation and unity but "hand-to-hand combat" on Capitol Hill.

What a change two years can bring.

We can think of only one other recent president who would display such indifference to the majesty of his office: Richard Nixon.

We write in sadness as traditional liberal Democrats who believe in inclusion. Like many Americans, we had hoped that Obama would maintain the spirit in which he campaigned. Instead, since taking office, he has pitted group against group for short-term political gain that is exacerbating the divisions in our country and weakening our national identity.The culture of attack politics and demonization risks compromising our ability to address our most important issues - and the stature of our nation's highest office.
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Obama is walking a knife's edge. He has said that the 3.5 million "shovel-ready jobs" he had referred to as justification for the passage of the stimulus bill didn't exist - throwing all the Democratic incumbents who had defended the stimulus in their campaigns under the proverbial bus.

Although he said, as part of his effort to enact health-care reform, that the health-care mandates were not taxes, now his administration acknowledges in court papers that they are, in fact, taxes.

As Election Day approaches, the president and others in the Democratic leadership have focused on campaign finance by moneyed interests - an ancillary issue serving neither party nor country. They have intensified attacks on business groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and individual political operatives such as Karl Rove and Ed Gillespie - insisting that organizations are fronting for foreign campaign money and large secret donations and campaign expenditures. Even the New York Times has noted that "a closer examination shows that there is little evidence" that these organizations have engaged in activities that are "improper or even unusual."

It astounds us to hear such charges from the president given that his presidential campaign in 2008 refused to disclose the names of all of its donors, and in past election cycles many liberal groups, such as the Sierra Club and the Center for American Progress, refused to disclose their contributors.

To be clear, we favor disclosure of every dollar spent and closing the disclosure loophole that exists as a result of the Citizens United ruling. But it is disingenuous for a president - particularly one whose campaign effectively dynamited the lone beachhead of public financing in American politics - to scream about money pouring in against his political interests.

We are also disturbed that the office of the president is mounting attacks on private individuals, such as the founders of the group Americans for Prosperity. Having been forged politically during Watergate - one of us was the youngest member of Nixon's enemies list - we are chilled by the prospect of any U.S. president willing to marshal the power of his office against a private citizen.
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The president is the leader of our society. That office is supposed to be a unifying force. When a president opts for polarization, it is not only bad politics, but it also diminishes the prestige of his office and damages our social consensus.

A divisive Obama undercuts the presidency

 

[The Rabbi]

Obama is no longer the outsider. He is the insider. And he doesn't like it. He isn't free to blame others (although he does so anyway). He isn't free to spout programs that don't and can't work, like closing Gitmo. He is judged on performance, like every other office holder. And his performance sucks.

 

[American Horse]

We are also disturbed that the office of the president is mounting attacks on private individuals, such as the founders of the group Americans for Prosperity. Having been forged politically during Watergate - one of us was the youngest member of Nixon's enemies list - we are chilled by the prospect of any U.S. president willing to marshal the power of his office against a private citizen.
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The president is the leader of our society. That office is supposed to be a unifying force. When a president opts for polarization, it is not only bad politics, but it also diminishes the prestige of his office and damages our social consensus.

A divisive Obama undercuts the presidency

Clearly the president is the opposite of everything he said he would be. Right now 47 percent of Democrats hope for an in-party challenge in the 2012 primaries. It is interesting that we see virtually none of that attitude from the Ds here at USMB. That should make clear that here they are simply not representative of Ds as whole, and that is a good thing if there's to be any hope of getting through this and actually improving our situation.

 

[Ozmar]

If the Democrats want to hand victory to the Republicans in 2012, they will do an in-party challenge.

 

[American Horse]

If the Democrats want to hand victory to the Republicans in 2012, they will do an in-party challenge.

They still might, believing they can handle the Rs and it's not too late for HRC; very statesmanlike ya know

 

[007]

OWEbama is a psychopathic narcissist, and his actions now confirm that in a very solid way.

 

[Ozmar]

OWEbama is a psychopathic narcissist, and his actions now confirm that in a very solid way.

Just throwing it out there: You are a sheep-fucker without lube, and your actions now confirm that in a very solid way. See what I did there?

 

[The Rabbi]

OWEbama is a psychopathic narcissist, and his actions now confirm that in a very solid way.

Just throwing it out there: You are a sheep-fucker without lube, and your actions now confirm that in a very solid way. See what I did there?

Heck, I doubt Pale Rider even owns a sheep.

You on the other hand probably have hoof and mouth disease.

 

[saveliberty]

Shovel-ready jobs were not there.

Exiting Iraq much harder than first thought.

Healthcare reform will not save money.

Obama has completed 70% of his agenda.

Does anybody even care what the last 30% is?

Some morning in the not too distant future the President needs to wake up and point at least one finger at himself as a blame agent.

 

[saveliberty]

Pelosi: Wins election, but retires due to House losses.

Reid: Losses by 2%.

Democrats will become more centrist or risk a repeat performance in 2012.

 

[Ozmar]

OWEbama is a psychopathic narcissist, and his actions now confirm that in a very solid way.

Just throwing it out there: You are a sheep-fucker without lube, and your actions now confirm that in a very solid way. See what I did there?

Heck, I doubt Pale Rider even owns a sheep.

You on the other hand probably have hoof and mouth disease.

I must have gotten that from that passionate kiss we shared in the barn last night.

 

[Stephanie]

You have to feel sorry for the people who voted for HOPE AND CHANGE..

and only got the shaft instead..