Let's be honest: we didn't vote for the Barack Obama his campaign advertised. We didn't vote for an African-American man, nor for a US senator from Illinois, nor for a father, a husband, an activist, or a young politician.
We voted for the Barack Obama we fantasized — the progressive miracle worker. We voted for Change.
Millions of us stood up and shouted, handed out fliers, talked to our neighbors, donated hard-earned money, and drove people to the polls for Change. We screamed, hugged, kissed, and cried when we learned Change had come to America. We knew Change wouldn't come overnight, that it would take time, but we were excited that we had elected a man who was open to Change, who said he wanted to consider real people's needs while in the Oval Office. We eagerly awaited the first hints of Change, as the president-elect's transition developed.
And now, we have reason to worry that Change is not coming to America after all. For nearly two years we were encouraged to "Be the Change you want to see in America." It is now obvious that we have a ways to go toward Being that Change. And so does President-elect Barack Obama. And that, above all else, needs to Change.
It was not the Democratic base, nor the centrists, nor even the center-left, who put Obama where he is today. The progressive movement rose from near death and kept Obama alive in the primary, eventually proving stubborn enough to carry him to victory over the Establishment candidate. And then, in the general election, it was the progressives whose energy infected the nation, whose enthusiasm reminded longtime vote-the-ticket Dems that elections were about the future, and whose contributions, tiny as each individual one was, funded the revolution of Change that swept Obama into the Oval Office.
[emphasis added]
Source: The Phoenix
Hat Tip: ConservaTweet
Commentary
A couple of days ago, I got to play the part of a triumphant Hillary Supporter (even though I am not...I just did it to fan the fames of discontent on the other side of the aisle) on campus when I overheard a couple of professors complaining about the people Obama is surrounding himself with...I told them (with a smile the size of Texas) that with luck, the Clinton people could move Obama to the center so he could govern like Bill Clinton did. Boy, if I could have bottled up the anger that came from those two...it would keep me warm all winter, not just giggling in glee.
Progressives should have known this would happen. If they really wanted change, they should have supported Kucinich, Gravel or Nader.
Maybe we will get the last laugh after all as Progressives tear up the democrat party with internal strife. I don't think they will, though because the Democrat party Establishment will come down on them like a ton of bricks...especially since Team Hillary is in the White House steering Barack with their advice, and populating the bureaucratic staff positions...even Bill Clinton's personal secretary is back!
Posts
2 comments :
I'm on the left. I voted for Barack Obama. I'm not the least bit concerned by his appointments.
Bringing substantive change to our health care system, our international strategies, our energy economy, etc. will require people not to feel scared by all that change.
The familiarity of his appointments will help folks feel like the big things aren't quite as big. It's brilliant strategy.
Also - it makes histrionic conservative bloggers who cried radical during the election look stupid. That's a bonus.
We'll see if he does all that. He has less than two years to make an impression the far left.
Post a Comment