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The Latest Media Blind Spot: Viewing All Criticism Of Obama Through A Right-Left Prism
By Arianna Huffington, Tribune Media Services
In the last two weeks, there has been a flurry of stories that has
tried to portray criticism of Barack Obama's recent stands as the sole
province of disenchanted members of "the left" -- also referred to as
"the far left" (And many of these stories have cited my urging Obama not to water down his brand and tack to the middle in an attempt to attract undecided swing voters as examples of the "fire from the left."
Actually, I am not offended that Obama isn't marching in lockstep with progressives. I'd be worried if he was marching in lockstep with anyone. Other than himself. My problem isn't that Barack Obama doesn't always agree with me. My problem is that Barack Obama has started to disagree with himself -- falling prey instead to the Conventional Wisdom sirens.
Obama doesn't need to go down a checklist of progressive issues and mark "yes" next to each one. His job is not to please the disaffected voter profiled in the
He needs to remain true to himself -- and, above all, to make it clear that he will not lead by sticking his finger in the air to see which way the political wind is blowing.
In the 1950s, Jacques Soustelle, a close aide to President Charles DeGaulle, returned from Algiers, where he had taken an informal poll, and told the president that all his friends were bitterly opposed to his policies. "Changez vos amis" (change your friends), DeGaulle replied.
In 1977, when President Anwar Sadat went to Israel, he did so despite fierce opposition even from within his own cabinet.
A real leader lights the way for others. That's why I respect the leadership of Chuck Hagel -- even though we disagree on more issues than we agree on. But on the seminal issue of our time -- Iraq -- he followed his heart and his gut and his principles and stood up to his own party. That's leadership.
And it's why I respected the leadership of John McCain in 2000 -- again, even though I disagreed with him on many issues -- and why I am so troubled by his transformation from maverick to panderer.
This isn't to suggest that leaders should never change their minds. Of course they should -- when they are confronted with new evidence and new facts on the ground. Just imagine how different the world would be if George Bush had done that.
So nothing is more important, especially for real leaders, than doing whatever it takes to stay true to themselves. And that starts with something ostensibly very simple but very important: getting enough sleep. Even if that means not scheduling a third event that day or not flying across the country for another dinner with big donors.
How to raise money and how to get your message out has changed radically -- but campaign operations have not.
Look at all the money raised online, and at all the voters who have been reached via YouTube. Both these things can happen while the candidate is sleeping -- and making sure that when he is awake, rested and recharged, his message is one that inspires donors to give and voters to turn out, even if they haven't done either of these things before.
The conventional-wisdom pundits, the conventional-wisdom campaign advisers and our own worst instincts -- whether it be too much caution or not enough -- come to the fore and hold sway when we are sleep-deprived.
"Every important mistake I've made in my life," Bill Clinton once said, "I've made because I was too tired."
So tell the donors: The press-the-flesh dinners can wait until Obama is in the White House. His time is currently much better spent walking on the beach or doing whatever else it takes to stay connected to his own truth, his inner strength and his core principles.
As for the media: Not everyone is approaching everything in this campaign from a right vs. left perspective. Stop trying to force everything into that tired old way of looking at American politics.
========
Arianna Huffington's e-mail address is arianna@huffingtonpost.com.
(c) 2008 Arianna Huffington. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc.
This news arrived on: 07/17/2008
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Posted Comments:
07-17-2008 14:35
ahclem wrote:
1st to ed, you've ignored this "confronted with new evidence and new facts on the ground".
To Jodee, Bush didn't "sell out". He's been an opportunist his whole life.
Ken, you're right, the president doesn't create the laws, but this 1 seems to feel he is above them. He lies at will (recall the swift punishment promised to anyone involved in the Valerie Plame leak for just 1 example?), then hides behind "executive privilege". His staff will only testify without being under oath and (in Rove's case) with no record of his words kept. This is the administration that was going to bring honor and dignity back to the White House. What a joke!!! "A uniter, not a divider". What about the political vetting of the federal judiciary to qualify for appointment. Hell, he even canned Republican judges who weren't sufficiently partisan. After 911, we had the goodwill of most of the world, developed and non developed. His arrogance and lack of common decency or common sense has eroded that mightily.
Oh, and the Dems "controlling" Congress going on 4 years? 50/49 (with indie Joe voting Republican most of the time) is NOT control. Control is a 60+ majority such as the Republicans had from 94-04.
"all fluster about anything that will encite the citizenry without any substance in fact...". I guess you know a lot about that. Oh, and since you choose to insult Jodee's schooling, if you aren't going to use spellcheck, you should learn to spell yourself. It's office, not ofice, incite, not encite, and i think you meant fight, not tight.
To Jodee, Bush didn't "sell out". He's been an opportunist his whole life.
Ken, you're right, the president doesn't create the laws, but this 1 seems to feel he is above them. He lies at will (recall the swift punishment promised to anyone involved in the Valerie Plame leak for just 1 example?), then hides behind "executive privilege". His staff will only testify without being under oath and (in Rove's case) with no record of his words kept. This is the administration that was going to bring honor and dignity back to the White House. What a joke!!! "A uniter, not a divider". What about the political vetting of the federal judiciary to qualify for appointment. Hell, he even canned Republican judges who weren't sufficiently partisan. After 911, we had the goodwill of most of the world, developed and non developed. His arrogance and lack of common decency or common sense has eroded that mightily.
Oh, and the Dems "controlling" Congress going on 4 years? 50/49 (with indie Joe voting Republican most of the time) is NOT control. Control is a 60+ majority such as the Republicans had from 94-04.
"all fluster about anything that will encite the citizenry without any substance in fact...". I guess you know a lot about that. Oh, and since you choose to insult Jodee's schooling, if you aren't going to use spellcheck, you should learn to spell yourself. It's office, not ofice, incite, not encite, and i think you meant fight, not tight.
07-17-2008 13:19
Ken from Oregon wrote:
nonsense...
Again, Jodee proves that the American educational system is and has been broken for some time...
Jodee, here is a simple fact for you...
The President of the United States IS NOT A dictator. The president does not create the laws that run this country, he only signs them into effect as the current operating manager... CONGRESS is the body entrusted with creating the laws that run this country...
In like manner, CONGRESS presents a budget to the ofice of the President for approval, the President signs it into effect...
This is not Cuba, where Castro merely has to say "do-it" and it becomes defacto law...
Oh, and by the way, the Democrats have had controlling interest in congress for going on 4 years now... Hmmm, exactly what have they done to tight these purported wrongs of George W. Bush??
Seems more like the Democrats are nothing more than hot air, all fluster about anything that will encite the citizenry without any substance in fact...
And You Jodee have proven my case(s) beyond all readonable doubt. thank you...
Jodee, here is a simple fact for you...
The President of the United States IS NOT A dictator. The president does not create the laws that run this country, he only signs them into effect as the current operating manager... CONGRESS is the body entrusted with creating the laws that run this country...
In like manner, CONGRESS presents a budget to the ofice of the President for approval, the President signs it into effect...
This is not Cuba, where Castro merely has to say "do-it" and it becomes defacto law...
Oh, and by the way, the Democrats have had controlling interest in congress for going on 4 years now... Hmmm, exactly what have they done to tight these purported wrongs of George W. Bush??
Seems more like the Democrats are nothing more than hot air, all fluster about anything that will encite the citizenry without any substance in fact...
And You Jodee have proven my case(s) beyond all readonable doubt. thank you...
07-17-2008 08:07
ed wrote:
Again she fits a situation to her purpose. She respects people who follow their heart -- like Hagel. Why can't she respect someone like George Bush who followed what he thought was right?
I read this woman only to see what nonsense she can come up with. I am continuously amazed.
I read this woman only to see what nonsense she can come up with. I am continuously amazed.
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