Progressives: Has Obama Sold Out?

20 July 2008 |permalink | email article

Despite feelings of anguish and betrayal emanating from Arianna Huffington and other left-wing bloggers and
editorial writers that Obama has tacked too far center to win, the answer is an emphatic NO.

Markos Moulitsas, the founder of the Daily Kos political blog, said he disagrees with reporters who have called him for stories about Obama shifting his positions.

Speaking at the annual convention of online activists in Austin, Moulitsas – Blogfather of the Netroots’ movement – said “what we really don’t like are Democrats who are afraid to be Democrats.”

“Here’s what I said: There may have been some grumbling…but they were really muted – there wasn’t mass discontent.” The message: activists have shown their power and must continue to push Democratic politicians to remain activists. 

Questions

*** How many weeks before Colin Powell announces his support for Obama?

*** Libertarian Party presidential candidate Bob Barr qualifies for the Ohio ballot. Will the Ralph Nader of the right hurt McCain, trailing Obama in the RealClearPolitics spread by 4.2% on Friday? 

Quotes

*** “I remember meeting the mother of a child who was abducted by the North Koreans right here in the Oval Office.” – Really? President Bush, June 26, 2008, from

*** “I think he’s absolutely right. I mean it’s a very brave thing to do. And it will have a huge influence that he has said it.” – David Cameron, the British Tory leader who, like Prime Minister Gordon Brown, will meet with Obama this week in praise of his warning that too many black fathers neglect their children. 

*** “Republicans loyalists and McCain associates believe he still has a “real chance” of beating Obama but are “worried sick” about the world tour. – Robert Novak in tomorrow’s column, adding Obama may get the bounce that eluded him on the way to the nomination, but allowing McCain to ask “who can best lead America in a dangerous world.” Politico says GOP pollster Frank Luntz believes the election may be over after the first debate. 

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