The Obama Oracles
September 26, 2011 4:35 PM Subscribe
In May of 2008, political science professor Adolph Reed began an essay titled "Obama No" with the words, "He's a vacuous opportunist. I’ve never been an Obama supporter."
Reed's critique was that Obama was a false progressive, a triangulator, and a fundamentally establishment-leaning conservative who paid lip service to "community-based" solutions. As early as 1996, Reed had called state senator Obama a "a smooth Harvard lawyer with impeccable do-good credentials and vacuous-to-repressive neoliberal politics." Even more prophetic, perhaps, was Matt Taibbi's piece in 2007, in which he wrote that Obama worked to appear as "a sort of ideological Universalist, one who spends a great deal of rhetorical energy showing that he recognizes the validity of all points of view, and conversely emphasizes that when he does take hard positions on issues, he often does so reluctantly," while espousing "basically a rehash of the Blair-Clinton "third way" deal, an amalgam of Kennedy, Reagan, Clinton and the New Deal... the middle of the middle of the middle." Maybe this should be instructive for progressives who are disillusioned with Obama; maybe he was, all along, as Taibbi said in 2007, "a creature perfectly in tune with the awesome corporate strivings of Hollywood, Madison avenue and the Beltway."
Reed's critique was that Obama was a false progressive, a triangulator, and a fundamentally establishment-leaning conservative who paid lip service to "community-based" solutions. As early as 1996, Reed had called state senator Obama a "a smooth Harvard lawyer with impeccable do-good credentials and vacuous-to-repressive neoliberal politics." Even more prophetic, perhaps, was Matt Taibbi's piece in 2007, in which he wrote that Obama worked to appear as "a sort of ideological Universalist, one who spends a great deal of rhetorical energy showing that he recognizes the validity of all points of view, and conversely emphasizes that when he does take hard positions on issues, he often does so reluctantly," while espousing "basically a rehash of the Blair-Clinton "third way" deal, an amalgam of Kennedy, Reagan, Clinton and the New Deal... the middle of the middle of the middle." Maybe this should be instructive for progressives who are disillusioned with Obama; maybe he was, all along, as Taibbi said in 2007, "a creature perfectly in tune with the awesome corporate strivings of Hollywood, Madison avenue and the Beltway."
This post was deleted for the following reason: I feel like without some more clear "this is why this is an interesting post" reason for this to be here, a post about political opinioneering from last election cycle is setting up an argument kind of needlessly. -- cortex
Well, they were right.
posted by facetious at 4:42 PM on September 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by facetious at 4:42 PM on September 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
Fake hope till you make hope.
Also, I'm convinced choosing the middle of the road in politics increasingly leaves you no safe quarter.
posted by 2bucksplus at 4:44 PM on September 26, 2011
Also, I'm convinced choosing the middle of the road in politics increasingly leaves you no safe quarter.
posted by 2bucksplus at 4:44 PM on September 26, 2011
But if Hillary hadn't been mauled by her own party--who knows what might have happened?
posted by Ideefixe at 4:45 PM on September 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Ideefixe at 4:45 PM on September 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
Of course, because anyone who criticizes Obama in any way wishes Sarah Palin were one arrhythmic heartbeat from the Presidency.
posted by Bromius at 4:45 PM on September 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Bromius at 4:45 PM on September 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
Yeah, what the fuck has Obama done so far? (prev)
posted by filthy light thief at 4:45 PM on September 26, 2011 [12 favorites]
posted by filthy light thief at 4:45 PM on September 26, 2011 [12 favorites]
It's an old article, and it sounds in the end as if he was predicting Obama would lose to the Republican candidate.
So I don't see what the point in posting this is.
posted by benito.strauss at 4:49 PM on September 26, 2011
So I don't see what the point in posting this is.
posted by benito.strauss at 4:49 PM on September 26, 2011
You always hurt the one you love, the one you shouldn't hurt at all.
posted by twoleftfeet at 4:49 PM on September 26, 2011
posted by twoleftfeet at 4:49 PM on September 26, 2011
Of course, because anyone who criticizes Obama in any way wishes Sarah Palin were one arrhythmic heartbeat from the Presidency.
Well, yes --- someone who says that Obama was a bad choice does have the responsibility of spelling out who would have been a better choice.
posted by goethean at 4:50 PM on September 26, 2011 [3 favorites]
Well, yes --- someone who says that Obama was a bad choice does have the responsibility of spelling out who would have been a better choice.
posted by goethean at 4:50 PM on September 26, 2011 [3 favorites]
This seems like a sort of useful lens to look at the Obama presidency. Except that, really, the dude didn't ever pretend to be particularly progressive. He name-checked Reagan as an influence, and was pro-war (in Afghanistan at least). He always spoke middle-of-the-road. Always. He was maybe more progressive than the Clintons, but that's not saying very much.
However, as evidenced by filthy light thief's link, I'm going to say this: he's probably the most competent and effective president in my lifetime. And, as far as I can tell, the least corrupt. And at this point we those of us with sense should be ready to fight hard to keep Republicans out of the Oval Office.
posted by Erroneous at 4:51 PM on September 26, 2011 [7 favorites]
However, as evidenced by filthy light thief's link, I'm going to say this: he's probably the most competent and effective president in my lifetime. And, as far as I can tell, the least corrupt. And at this point we those of us with sense should be ready to fight hard to keep Republicans out of the Oval Office.
posted by Erroneous at 4:51 PM on September 26, 2011 [7 favorites]
Reed's closing paragraph from the 2008 article:
Obama’s campaign has been very clever in carving out a strategy to amass Democratic delegate votes, but its momentum is in some ways a Potemkin construction—built largely on victories in states that no Democrat will win in November—that will fall apart under Republican pressure.
posted by R. Mutt at 4:53 PM on September 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
Obama’s campaign has been very clever in carving out a strategy to amass Democratic delegate votes, but its momentum is in some ways a Potemkin construction—built largely on victories in states that no Democrat will win in November—that will fall apart under Republican pressure.
posted by R. Mutt at 4:53 PM on September 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
Yeah, Reed was far off the mark in his predictions about how the 2008 election would play out-- but I think the first part of his 2008 article captures something interesting and true about Obama's allegiances.
posted by ms.codex at 4:55 PM on September 26, 2011
posted by ms.codex at 4:55 PM on September 26, 2011
Obama is the lesser evil, which is as good as you're going to get in a two-party system. Personally, he may well be a lot more progressive than he has room to be officially (in the way that, for example, Carter and Clinton became far more progressive once they were released from the burdens of office), though he is the figurehead tied to the prow of a huge ship of state, one which would take huge amounts of force over long periods of time to turn around.
Also, most of his progressive capital is tied up in his daringly untraditional skin colour for a president, and he has to be somewhat more conservative than otherwise just to persuade large parts of America that he's not an OMG MARXIST MUSLIM MARTIAN who's out to force everyone to gay marry and have abortions whether they need them or not.
posted by acb at 4:58 PM on September 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
Also, most of his progressive capital is tied up in his daringly untraditional skin colour for a president, and he has to be somewhat more conservative than otherwise just to persuade large parts of America that he's not an OMG MARXIST MUSLIM MARTIAN who's out to force everyone to gay marry and have abortions whether they need them or not.
posted by acb at 4:58 PM on September 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
If you vote against Obama because he can't get stuff done, it's kinda like saying, "this guy can't cure cancer. I'm gonna vote for cancer."
posted by growabrain at 4:59 PM on September 26, 2011 [13 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 4:59 PM on September 26, 2011 [13 favorites]
Even a stopped clock is right twice a day, and Palin's moment was when she asked “How’s that hopey-changey thing working out for ya?”
posted by history is a weapon at 4:59 PM on September 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by history is a weapon at 4:59 PM on September 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
Maybe this guy should sit up and take notice that a large number of Americans WANT a president who will govern by reaching lots of cross-aisle consensus in Congress.
posted by ocschwar at 5:03 PM on September 26, 2011
posted by ocschwar at 5:03 PM on September 26, 2011
"Issued executive order to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay" LOL
Obama is not as good as I wanted. Still better than the alternative. But.. ugh.
posted by andreaazure at 5:05 PM on September 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
Obama is not as good as I wanted. Still better than the alternative. But.. ugh.
posted by andreaazure at 5:05 PM on September 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
It's like the uncanny valley. The closer something seems to get to an ideal but falls short, the more we hate it.
And by the way, let me be the first to say that Metafilter 2012 will be even more interesting, and more painful, than Metafilter 2008.
posted by twoleftfeet at 5:06 PM on September 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
And by the way, let me be the first to say that Metafilter 2012 will be even more interesting, and more painful, than Metafilter 2008.
posted by twoleftfeet at 5:06 PM on September 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
But if Hillary hadn't been mauled by her own party--who knows what might have happened?
I don't care what anyone else said or did. When she was my senator she voted in favor of the invasion of Iraq. She can never have my vote.
posted by lumpenprole at 5:07 PM on September 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
I don't care what anyone else said or did. When she was my senator she voted in favor of the invasion of Iraq. She can never have my vote.
posted by lumpenprole at 5:07 PM on September 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
Obama's soft treatment of Big Money and comfort with the National Security State do not make me happy, but:
posted by benito.strauss at 5:07 PM on September 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
-
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell.
We are not at war with Iran.
posted by benito.strauss at 5:07 PM on September 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
an amalgam of Kennedy, Reagan, Clinton and the New Deal...
We are hoping for a better economic strategy than Reagan, Bush, Bush?
posted by ovvl at 5:07 PM on September 26, 2011
We are hoping for a better economic strategy than Reagan, Bush, Bush?
posted by ovvl at 5:07 PM on September 26, 2011
The one bright spot I see is that, IMO, circumstances have pushed Obama at least a bit to the left these last few months.
In attempt to shore up his base and attract some more of the independent middle vote, he's finding out that things like calling out the Right actually plays well. Maybe, just maybe, if the newer, more defiant Obama wins a reelection and gets another 4 years with no reelection pressure, we may see a little progress.
If we can give him a Democratic congress, too - well, who knows? Lord knows I'm too liberal to probably ever be truly happy with the man, but I'm cautiously optimistic.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 5:09 PM on September 26, 2011
In attempt to shore up his base and attract some more of the independent middle vote, he's finding out that things like calling out the Right actually plays well. Maybe, just maybe, if the newer, more defiant Obama wins a reelection and gets another 4 years with no reelection pressure, we may see a little progress.
If we can give him a Democratic congress, too - well, who knows? Lord knows I'm too liberal to probably ever be truly happy with the man, but I'm cautiously optimistic.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 5:09 PM on September 26, 2011
“How’s that hopey-changey thing working out for ya?”
I haven't been accused of treason for the crime of having an opinion in years now.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 5:09 PM on September 26, 2011 [6 favorites]
I haven't been accused of treason for the crime of having an opinion in years now.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 5:09 PM on September 26, 2011 [6 favorites]
Neither Reed nor Taibbi had any really substantive criticism. They pretty much didn't like him because they didn't like him, and in Reed's case, it sounds like he would have preferred a Republican victory in 2008.
The Progressive has trash talked every Democratic candidate it's ever written about with the exception of Dennis Kuchinich. I stopped reading them long ago.
posted by coldhotel at 5:09 PM on September 26, 2011
The Progressive has trash talked every Democratic candidate it's ever written about with the exception of Dennis Kuchinich. I stopped reading them long ago.
posted by coldhotel at 5:09 PM on September 26, 2011
someone who says that Obama was a bad choice does have the responsibility of spelling out who would have been a better choice.
Well, me for a start. Except I'm Canadian and I was high for most of 2008. Good crop that year.
posted by philip-random at 5:09 PM on September 26, 2011
Well, me for a start. Except I'm Canadian and I was high for most of 2008. Good crop that year.
posted by philip-random at 5:09 PM on September 26, 2011
Even a stopped clock is right twice a day
The stopped clock notion bothers me. It's not so much right twice a day, as it's not wrong for two moments out of 24 hours. That's a lot of wrong. It's kind of like answering every question anyone has for you with "is it Ghostbusters 2"? Every now and again, you won't be completely wrong.
posted by filthy light thief at 5:10 PM on September 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
The stopped clock notion bothers me. It's not so much right twice a day, as it's not wrong for two moments out of 24 hours. That's a lot of wrong. It's kind of like answering every question anyone has for you with "is it Ghostbusters 2"? Every now and again, you won't be completely wrong.
posted by filthy light thief at 5:10 PM on September 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
Adolph Reed is an absolutely fantastic writer and a cutting analyst. I find myself recommending his book Class Notes all the time, and quoting it in discussion. Maybe people could try to RTFA before making this into another Generic Obama Thread.
posted by RogerB at 5:10 PM on September 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by RogerB at 5:10 PM on September 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
Obama is like a band you really really like. You go on and on about it to your friends untill they agree to go to a show with you. All the way there in the car you are like "Man this is going to be a blast, this band is so rad, I like wanna make out with the drummer, like the best you know".
You get to the show and right away your friends start eye-rolling, they are saying "I didn't know chillwave was still a thing, this is cool because it takes me back to the summer of 2008" and you start to make jokes too, because you don't want to feel left out. Pretty soon you are all back in the car ripping on your favorite band.
You try to get your friends to grab a drink before heading home but they are like "Nah bro, I'm gunna head" and you are left standing alond in front of your building, just knowing they are going off somewhere to make fun of you because you liked that band.
Except in this case, your friends are republicans and they never liked you to begin with.
posted by Ad hominem at 5:11 PM on September 26, 2011 [3 favorites]
You get to the show and right away your friends start eye-rolling, they are saying "I didn't know chillwave was still a thing, this is cool because it takes me back to the summer of 2008" and you start to make jokes too, because you don't want to feel left out. Pretty soon you are all back in the car ripping on your favorite band.
You try to get your friends to grab a drink before heading home but they are like "Nah bro, I'm gunna head" and you are left standing alond in front of your building, just knowing they are going off somewhere to make fun of you because you liked that band.
Except in this case, your friends are republicans and they never liked you to begin with.
posted by Ad hominem at 5:11 PM on September 26, 2011 [3 favorites]
a sort of ideological Universalist, one who spends a great deal of rhetorical energy showing that he recognizes the validity of all points of view, and conversely emphasizes that when he does take hard positions on issues, he often does so reluctantly
In other words ... he's a politician.
I can think of worse words.
Castigating a politician for nakedly attempting to curry different favors from different audiences? Who did that start with? How far do you have to go back? Caesar? Pericles?
Thog, the biggest guy in the Tribe of the Mountain People?
I'm sure that, millions and millions of years ago, in a tidepool somewhere on the shore of Pangaea, an amoeba looked at another amoeba and said, "You know, you shouldn't have to work so hard..."
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 5:11 PM on September 26, 2011
In other words ... he's a politician.
I can think of worse words.
Castigating a politician for nakedly attempting to curry different favors from different audiences? Who did that start with? How far do you have to go back? Caesar? Pericles?
Thog, the biggest guy in the Tribe of the Mountain People?
I'm sure that, millions and millions of years ago, in a tidepool somewhere on the shore of Pangaea, an amoeba looked at another amoeba and said, "You know, you shouldn't have to work so hard..."
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 5:11 PM on September 26, 2011
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posted by goethean at 4:42 PM on September 26, 2011 [10 favorites]