Tuesday, 07/01/08

Obama FINALLY moves to the center

I have been waiting for this for months now. Obama has slowly been drifting away from me toward the left as he fought with Hillary Clinton for the democratic votes. Now finally, he is drifting back to the center. Ariana Huffington is angry. "Memo to Obama: Moving to the Middle is for Losers" is the title of her article today. It is not for losers if that is where your heart really is. The Netroots have been frustrated with Obama at times. They are going to be more so.

Today, Obama is putting out word that he is going "Expand Bush's faith based programs", and apparently remove restrictions for hiring and firing based on faith for programs that use these funds. That brings a smile to my face, and it is going to stun the netroots.

His last two commercials have appealed to me as well. They emphasize solid his solidly American values. The netroots have not been very happy with that either.

Dignity


For some reason I can't find the other commercial. This will have to suffice.

[update 3:20pm] There seems to be a discrepancy between the speech Obama gave today and the reports about his prepared text in the media who repeatedly asserted that Obama's program would allow for hiring and firing based on religion. Obama's remarks seemed to explicitly exclude that. Perhaps there is something murky in that area of this proposal. I have yet to see any more language.

Comments

Tyler wrote:

I'm thankful that he's moving to the center for the general election. I look forward to McCain's similar move.

Huffington seems to have latched on to the idea that the change in Obama's campaign is a change from more conservative ideals leading the country to more progressive/liberal ones. Others see the change he wants to bring as working against the dichotomies that have shaped current US politics, rather than a swing from one ideology to another. I guess that's an issue with Obama's call for change -- it can be something of an empty vessel into which anyone can place on him their hopes for something different. As he continues to define himself and his positions, many of those who put their hope in him may find their views at odds with his.

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