Barack Obama: Transformation Over Triangulation.
"We never get rid of an enemy by meeting hate with hate; we get rid of an enemy be getting rid of enmity."
-- Martin Luther King, Jr., Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, Christmas, 1957.
Barack Obama has been criticized on DKos as a moderate centrist. I beg to differ. Unlike his main opponent Hillary Clinton for whose husband the term "triangulation" was invented, Barack does not accept the label and went so far as to defend himself against it right here on DKos two years ago:
Barack Obama:
I am not arguing that the Democrats should trim their sails and be more "centrist." In fact, I think the whole "centrist" versus "liberal" labels that continue to characterize the debate within the Democratic Party misses the mark. Too often, the "centrist" label seems to mean compromise for compromise sake, whereas on issues like health care, energy, education and tackling poverty, I don't think Democrats have been bold enough. But I do think that being bold involves more than just putting more money into existing programs and will instead require us to admit that some existing programs and policies don't work very well. And further, it will require us to innovate and experiment with whatever ideas hold promise (including market- or faith-based ideas that originate from Republicans).
Our goal should be to stick to our guns on those core values that make this country great, show a spirit of flexibility and sustained attention that can achieve those goals, and try to create the sort of serious, adult, consensus around our problems that can admit Democrats, Republicans and Independents of good will. This is more than just a matter of "framing," although clarity of language, thought, and heart are required. It's a matter of actually having faith in the American people's ability to hear a real and authentic debate about the issues that matter.
Finally, I am not arguing that we "unilaterally disarm" in the face of Republican attacks, or bite our tongue when this Administration screws up. Whenever they are wrong, inept, or dishonest, we should say so clearly and repeatedly; and whenever they gear up their attack machine, we should respond quickly and forcefully. I am suggesting that the tone we take matters, and that truth, as best we know it, be the hallmark of our response.
http://www.dailykos.com/...
In fact, Barack Obama’s Irregular Times "Progressive Ranking" score of 73 is exceeded only by that of Senators Feingold and Leahy.
http://progressivepatriots.com/...
In my opinion, Barack is very progressive, but he is also open to new ideas wherever they may come from as long as they work. It is precisely this intellectual honesty that underlies his ability to rally Republicans and Independents behind that progressive agenda. For Martin Luther King, Jr. as evidenced by the above quotation, and for Obama, the point is not to "defeat" your opponent, but to convert him to your side.
As her "fun starts now" attack clearly demonstrates, Hillary Clinton, on the hand, clearly relishes the fight for its own sake:
http://www.youtube.com/...
The "fun" for Hillary begins with the dogfight. Yet, if you look at her Senate ranking, it’s to the right of Obama’s.
http://progressivepatriots.com/...
Edwards, on the other hand, at least claims the progressive label, but he too must run on s decidedly centrist Senatorial record. Is an unnecessarily combative moderate better than a progressive Democrat with a record of getting support from Republicans and Independents? For Obama, creating real changes is more important that "winning" an ideological battle.
This is why Americans are, in the words of Michelle Obama, "waking up" to Barack Obama’s candidacy. The politics of the past has meant endless division and polarization, but no progress. Barack Obama’s transformational politics means unity and conciliation in pursuit of a progressive agenda for all Americans.