This is just a short chat about something that was on the radio today that I hadn't heard before. It was a discussion about the "Chicago Boys" who are Barack's chief economic advisors. And it led me to some more startling stuff that I hadn't heard.
But after both listening and googling, it just showed me one more reason to be disgusted with Barack and his parody of Progressive thought and behavior.
The radio show wasn't some conservative tripe. It was Democracy Now! with Amy Goodman.
Her guest was Naomi Klein, who was talking about an article she had written over at The Nation last month. I had missed it at the time, but after reading it, I was shocked it didn't cause more of stir for Progressives.
Overall, the interview was interesting because they were HAMMERING Barack for his economic positions. Amy has also bought into the Barack flip-flop meme (as have I), and Naomi actually made it sound worse...
I think what we actually saw with Obama is that he started pretty much at a conservative point on economic policy, and Clinton—and the campaign with Clinton, because she was moving so far to a populist position, he then moved. And as soon as she dropped out of the race, he moved back. So I think there are some real points of disagreement, and I think that there are some places to point to much more progressive outlook in Obama’s roots, particularly on foreign policy, but I don’t think economic policy is one of them.
So, he sort of Flip-Flopped to beat Hillary and then Flop-Flipped back once that was "Mission Accomplished". Seriously, he should be going to Beijing!
The gist of the part of the interview that really interested me is that Barack's chief economic advisors are all warmed over Clintonites from the Chicago area. Pro-NAFTA, Pro-Free-Trade, anti-Progressive in almost every way. But it seems like this is really what Barack believes, rather than just being a cynical political position (a la FISA). The article is worth a read.
Worse, there are a huge number of hedge fund dudes, Wall Street types, and some actual ex-Bush donors who are dumping big money on Barack...who in turn is happily accepting the cash. A little digging finds this horror, as of 1 July:
Records show that four out of Obama’s top five contributors are employees of financial industry giants - Goldman Sachs (571,330 dollars), UBS AG (364,806 dollars), JPMorgan Chase (362,207 dollars) and Citigroup (358,054 dollars).
Okay, all of this is under the radar right now, but it needs to surface. I know I have no credibility insisting Barack do ANYTHING at this point. But I would really like to see Progressives put some pressure on Barack to 1) refuse to take any more Wall Street money, and 2) give back every penny he's taken since he wrapped up the nomination in June. (I'd give him a pass prior to that for beating Hillary)
And I'll tell you what else: if he does, I will glad send him $250 just on principle.
If Barack is a true Progressive at heart, as many of you have insisted to me and others he is, then he needs to come clean on these donors.
That, or stop telling us he's a Progressive, when in truth he is just warmed-over Clinton who has sold his soul to Wall Street to win.