Forget FISA! Obama’s task in right now is to deliver us a victory!
I applaud all of you for writing letters to the Obama campaign, voicing your objections to FISA. I think it’s great that some of you have taken to calling the campaign headquarters or posting your points of view on the blogosphere. That is what democracy is all about. Constructive criticism is helpful for Obama. It will make him and better candidate and a better president
However, I respectfully feel that some of you on this site and others have lost sight of Obama’s primary task: DELIVER US A VICTORY!
I will also add: END THIS DISASTEROUS REPUBLICAN RULE, and: STOP JOHN MCCAIN FROM BEING PRESIDENT!
That’s all, folks. That’s Obama’s only task right now! His task is NOT to provide leadership on FISA. We have other leaders for that.
Obama’s NOT the leader of the party
Contrary to what some of you may think, Obama is NOT the leader of the Democratic Party. Sure, TECHNICALLY he is the leader. But, the reality is, he’s just the Democratic nominee for president. He won’t actually be the leader of the party until he becomes president.
Disagree? Okay. Is John Kerry the leader of the Democratic Party? Of course not.
But, but, but.....he was the nominee, right? Even as the nominee he wasn’t our leader. Had he become president, he would have been our leader.
Obama is no more our leader than John Kerry was. He has to become president in order to be our leader.
That’s why it’s disturbing to see so many of you place all your hopes and dreams of progressive leadership on Obama only. Nancy Pelosi’s job: progressive leadership. Harry Reid’s job: progressive leadership. Ted Kennedy--Russ Feingold--Chris Dodd—Joe Biden’s job: progressive leadership.
Sen. Obama’s job (for now): DELIVER US A VICTORY! END THIS DISASTEROUS REPUBLICAN RULE! STOP JOHN MCCAIN FROM BECOMING PRESIDENT!
Obama’s path to victory
We have to remember: Obama’s trying to win in states like Missouri, Indiana, Montana, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Colorado, Alaska, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Do you think he can win those states if he’s seen as "the most liberal senator in the US Senate"? Do you think he can win those states if he is seen as a "risky" and "scary" black man? I don’t think so.
He has to seen as an acceptable moderate who can appeal to voters in these states on a cultural level.
Concerned, but supportive
I think it’s important for all of us to be concerned about Obama’s "move to the center". I would certainly hate to see Obama begin to compromise his principals just to win an election. We should all question some of his moves and verbally protest when appropriate.
But I don’t think it’s a good idea to withhold financial contributions from the Obama campaign as a form of punishment because that kind of behavior doesn’t do anything but help John McCain.
I don’t think it’s a good idea to badmouth Obama each and every day about FISA because we don’t see all the moving parts the way the Obama camp sees them.
I don’t think it’s a good idea to expect Obama to "lead" on every issue because that’s an unrealistic expectation for him UNLESS he wins the White House.
We must remain concerned, even vocally concerned, but extremely supportive.
Obama’s role
Harry Reid has a role to play. Nancy Pelosi has a role to play. All the other senior Democrats have a role to play.
But Obama’s role (right now): DELIVER US A VICTORY! END THIS DISASTEROUS REPUBLICAN RULE! STOP JOHN MCCAIN FROM BECOMING PRESIDENT!