Politico's Insight: The Left criticizes its politicians

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Sunday May 17, 2009 · 8:48 PM PDT

2009/05/17 · 20:48

To be fair, the title of the latest trenchant trends piece out of Politico is Some on Left Souring on Obama. And I guess that some probably have.

But what evidence does the author cite? A quote each from Rachel Maddow and Andrew Sullivan, who - while they have criticized Obama, and often rightly - I certainly wouldn't characterize as "soured." And then we get a quote from Michael Meyers of the New York Civil Rights Coalition who says, "No president is a messiah.”

Not the son of God? If that's not a ringing criticism, what is?

There are two issues here. One, the lack of any references to public opinion polling, which show Obama as popular on the left as ever. And two, a depressing lack of understanding of what exactly responsible journalists, bloggers, and political organizations contribute to democracy - and what responsible, partisan journalists and bloggers can contribute to the strength of their party.

Obviously (to all but Politico), there is a difference between liberal journalists holding Obama up to some Platonic idea of The Progressive President - and finding that he can't match up - and "souring" on him. The left, admirably, is keeping Obama honest to the best of its ability. And notable critics like Greenwald may devote most of his wordcount to excoriating Obama, but even he will note (in parenthetical asides) that he mostly approves of what else Obama is doing.

Politico has mistaken the Left's rejection of the Right's soul crushing message machine as "souring." Basically, we don't make our politicians repent for their sins after disagreeing with Keith Olbermann. And Politico - ostensibly devoted solely to the political process itself - has no understanding of why the doctrinaire GOP is out of power, and why the self-criticizing, self-correcting (sounds kind of like the free market!) Left is in.

In short, thanks for keeping the heat on Obama so far. Let's criticize him for another three-and-some years. And I hope we get to criticize him for another four years after that.

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