I have to admit it. Though I have contributed about $1000 to various progressive House and Senate candidates in the current election, I have not yet sent any money to the president's campaign. Also, I am not likely to. Today's Daily Kos reminds me why. Follow the spoor for more.
This morning Paul Krugman and Teacherken reminded us about President Obama's encouragement of the Simpson-Bowles committee and its willingness to sacrifice hard-won social security benefits on the altar of austerity and debt relief. Tom Tomorrow's evocation of Droney exposes Obama's extension of hostilities in the Middle East, his active production of terrorism through these practices, and his singular contribution to our declining civil liberties and expanding surveillance society. Though many other issues also trouble me (e.g. the hypocritical practice on medical marijuana, the failure to prosecute criminal bankers), the president should be re-elected and it is close to a foregone conclusion that he will be. The alternative is unthinkable. But as today's Kos shows in stark relief, the policy choices that the Obama administration will make in the next four years are more critical than the man himself. Simply put, I don't fully trust President Obama. We need to elect progressive candidates up and down the ballot to stand up for our core principles in the next Congress. We especially need to ensure that President Obama lives to the progressive policies that we support.