The Real Problem is the Professional Right...
The after effects continues from White House spokesman Robert Gibbs’s attack on the “professional left” yesterday. Rep, Keith Ellison (D-MN), a member of the Progressive Caucus, slammed Gibbs remarks. “Why would he confuse legitimate critique with some sort of lack of loyalty,” Ellison said. “Isn’t this what the far right does? Punishes people who are not ideologically aligned with President Bush?” The real problem is Pres. Obama and Mr Gibbs, his spokesman, have, is not the professional left, its the professional right. A little over a year ago, Obama pushed through a stimulation package which has actually done tremendous good in the US and in many ways prevented a recession form turning into a depression. But because of the messaging incompetence of Mr Gibbs in the White House, and the cacophony of voices from the professional right, polls show that fewer than 5% of americans know the difference between Obama's acutely effective stimulation plan and Bush's insane bank bail out plan. If Mr Gibbs and Pres. Obama are concerned about getting the message out, they need to look at their own messaging performance as well as starting to aggressively punch back on the professional right.
Comments
I guess Tom did not pass the NEW DEM/drug test!
I guess they just expect the left to fall in lockstep and parrot everything they say as is done on the right! Don't they realize that the left is where all of the free thinkers are? Organizing the left is like herding cats! It's in our nature to question authority and form our own opinions rather than blindly accept everything like those on the right! If they don't understand this, then they don't understand their own constituency, and there's their problem!
A Freudian Slip occurs when someone verbalizes an innermost thought or emotion. Gibbs made a big slip when he attacked the "professional liberal." In an unguarded moment he exposed his irritation with his base. He appears to be clueless about liberals. Does he really think we can be led and follow in lockstep by liberal commentators on TV and radio like the Fox Followers?
No, no, Mr. Gibbs. We are independent thinkers. According to Pew, liberals are the best educated of all political ideologies. We are more likely to read a book than be swayed by media commentators. In order to even get our attention, these "professional liberals" must be curious, thoughtful and articulate, not just regurgitating a written script. We are loyal to them only as long as they report with integrity and honesty. We knew the administration was abandoning our ideals long before liberal media was reporting these facts.
We liberals are among the most affluent Americans, and WE VOTE more than any other group. Offend us and you've lost your new ideas, your money and your elections!
David Frum, Bush's speech writer, wrote yesterday in his blog: "Republican politicians fear their base, Democratic pols hate theirs."
Maybe it's time for the Democratic base to instill some fear in the leadership and take the party back. I for one, am getting weary of hearing liberal stump speeches about hope and change that are not acted upon after the election.
Maybe the anger at the left expressed by those surrounding the President, such as Gibbs and Emanuel, is because they can see that Obama shows signs of listening to the left, of wanting to go back to his campaign promises. And those conservadems do not want to lose control of him, of their ability to direct him.
Sooth.
Thom's Blog Is On the Move
Hello All
Thom's blog in this space and moving to a new home.
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With His Holiness The Dalai Lama, at His home in Dharamsala, India (Synthesis Dialogues - made into a movie narrated by Harrison Ford)
Amen!