The Real Problem is the Professional Right...
By louisehartmann
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
#2
I guess Tom did not pass the NEW DEM/drug test!
#3
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!
#4
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.
#5
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.
#6
Sooth.
Thom's Blog Is On the Move
By webmaster
Hello All
Thom's blog in this space and moving to a new home.
Please follow us across to hartmannreport.com - this will be the only place going forward to read Thom's blog posts and articles.
Images of Thom
Mueller's favorite place to pray (written about in "Prophet's Way"), and the roof of the room where the Last Supper is reputed to have happened.
From Cracking the Code:
"Thom Hartmann ought to be bronzed. His new book sets off from the same high plane as the last and offers explicit tools and how-to advice that will allow you to see, hear, and feel propaganda when it's directed at you and use the same techniques to refute it. His book would make a deaf-mute a better communicator. I want him on my reading table every day, and if you try one of his books, so will you."
From Cracking the Code:
"In Cracking the Code, Thom Hartmann, America’s most popular, informed, and articulate progressive talk show host and political analyst, tells us what makes humans vulnerable to unscrupulous propagandists and what we can do about it. It is essential reading for all Americans who are fed up with right-wing extremists manipulating our minds and politics to promote agendas contrary to our core values and interests."
From Screwed:
"I think many of us recognize that for all but the wealthiest, life in America is getting increasingly hard. Screwed explores why, showing how this is no accidental process, but rather the product of conscious political choices, choices we can change with enough courage and commitment. Like all of Thom’s great work, it helps show us the way forward."
Amen!