Obama's 2005 Daily Kos Post : Tone It Down, and Usher in a New Progressive Era

Photo of Kerry Picket.

Barack Obama sent a letter to the Daily Kos which was posted back in 2005 to talk strategy and "change" to the Kossacks. Obama was very serious about toning down the rhetoric only until it was safe enough to "enforce a more clearly progressive agenda.” (h/t to Gateway Pundit for bringing this back through Sweetness and Light) (my emphasis added:)

I thought this might be a good opportunity to offer some thoughts about not only judicial confirmations, but how to bring about meaningful change in this country.

Maybe some of you believe I could have made my general point more artfully, but it’s precisely because many of these groups are friends and supporters that I felt it necessary to speak my mind.

There is one way, over the long haul, to guarantee the appointment of judges that are sensitive to issues of social justice, and that is to win the right to appoint them by recapturing the presidency and the Senate.

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And I don’t believe we get there by vilifying good allies, with a lifetime record of battling for progressive causes, over one vote or position.

I am convinced that, our mutual frustrations and strongly-held beliefs notwithstanding, the strategy driving much of Democratic advocacy, and the tone of much of our rhetoric, is an impediment to creating a workable progressive majority in this country.

According to the storyline that drives many advocacy groups and Democratic activists - a storyline often reflected in comments on this blog - we are up against a sharply partisan, radically conservative, take-no-prisoners Republican party. They have beaten us twice by energizing their base with red meat rhetoric and single-minded devotion and discipline to their agenda.

In order to beat them, it is necessary for Democrats to get some backbone, give as good as they get, brook no compromise, drive out Democrats who are interested in “appeasing” the right wing, and enforce a more clearly progressive agenda. The country, finally knowing what we stand for and seeing a sharp contrast, will rally to our side and thereby usher in a new progressive era.

Obama also talks about how to not only gain but also sustain leftist radical policy:

Or to make the point differently: How can we ask Republican senators to resist pressure from their right wing and vote against flawed appointees like John Bolton, if we engage in similar rhetoric against Democrats who dissent from our own party line?

 How can we expect Republican moderates who are concerned about the nation's fiscal meltdown to ignore Grover Norquist's threats if we make similar threats to those who buck our party orthodoxy?

In the following excerpt, Obama makes it clear he wants those on the left to continue attacks when a Republican is "wrong, inept, or dishonest." However, he conveniently omits instructions for when a Democrat is "wrong, inept, or dishonest:"

Finally, I am not arguing that we "unilaterally disarm" in the face of Republican attacks, or bite our tongue when this Administration screws up. Whenever they are wrong, inept, or dishonest, we should say so clearly and repeatedly; and whenever they gear up their attack machine, we should respond quickly and forcefully. I am suggesting that the tone we take matters, and that truth, as best we know it, be the hallmark of our response.

With less than a week left, Obama must appear as moderate as possible to the American voter.  He must fool the electorate to do this.  His campaign is using Obama's “hide and surprise” tactic by burning the Washington, D.C. based conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation in the process. Here’s an excerpt of a letter The Heritage Foundation recently sent to the Obama campaign:

Dear Senator Obama:

Two recent campaign advertisements seriously misrepresent the views of my client, The Heritage Foundation. They suggest, quite falsely, that The Heritage Foundation and one of its analysts support your tax plan.

The print ad on your Website as well as your ad entitled “Try This” reference a quote from policy analyst Rea Hederman. In fact, Mr. Hederman never said what is quoted there. Rather, the words you quote are from a New York Sun reporter who interviewed Mr. Hederman and summarized his views erroneously.

That the reporter’s summary is erroneous is evident from the actual quotes from Mr. Hederman presented in the article, which make it quite clear that Mr. Hederman believes your tax plan would be bad not only for the country, but for the middle class. By omitting the direct quotes from Heritage that are contained in the article and attributing to Heritage a conflicting statement not made by its analyst, the advertisement appears to be an intentional attempt to mislead.

As of today, the Obama campaign has not pulled the misleading ad off the air. In terms of campaign strategy, Obama may practice what he preaches to his minions. However, what he preaches to the American public is something else entirely.


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<Church lady voice> Well,

<Church lady voice> Well, isn't that special??

How can we expect Republican moderates who are concerned about the
nation's fiscal meltdown to ignore Grover Norquist's threats if we make
similar threats to those who buck our party orthodoxy?

The same way you always have...with brazen hypocrisy.

 

dittos

The same way you always have...with brazen hypocrisy.

"In order to beat them,

"In order to beat them, it is necessary for Democrats to get some backbone, give as good as they get, brook no compromise, drive out Democrats who are interested in “appeasing” the right wing, and enforce a more clearly progressive agenda. The country, finally knowing what we stand for and seeing a sharp contrast, will rally to our side and thereby usher in a new progressive era."

Yes, of course the country will rally to your side.

And Markos Moulitsas Zúniga will lead everyone to Socialist Utopia riding on his rainbow-farting unicorn.

No thanks.  I prefer this universe.

See what I wrote below...

Obama is clearly criticizing the Kossacks (that's the term, forgot it before) for their attitudes.

Personally I've never seen anything profound or inspiring with Markos's politics, nor with the signal/noise ratio of Daily Kos, but, stratman, you are agreeing with Obama.

Great phrase: 

Great phrase:  "signal/noise ratio of Daily Kos". 

Would need to know exactly what Obama believes about them before accepting your statement.  I would wager that he is privately all for their misadventure as long as it benefits him, since I see him as an opportunist, provocateur, and prevaricator. 

As an example, Obama's segmental distancing from Reverend Wright as more damning data was revealed demonstrated a calculated public narrative designed to obfuscate and indemnify Obama from his chosen mentor, spiritual advisor, friend, political stepping stone and Black Theology/Black Nationalistic socialist-based "religious" affiliation.

A similar methodology is appearant in Obama's treatment of the Ayers relationship, where Obama was only as forthcoming as necessary to maintain an elusive narrative.

Then there is the Tony Rezko relationship which received even less illumination, and, therefore, less need for Obama to backstroke away from a toxic relationship.

Just because Obama may correctly identify the sky as blue does not mean I'll reflexively disagree with him. 

Like a broken clock, even Shamrock O'Bama can be right about something, though, IMO, he is rarely correct or benevolent in his political ideology concerning the USA. 

Edit --  I read your comment below.  Obama is much more publically guarded than you make of him.  I believe a very revealing comment in one of his books speaks volumes of how Obama operates on a public level.  In his book, Barry talks about how he learned to speak to White people so as not to scare them:

"

On p. 94-95 he describes an effective tactic to deal with White people:

It was usually an effective tactic, another one of those tricks I had learned: People were satisfied so long as you were courteous and smiled and made no sudden moves. They were more than satisfied; they were relieved - such a pleasant surprise to find a well-mannered young black man who didn't seem angry all the time."

Good speakers learn effective tools for communicating and connecting with their audience.  Obama, per usual, filters these concepts through the context of Race.  And the dirty little secret is that the practised well-mannered Barry was angry.... often... below that calm exterior.

OY!  Such is a uniter?  Meshugana!

All out WAR on Kos During the Primaries!!

Do you remember the WAR on Kos between Hillary Supporters and Obama Supporters (Marcos included)??  Hillary supporters were harassed, Post's deleted, and Top Writers and Posters were BANNED!!!

This split was partly responsible for the formation of PUMA.

I'm a "registered" user on KOS...Shhhhh...I was on the Inside when this was happening!!!

Ster. 

Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government.

Horse crap! Sitting in a

Horse crap!

Sitting in a Drs. office a few hours ago, I had the displeasure of reading next weeks issue of Newsweek. Mr. crazy Kos himself got a whole page in that magazine to tell the American people that they had to vote for Obama. Excuse me, but screw him! 

THIS IS WAR!

Additional secret manipulation tactics

I found an interesting -- and very disturbing -- comment by Rush today. I didn't listen to him. But after reading this, I'm really scared of what we are dealing with here -- if this is even half-true.

For example: "Barack then tends to come across as Teflon, nothing sticks, and trust me, there were meetings with Fox News, the goal was to blunt them as much as possible.  Watch O'Reilly, he's become much more diplomatic and fair and balanced and soft towards Obama. It's because he wants to retain the number one spot on cable news and have access to the Obama campaign."

___________________________________ 

If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber

TnT... Read this... THIS

TnT...

Read this... THIS IS WAR! More Obama tactics.

 

 

Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/  

"New progressive era" is

"New progressive era" is code for "Socialist"!

THIS IS WAR!

 

 

Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/  

Kerry, you TOTALLY missed the boat on this one.

Obama is saying the opposite of what you suggest. He is criticizing those Democrats who want to threaten moderates, the paragraph that begins "In order to beat them..." is what Barack is saying the Kos'ers are saying that is wrong

This is clearest when Obama says the Democrats can't make threats (like Grover Norquist and Stephen Moore do) if they want to succeed.

The Republicans, on the other hands, seem heck-bent on demonizing the Democrats, which would make it strictly impossible for any good negotiations, should Senator McCain win on the 4th.

Josh

You had better reread the whole article. However, after rereading your comment, I don't think you can read at all,

I'm thinking that Josh

I'm thinking that Josh might be one of those people responsible for those long lines at the polling booths. Not able to read or interpret the ballots. "Let's see, what does this mean? Am I supposed to mark this here? Gee, did I just vote for Buchanan? I meant to vote for Obama. Waaaaaahhhh -- the evil Republicans just stole my vote!"

___________________________________ 

If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber

the Obama campaign has not

the Obama campaign has not pulled the misleading ad off the air. In terms of campaign strategy, Obama may practice what he preaches to his minions. However, what he preaches to the American public is something else entirely.

And yet no one in the MSM will call obama out on any lies he tells. 

drive the bums out!!!

--brook no compromise, drive out Democrats who are interested in “appeasing” the right wing-- 

So, this is from the man who is suppose to be some kind of great unite-er? The man we are being told who will create a 'purple' type of politics?

Or is he merely interested in fooling people until he's in the position to get his own way?

--we are up against a sharply partisan, radically conservative, take-no-prisoners Republican party--

 Is he talking about the same Republican Party that has abandoned its conservative base, and has chosen a compromiser to be its presidential candidate?

--The country, finally knowing what we stand for...-- 

Why do we not know now what he and those like him stand for? Why do we have to wait until he and his railroad out the 'unacceptables' (Liebermann) before we finally know what they stand for?

(trick question: truth is, we do know, though they try to not show it, and so far we have rejected it)

 

"Thoroughly worldly people never understand even the world; they rely altogether on a few cynical maxims which are not true."

Chesterton, Orthodoxy 

"Is he talking about the

"Is he talking about the same Republican Party that has abandoned its conservative base, and has chosen a compromiser to be its presidential candidate?"

Yes, he is.  Do you not yet see that he (and the Kos) do not see eye to eye with you and that they consider John McCain to be "radically conservative" from their far Left point of view?  That fact in and of itself ought to remove any remaining misgivings anyone may have about voting McCain/Palin.

"Why do we have to wait until he and his railroad out the 'unacceptables' (Liebermann) before we finally know what they stand for?"

We should not have to wait -- mainstream America should know better.  Unfortunately, however, as we know from history, control of the masses begins with control of mass propaganda.

Both sentiments of Obama betray his far-left mindset.  He is a wolf in sheep's clothing, a smiling tiger.  The sad thing is he could easily be stopped (for example, if self-professed Bible-believing Christians would say "no" to any candidate supporting radical abortion-on-demand, with the same vocal unity as held by certain minority groups), but it seems too many have been assimilated as Obamatons.

 

And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all.   -- Edgar Allan Poe

good points

--Do you not yet see that he (and the Kos) do not see eye to eye with you and that they consider John McCain to be "radically conservative" from their far Left point of view?-- 

Yes, I can see that. As I think it was Rush who pointed out a week or so ago, the Republican's push to get a 'moderate' candidate hasn't worked, as shown by the moderate Republicans who are not backing McCain. 

--That fact in and of itself ought to remove any remaining misgivings anyone may have about voting McCain/Palin.-- 

It is strong, yes, though I also have the hope that a conservative third party will have a strong enough showing to make the Republicans think about how real conservatives are not happy with their drift to the center and left.

Because to me, this seems to be more about "not Obama" then "for McCain", though pro-Palin should not be shortchanged. If not for her, McCain's campaign would be dead in the water by now.

It's truly scary how close the liberals and media push for Republicans needing to select a moderate candidate (do they ever say that Dems need to pick a moderate?? i doubt it) has come to working.  

--We should not have to wait -- mainstream America should know better. Unfortunately, however, as we know from history, control of the masses begins with control of mass propaganda. 

Both sentiments of Obama betray his far-left mindset. He is a wolf in sheep's clothing, a smiling tiger. The sad thing is he could easily be stopped (for example, if self-professed Bible-believing Christians would say "no" to any candidate supporting radical abortion-on-demand, with the same vocal unity as held by certain minority groups), but it seems too many have been assimilated as Obamatons.--

Very true. It is a shame of the damnedest (and I don't mean that as cussing, either) sort that real and supposed Christians have sold their votes (and dare I say, their souls) to such a man.

Keep your eyes on this--the 'social justice' crowd, particularly the religious part of it, will become more and more extreme. CNS reported about a school in Chicago, called Social Justice High, which is designed specificially for gay and lesbian students. That's the one where PETA is demanding an all-vegan diet. Religious social justice people are already trying to hijack and spin 'pro-life' to mean not just the saving of unborn babies, but also such extremes as pacifism and anti-death-penalty.

 

"Thoroughly worldly people never understand even the world; they rely altogether on a few cynical maxims which are not true."

Chesterton, Orthodoxy 

"If not for her, McCain's

"If not for her, McCain's campaign would be dead in the water by now."

I agree -- McCain was both wise and ballsy to pick her.  My wife and I are inspired by her (and I trust my wife's judgement more than my own on this). 

"do they ever say that Dems need to pick a moderate??"

Nope.  Never heard it, other than maybe from conservative commentators on FNC.

"I ceased to advertise my mother's race at the age of 12 or 13, when I began to suspect that by doing so I was ingratiating myself to whites." -- Barack H. Obama

 

And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all.   -- Edgar Allan Poe

Questions for The One

...enforce a more clearly progressive agenda. - Barack Obama, 2005

How do you progress from life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?

How does support for a progressive income tax system progress from life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? Doesn't it instead infringe upon that by punishing the successful pursuit of happiness?

Wouldn't replacing the current personal and business income tax system with a national inclusive sales tax also known as the FairTax be more in line with protecting our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?

How does condoning through inaction the at least inappropriate government employee probes of Samuel Joseph "Joe the plumber" Werzelbacher progress from life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? Are they not instead infringing on our basic right to freedom of speech as guaranteed by our Constitution and Bill of Rights through government intimidation?

As a U.S. senator and if you become President of the United States, you swear to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America. Yet, in your interview on local public radio in Chicago when you were a state senator, you appear to disagree fundamentally with the Constitution. Since the Constitution is the embodiment of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, how can you consider your viewpoints as progressing from life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as your views would have to infringe on one group of people to help another group?

--

Ignorance, our most costly commodity - paraphrased from Rush Limbaugh

Sort of OT but

does anyone else wonder if people who post about how "true conservatives" should not vote for McCain as a way of punishing the Republican Party for straying from proper conservative principles, actually have our best interest at heart?