The media might not be overly concerned with presumptive Democrat presidential nominee Barack Obama's incessant campaign flip-flops, but the leader of the Netroots, Daily Kos proprietor Markos Moulitsas, is so disturbed by the junior senator's recent changes of heart that he has decided to hold back his financial contribution (file photo).
As NewsBusters has been reporting the past few weeks, this disillusionment with Obama from the ultra-left has been quite vocal of late, and growing.
However, such publicly expressed disheartenment from someone like Moulitsas, coming just weeks after Hillary Clinton's concession, could be quite a problem for the Democrat candidate that media seem to be ignoring; a Google news search identified very little coverage of Kos's 2:05PM post on Tuesday (emphasis added, h/t Hot Air):
So many of you are upset that I pulled back my credit card last night, making a last minute decision to hold back on a $2,300 contribution to Obama. [...]
First, he reversed course and capitulated on FISA, not just turning back on the Constitution, but on the whole concept of "leadership". Personally, I like to see presidents who 1) lead, and 2) uphold their promises to protect the Constitution.Then, he took his not-so-veiled swipe at MoveOn in his "patriotism" speech.
Finally, he reinforced right-wing and media talking points that Wes Clark had somehow impugned McCain's military service when, in reality, Clark had done no such thing. [...]
Maybe what looks like cowering to me is really part of that "moving to the center" stuff everyone keeps talking about. But there is a line between "moving to the center" and stabbing your allies in the back out of fear of being criticized. And, of late, he's been doing a lot of unecessary stabbing, betraying his claims of being a new kind of politician. Not that I ever bought it, but Obama is now clearly not looking much different than every other Democratic politician who has ever turned his or her back on the base in order to prove centrist bona fides. [...]
Ultimately, he's currently saying that he doesn't need people like me to win this thing, and he's right. He doesn't. If they've got polling or whatnot that says that this is his best path to victory, so much the better. I want him to win big. But when the Obama campaign makes those calculations, they have to realize that they're going to necessarily lose some intensity of support. It's not all upside. And for me, that is reflected in a lack of interest in making that contribution. [...]
And if for some crazy hard-to-see reason my money actually is important to the Obama campaign, then they can adjust their behavior to get it.
Powerful stuff even though it went largely unnoticed by most press outlets from what I can tell: a Google news search identified that amongst major media, only the Washington Times and the New York Times reported Moulitsas's announcement. There may have been more, but LexisNexis is currently unavailable.
On the other hand, Huffington Post contributor Allison Kilkenny was all over this story moments after Kos pushed submit (emphasis added):
Ideological contortionist, Barack Obama, marches toward his personal goal of causing one million progressives' heads to simultaneously explode.
He obtained an essential first step toward this aim when he capitulated on FISA, a move so contradictory to the core of the Progressive movement that outraged midget, Markos "Dailykos" Moulitsas, yanked a generous contribution from Obama's bony fingers as punishment for the sneaky, immoral maneuver. Moveon.org was also unhappy with Obama, all of which brings to mind the ancient expression: If You Wrong The Progressives, Protect Your Crotch.
These burns aren't going to heal any time soon. John Kerry turned out to be an empty shell of a candidate, but Barack Obama had real potential, or so the Progressives thought. They sunk their time and money into Obama, and as thanks, he turned around and bit the hands that fed him. [...]
Of course, the motivation of his pissed-off base was supposed to have been what was going to keep Obama on track in the first place. With that not working, progressives have few options left, and their trust is waning in the last great savior for the so-called progressive movement.
Also powerful stuff, and seemingly important -- except to most media members.
After all, Kos could be right, and Obama might win without the support of the Netroots and their followers. However, that only seems likely if Obama-loving press outlets continue to ignore the junior senator's flip-flops -- or call them good political decisions -- and fail to report growing disdain for his changes of heart within his very base.
Can they do this for another four months? Stay tuned.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.




















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Comments Policy
The Press ignores everything about Obama
July 2, 2008 - 10:27 ET by ZachJonesIsHomezachjonesishome.wordpress.com
Senator Obama’s
Patriotism – What it means to this Navy Veteran. I hope you consider the following article: Senator Obama's Patriotism - a Veteran's
Perspective
It is found at:
http://zachjonesisho...
They ignore everything
July 2, 2008 - 11:42 ET by mattmThey ignore everything except vitally important stuff like a poll that says people would rather BBQ with Obie than with McCain.
The Collective
July 2, 2008 - 10:28 ET by BuffNBoneThe "Collective" known as DailyKos was heard to say, "That's not the Barack Obama I know."
"Fighters are fun but bombers make policy"
At the Navy command where I
July 2, 2008 - 11:49 ET by misterbee241At the Navy command where I worked the commanding officer was a Navy captain who was an A6 driver in VietNam. His exec was an F-14 pilot who had a small part in the movie Top Gun. The CO had a bumper sticker on his car that said: "Fighter pilots make movies, bomber pilots make history."
"There is none so blind as they that won’t see."
Jonathan Swift 1667-1745
Your CO was
July 2, 2008 - 12:17 ET by BuffNBoneYour CO was right.
"Fighters are fun but bombers make policy"
I LOVE IT!
July 2, 2008 - 10:30 ET by Susan IThe left is slowly turning on the "Messiah". Can't wait till the media get on the bandwagon. This could be good.
But I must wake up! Could the media really turn on the "great one"?
But it interesting that some on the left see what we on the right see. A change candidate that changes his mind to what may get him the votes.
Surely the media will not still wallow in their stupidity of this man.
Oops!
July 2, 2008 - 10:45 ET by JohnMI thought "The Great One" refers to Mark Levin!!
GET OFFF THE PHONE
July 2, 2008 - 12:14 ET by red_dragon311GET OFFF THE PHONE YOU BIG DOPE!!!!!!!!!
A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.
-Gerald Ford
Noel - this statement by Moulitsas key
July 2, 2008 - 10:32 ET by Dee Bunk"If they've got polling or whatnot that says that this is
his best path to victory, so much the better. I want him to win big. "
This is the bottom line for them and Moulitsas and the rest of the far left. They will all end up donating their $2300. Dems could care less about the lying when it comes down to it. They know that he's voted far left on everything. Moulitsas proves that the ends justify the means to him with his "so much the better" statement.
"Constantly attacking (peaceful) religions rather than politely sharing your own shows lack of faith " DB
→ Ship has sailed Moulitsas
July 2, 2008 - 10:35 ET by Cool ArrowHey Markos, your mission for the next few months is to keep your herd from mentioning Obama in the pejoratives they are thinking.
Good luck with that. We'll be watching.
LYDSEXICS UNTIE
Fall from grace...
July 2, 2008 - 10:49 ET by JohnM"Not that I ever bought it, but Obama is now clearly not looking much different than every other Democratic politician who has ever turned his or her back on the base in order to prove centrist bona fides."
Not that he ever bought it...yeah, right.
To witness this "crash and burn", to see such an awakening from the smokey fantasy, to hear such whining...
MAKES MY DAY!!!
Not to worry; come November
July 2, 2008 - 12:06 ET by motherbeltNot to worry; come November they will revert to the pack. Because when push comes to shove, they have no principles.
Shoot 'em all; let God sort 'em out! - Marge Simpson
Obama Ignores Rove At His Peril
July 2, 2008 - 12:40 ET by cjbreischFor at least a generation, the standard practice among both Democrats and Republicans has been to appeal to the party base during the primary season and then move to appeal to the center during the general election season. Note that Bill Clinton was a master of that. And it's quite apparent that Barack Obama is attempting that too, although for slightly different reasons.
(As an aside, this is not the case for John McCain who has always played to the center, and did so for the most part even during primary season).
Karl Rove came up with a different strategy in 2000 and it worked then and in 2004. He stayed with the right. He came out and told the right how wonderful GWB would be for them, and that they needed to get out and vote.
Karl Rove's philosophy: Energize the Base
GWB didn't win in 2000 and 2004 because independents went for him. He won because conservatives came out in record #'s to vote for him.
Obama has chosen to ignore Rove and to go back to what worked for Bill Clinton. That might work, but it could be a disaster for him, since the people he's alienating, the hard left, are just about the only people that voted for him in the primary. Hillary did much better with the "mainstream" Democrats and the "centrists".
Note that John McCain makes this interesting, since he also doesn't energize his base, and does seem to appeal more to "centrists" than Barack Obama.
The great equalizer is still Obama's money though. Without it, he'd be facing a landslide defeat in November. With it, he is currently the betting favorite.
off topic
July 2, 2008 - 14:53 ET by landsharkEvery time I see a picture of this guy I can't help but think that he and John Cryer were separated at birth. No offense, John.
I just had to get that off my chest.
Is he?
July 2, 2008 - 21:04 ET by zachlindLooking at the picture of this Markos guy sort of makes me think of Arnold and the girly guys from the California legislature. Is he…na, never mind.
His Head Is Exploding
July 2, 2008 - 22:26 ET by Templar10Why does this guy always look like he just sat down on 50,000 volts? He reminds me of the way Dianne Sawyer always looks like she is asking the most probing question in the world or the way Tom Daschle was always, "concerned."
DS: "Do you REALLY think preparation H will help me more than Tucks medicated pads?"
TD: "Well...I'm concerned, Dianne. If you are asking me this question, it can only mean that Republicans are nearby."