Ideological Purity Pity Party
08 December 2008 10:18 am by Taylor Marsh
BY TAYLOR MARSH
People are depressed. Bored. We won the election. What is there to complain
about now? So, this was
predictable.
“There don’t seem to be any liberals in Obama’s cabinet,” writes
John Aravosis, the editor of Americablog.com. “What does all of this
mean for Obama’s policies, and just as important, Obama Supreme Court announcements?”
–insert laugh track here–
Oh, and if you find a female quoted in the Politico article above let
me know.
But,
good grief. Did Obama’s team have to take the bait?
This is not a time for the left wing of our Party to draw conclusions about
the Cabinet and White House appointments that President-Elect Obama is making.
Some believe the appointments generally aren’t progressive enough. Having
worked with former Senator Obama for the last two years, I can tell you, that
isn’t the way he thinks and it’s not likely the way he will lead. The problems
I mentioned above and the many I didn’t, suggest that our president surround
himself with the most qualified people to address these challenges. After
all, he was elected to be the president of all the people – not just those
on the left. – Steve Hildebrand, Obama’s deputy campaign manager
Unfortunately, with statements
like this one you can hardly blame Hildebrand for handing the traditional
media (and Obama) this gift. Getting in a fantasy fight with your own base only
makes Obama look more independent and stronger to “your average American.”
OpenLeft blogger Chris Bowers went so far as to issue this plaintive plea:
“Isn’t there ever a point when we can get an actual Democratic administration?”
How embarrassing. It’s as if people fell asleep somewhere during the primary
to wake up with their rose colored glasses cracked. This coming from someone
who wrote “Obama
campaign postmortem.” Check the last paragraph. Even as a staunch critic
during the primaries, I never went out on that cracked limb.
I’m with Megan McArdle on this one.
Not if you define an “actual Democratic administration” as one
that is closer to OpenLeft than the median voter, no.
Jane
takes on Hildebrand, but her beef is on the finger wagging. However, it’s totally predictable. Obama’s people saw an opening to criticize their own and took it. Film
on “The Factor” tonight.
Ideological purity went out the window the minute Barack Obama became our nominee.
If you’re shocked, you haven’t been paying attention. …and in case you weren’t aware, the American public’s opinion of Obama so far, including his cabinet, is all positive. Another reason to be depressed.
