Anyone paying attention during the Democratic primaries who was able to look past the color of Obama's skin, ( which eliminated 99% of the press), could see that he was without question, the least qualified and the most deeply flawed in terms of character of any of the Democratic candidates. This fact is now glaringly coming home to roost as Obama's presidency continues to sink.So far, no Democratic candidate Obama has endorsed during an election has won, the two most glaring and troublesome for Democrats being Martha Coakley in Massachusetts and Arlen Specter in Pennsylvania. In fact he has practically been the kiss of political death for Democratic candidates. And it shouldnt come as a surprise.
When Geraldine Ferraro, former Democratic Vice Presidential candidate said publicly that if Obama had been white, with his background, flimsy resume, history of non-accomplishment ( as a legislator who voted "present" over 100 times so he wouldn't have to be on the record as having voted for or against a bill) and with his deep character flaws including serial lying, reversals of position when politically expedient, and reneging on promises, he would have been a joke as a presidential candidate she was vilified by the press and the DNC establishment.
Her vilification in the press was mostly for raining on their racial agenda, supporting Obama more for the idea of electing a president of color than his true qualifications. As the press and the DNC are now finding out, tilting the playing field to make Obama the Democratic nominee and hence assuring his election as president, was no joke.
Our courageous and crusading press, the same press that let Bush and the Republicans run the country into the ground for 8 years while sitting on their hands, turned a blind eye to all of Obama's serial ( and well documented) lying, his reneging on pledges and his underhanded duplicity. The fact that it comes as a shock now to so many of his former supporters when he is doing the same things as president as he did as a candidate, and before that, legislator, is why so many Clinton supporters in the Democratic party referred to Obama supporters as "drinking the Kool-Aid".
When his supporters look at his monumental failures with healthcare reform and financial reform, both gutted by Obama to the point where congressional Democrats called both bills "better than nothing", they all ask, "what happened"? The answer is nothing happened. This is who Obama is and always was. It's Obama being Obama.
But Obama's ability to bamboozle the press and a large contingent of cocktail party liberals, the kind Lenny Bruce used to torch in his routines on race in the Sixties (as people who acted like they understood the race issue but didnt) both of whom were instrumental in selling Obama as "ready to be president on day one" has, inevitably come crashing to the ground. Especially with the rest of the country.
Well meaning Democrats like Ed Rendell, Howard Dean, Denis Kucinich and many congressional Democrats up for re-election are going to have to admit they made a huge mistake pushing Obama, as many rank and file Democrats and a majority of independents have already realized. With the elections fast approaching, polls are showing many independents are prepared to take their anger and disappointment in Obama out on Democratic congressional candidates.
A recent poll showed that 61% of independents say they are either "angry" or "disappointed" in Obama with only 38% approving of his presidency. A year ago, before he actually had to do anything, Obama's approval among independents was in the mid sixties. On other fronts
from healthcare to financial reform to the Gulf spill, Obama is showing a drop in poll numbers not seen since, well, George W. Bush.
What Democrats need to understand is that Obama's real Lincoln Moment is occurring now. It's called "You Can't Fool All of the People All of the Time". And Democrats need to accept it if they want to retain control of congress so they can take the initiative to bring about the real reform the voters wanted but that Obama has proved he doesn't have the conviction, courage or political skill to deliver. While Republicans made a non-issue out of Obama bowing to the Saudi Prince, it was Obama bowing to Joe Lieberman on healthcare that has Democrats and independents angry.
When Obama was elected he had then and still has now, the largest congressional majority of any president in 100 years. Yet it's always the tail wagging the dog, the Republicans always getting the upper hand on him. And he always gives in.
For any Democrat in a close race, the strategy has become clear -- they will have to run, not on Obama, but from him. And if I were running the Democratic National Congressional Committee I would beg Obama between now and election day to stay home, and please, no more speeches.
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