UPDATE: I hope the moderators read this and ban all the people who HR'd this diary and abused the ratings system.
If you want to defend him because you agree with his pro-corporate economics that doesn't do diddly squat for the average American -- then fine. That's your right.
If you want to defend him because the Lobbyist-written, piece of crap health care Bill screws middle class Americans over by forcing them to buy crappy private insurance they can't afford, and jacking up co-pays, or throttling back coverage on good health care plans they have now -- go ahead. It's your right.
If you want to defend him for not getting rid of the ban on gays serving in the military, even though he promnised to do it during the campaign, and even the military is no longer really opposing it -- fine. Do what you think is right. That's your right.
If you think his half-hearted attempts to improve civil liberties, is hunky dory -- enjoy yourself. You have that right.
If you fully support Obama's decision to avoid writing down existing mortgages for people who are underwater -- and can't afford their payments -- because protecting the banksters' bottom lines and share prices is more important that reliving middle class americanbs of massive debt -- have at it! You have the right to be that way, dude.
If you think selling out women and imposing the the most sweeping federal restrictions on abortion since Roe v Wade in the Senate health care bill are a great thing, and long overdue -- by all means celebrate! It's your right.
If you believe that constantly caving in to conservative and conservadem demands on everything under the sun -- and deliberately spitting in the eyes of progressives, liberals and the base of the Democratic party and wearing at as a badge of honor -- are worthy of admiration? You have that right.
I could go on and on. But, the central point is this. You may think all those things are great, or even tolerable. But if you do, you are not true Democrat, and you sure as hell are not a progressive.
And if you don't -- then you have no business defending President Obama.
It's time that progressives disown the policies of Barack Obama. Because, well, they aren't progressive. In fact, with very few exceptions, they could all have been proposed by John frigging McCain had he won the election and no one would have batted an ideological eye. In fact, most of the people here defending Barack Obama would be blasting and lambasting McCain for doing these things.
So, before the rest of America starts thinking this is how progressives would truly govern, and that these craptastic policies are a true reflection of what it means to be a progressive or liberal -- we should disown them. This isn't progressivism. Not even close.
POSTSCRIPT: I want to thank everyone who HR'd this diary for hypocritically enforcing ideological purity -- that you attack me for -- and trying to stifle honest disagreement. Way to go. You are an embarrassment to the Daily Kos community.