There are a lot of people who are sorely disappointed in Barack Obama. I'm one of them.
The person who seemed like the second coming of FDR has turned out to be more like the second coming of Clinton instead. Excelling at talking a good game, but far to eager to appease the corporations and the Republican extremists who have taken control of the GOP.
Obama is constantly seeking the "Center" from the beginning of any political action, which pretty much guarantees that he'll end up on the "Right" every time.
On issues ranging from financial reform, to healthcare for all, he has time and time again let the Progressive Left down.
As a result, there are a lot of people calling for Obama to face a Primary Challenge. I am Not one of them.
The kind of thinking that leads Progressives to believe that a Primary Challenge to Obama is a good idea is a classic example of the many ways that all to often we are unwilling, or unable to accept and grapple with some of the simple, brutal truths of politics in America, in this day and age.
1: No president will ever be Progressive enough.
This has been a fact of political life going back at least as far as Franklin Roosevelt. (I limit myself thusly because I'm honestly not sure if Progressivism as the distinct entity we know it as today really existed prior to the twentieth century) The amount of politicking, and compromise required to be elected President usually saps even the best persons purity. Even if someone were to mount a successful Primary Challenge to Obama, win the Democratic nomination and win the Presidency, there is no guarantee that once in office that person wouldn't turn out to be as bad a compromiser as we fault Obama for being.
2: It's far easier to lose momentum than to build it.
One of the things that Obama at this stage in the game has going for him is that he's a known commodity. This helps to get past some of the natural suspicions people have of the unknown. This increases his chances of winning. A successful challenger while perhaps well-known to Progressives, would be a virtual stranger to most Americans. Besides that, most Americans would not even be "seeing" the candidate but rather the infighting and divisiveness that he would symbolize. Leaving the Republicans free to do what they do best, present the appearance of a united front, which can be very reassuring to voters.
3: Anything that might allow a Republican to get back into the White House is an unacceptable risk.
And I do mean ANYTHING! The Republicans have always largely been pro military, pro corporation, anti regulation, and anti reform. But once upon a time they did have some self-imposed limits. Lines that at least in public they assured us they would not cross. Those days are OVER. At this point I have no faith at all in the Republicans to be even remotely sane. Destroy Medicare? End Social Security? Kill the Post Office? Repeal the minimum wage laws? If the headlines tomorrow said the GOP was going to do all those things and more it would not surprise me one bit. The majority of Democrats may be fairly weak, and very beholden to corporations, but at least they still have a shred of compassion and common sense. The Republicans not only have none, but they have made a point of proclaiming that lack as a virtue.
4: You cannot build the roof before you build the foundation.
A big part of the problem in politics in America is that far too many people are fixated on the office of the President as the be all and end all of political power. In some ways it is. But in many other ways it really isn't. Power for real change often lies in the lower levels. State, even often cities and towns. If Progressives really do want to someday have a President that reflects our values we need to start by building a solid Progressive infrastructure. We need to remember that no position is too small, to not be worth seeking to put a Progressive there. Town dog catcher, city auditor, and on up. Once we have the lowest most humble levels of government filled with Progressives, then we can seek to build on that. Working up to Progressive mayors, and governors, and senators. Until finally there will come a day when a true Progressive is sitting in the oval office.
This however is the work of years, decades really. It is not going to happen over night. And the way to start is not by trying to field a Hail Mary Pass of a candidate to challenge Obama in the Democratic Primary.
Keep The Faith My Brothers And Sisters!
The following resources were used in the creation of this article:
From Newsweek: War on the Weak
From Truthout: Government by People Who Hate You
From The Wall Street Journal: Obama Puts Taxes on Table
From The Progressive:Why a Primary Challenge to Obama Is a Bad Idea