Without Liberals, Democrats Are Just Unarmed Republicans

Yesterday, the Rude Pundit gave us a small sample of the anti-Obama hatred that has flooded Facebook. He concluded:

This is a reminder, as we on the left disagree with Obama and oppose some of his policies, of what we're actually up against, our own extremists and the absolutely bugfuck insane shit they are willing to say openly.

The Rude One is right, and we cannot lose sight of that.

But blind loyalty is not the only alternative to rejecting Obama outright.

The proper response to a Democratic president failing to champion liberal values is to stand up and demand he champion liberal values.

Exhibit A: health care deform, which has become a corporate windfall beyond the dreams of avarice because the White House refused to accept the liberal solution even as a negotiating position.

Steve M. makes the point:

I wonder where these polls would be if Obama and the Dems had managed to position the set of proposals we have now as a middle ground between dirty-hippie single-payer advocates and pro-status-quo Republicans. Forcing true progressives to the margins helped Republicans to portray the stance of Obama and the Dems as the far-left position. Imagine if the single-payer fans had been allowed into the discussion, pitchforks in hand. Would Obama look moderate now?

The lack of triangulation allows Republicans to claim that Obama and the Democrats -- who in reality are endlessly compromising -- are actually dictators ramming health care reform down our throats. There's no middle, according to this narrative -- there's a jugfgernaut and then there's a band of brave, politically incorrect souls standing before the tanks.

That's why centrist Democrats need dirty hippies. It's a lesson many of them struggle to learn.

Tell Congress and President Obama to champion your liberal values:

Call members of Congress here: (202) 224-3121

Call the White House here: (202) 456-1414

Cross-posted at They Gave Us A Republic ....