Progressives, who helped to get Obama nominated and elected, are increasingly voicing criticism of the centrist policies of the Obama administration. While Obama has reached out to conservative/moderate journalists, pundits and political groups in D.C., even the small but vocal "Blue Dog Democrats" who are threatening to kill any progressive legislation in Congress, Obama has yet to meet with the much larger Progressive caucus, or invite a progressive critic like Paul Krugman into his office.
On the economy, Obama is following the same policies as Bush and Clinton, even appointing Wall Street insiders like Timothy Geithner and Timothy Summers, to "bail out" the financial institutions who caused the Great Recession...
On health care, Obama has sided with insurance companies to oppose a single-payer public health insurance program and try another failed band-aid approach that will benefit the insurance companies. The Obama administration tried to keep single-payer advocates out of the "health care summit" in D.C.
In the "war on terror," Obama is not only continuing many of the unconstitutional programs of the Bush administration, he is even protecting and covering the crimes of the Bush administration. While he campaigned to end the war in Iraq, he is not going to pull the troops out as he promised, and is going to escalate the war in Afghanistan.
On gay rights, the Obama administration and the Democratic Congress do not want to touch the military's failed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy or do away with the Defense of Marriage Act. These were two of the big promises Obama made to the LGBT community. It looks like Obama will follow Bill Clinton's example and throw LGBT people under the bus of political compromise.
One of the most vocal progressive critics of Obama's economic plans has been Paul Krugman, who made some news this week, including the cover of Newsweek
Krugman continues to voice concerns about Obama's economic policies in his NYT Column
The Market Wizards Were Exposed as Frauds: Too Bad Obama Team Believes Their Magic
Krugman takes on Geithner/Obama on ABC's This Week
Krugman is not alone...more progressives are taking on Obama:
William Greider-- Obama's Economic Plan: A Version of Monopoly, but No One Loses
Have Geithner's "Zombie Ideas" Won? Krugman on the "Cash for Trash" Program
James Gailbraith: This Crisis is Way Bigger than Dead Banks and Wall Street Bailouts
Tom Hayden:
Why is a "Progressive" Think Tank Telling Obama to Escalate the War in Afghanistan?
Don't Go There Mr. President!
Jim Hightower: Obama to Send More Mercenaries to Afghanistan--Sound Familiar?
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2 comments:
It is still his first year in office and we cannot expect to much from in only a few days. But as I stated before, from the way he is doing things he is slowly losing my favor.
Very true, he did seem a lot more appealing during the election. I admit it is a little too early to judge but so far all the steps he made and all the decisions he made are not the greatest ones. His decision on the war in Afghanistan is a complete mistake from what I see. Also he's not doing much with the health care program as he promised. But we must admit, he sure has a lot to fix. We'll see...
Take care, Julie
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