Obama Has a Warning for 2020 Progressives
by Bob Cronin
Former President Obama is staying so far away from the race for the 2020 Democratic nomination that he delivered a new message to the candidates from Europe: Don’t destroy each other during this process.
“One of the things I do worry about sometimes among progressives in the United States, maybe it’s true here as well,” he said, per the Guardian, “is a certain kind of rigidity where we say, ‘Uh, I’m sorry, this is how it’s going to be’ and then we start sometimes creating what’s called a ‘circular firing squad,’ where you start shooting at your allies because one of them has strayed from purity on the issues. And when that happens, typically the overall effort and movement weakens.” He delivered the message at an Obama Foundation event Saturday in Berlin.
Democrats aren’t even close to the debates and primaries yet, but candidates and potential candidates already are taking heat over their records said to show they aren’t progressive enough: Joe Biden on racial and women’s issues, Beto O’Rourke on environmental and immigration issues, and Kamala Harris on her track record as a prosecutor.
To illustrate the need for progressives to be flexible, Slate reports, Obama told the crowd about his compromises to win approval of the Affordable Care Act and the Paris Climate Agreement, though neither was all that he wanted.
“The way we structure democracy requires you to take into account people who don’t agree with you,” Obama said, “and that by definition means you’re not going to get 100 percent of what you want.”
Via Newser.
More Stories
What in the World Happened to the Ginger Kitten?
The abrupt sound of multiple barks pierced the stillness of the night. It was an unsettling deviation from their customary...
Warning: Be Careful When Walking Your Dog In Alligator Country
Mike McCoy has read up a bit on alligator attacks and he knew what to do if you find yourself in one—and good thing too.
MadMikesAmerica To Remain Open For Business
We are staying open. MMA may not be as active as it once was, but why close this one, with all those articles still available to read, and maybe more to come?
Fox News Guest: Ghoulish Trump Has Blood On His Hands
Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) told Fox News on Sunday that former President Donald Trump is guilty of a “ghoulish” attempt to undermine the economy by downplaying the need for Covid-19 vaccinations.
Disgusting Ted Cruz Forgets History of Conservatives Like Elvis Promoting Vaccines
Recently, the beloved Sesame Street character Big Bird went on television and social media to promote COVID-19 vaccines. For anyone who has been conscious for at least a few years, celebrities—especially ones with larger fanbases amongst the youth of the country—promoting public health initiatives is not surprising. It has been going on forever and ever.
Crazy Louie Gohmert: Climate Action Would Force Us To Brush Our Teeth With Bark
[caption id="attachment_187456" align="aligncenter" width="615"] Getty images[/caption] by Aldous J. Pennyfarthing How the hell did Republican Louie Gohmert of Texas ever become...
Boyfriend** is a big Beto fan. He went to Texas to help him against Cruz.
**so you know, totally weird for me to say out loud.
Keeryst sometimes he didn’t even get 10% of what he wanted because he chose to “work” with goopers. I’m all about the purity right now and when the general arrives I’ll be about voting for the dem candidate much like I always do. Kamala Harris has my eye right now because she’s my senator and she’s doing some good stuff but I would love to see Pete Buttigieg get the nod just to watch heads explode because they can’t box him in as one thing or another. Young, gay, smart af against an aging orange tanned assclown, ayup bring that shit on.
Kamala and Buttigieg are at the top of my list, but I like Beto as well.