No sooner did our own Ernie Canning call for a Eugene McCarthy-like progressive Democratic primary challenge to President Barack Obama last Friday afternoon, than Current’s Countdown featured an interview with Ralph Nader to discuss exactly that on Friday night…
Nader argued that without a primary challenge and vigorous debate on issues important to the Democratic base, Obama would “be able, for another four years, should he win, which is likely, to turn his back on the liberal progressive base and become Obama/Bush Administration 2. Just look at all the similarities with the Bush Administration.”
Host David Shuster challenged Nader by suggesting that “a primary challenge to President Obama would hurt him, cause fissures in the democratic party and possibly impede the party efforts in the the general election.”
“Well, it’s just the reverse,” Nader countered. “It will challenge him, bring the best out of him and there’s nothing worse for a candidate in terms of lessening the enthusiastic level for him than to go through an unchallenged routine of repetitious primaries.”
The former Green and then independent Presidential candidate discussed a soon-to-emerge, campaign by Democratic progressives to organize an initiative in the coming days “not designed to defeat [Obama], in the Democratic Primary, but designed to generate a robust debate, and put the liberal progressive issues on domestic policies, including job production and foreign and military policy, on the national Presidential agenda in 2012.”
He said that without such a challenge, Obama would be allowed to continue serving little more than just “the corporate warlords and corporate barons of Wall Street.”
By the way, in an article last January, Canning called on Nader himself to register as a Democrat and consider exactly such a primary challenge to Obama.
Nader is not the only high profile figure to discuss the possibility of a primary challenge to the President. Vermont’s extremely popular Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, said on Thom Hartmann’s radio show the Friday before last that he thought “it would be a good idea if President Obama faced some primary opposition.”
Then, over this past weekend, as word of the debt ceiling “deal” brokered between Obama and the Republicans, featuring historic spending cuts but no increases in revenue, leaked out, word came in that some 75 Progressive Caucus members of the California Democratic Party (CDP) had passed a controversial resolution in support of, you guessed it, a Democratic primary challenge to Barack Obama.
According to a statement posted with their resolution at WarisaCrime.org: “Gathering in Anaheim during an Executive Board meeting of the CDP, the group overwhelmingly endorsed the resolution following a discussion on the importance of not only challenging the far-right agenda of unmitigated corporate greed but also the current administration’s willingness to slash 650-billion dollars from Social Security and Medicare.”
That resolution, passed by the Progressive Caucus of the CDP follows in full below…
Whereas, the Progressive Caucus of the California Democratic Party, recognizes the challenge presented by President Obama’s negotiating away Democratic Party principles to extremist Republicans by:
- His unilateral closed-door budget offer to slash Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, thus endangering The New Deal and War on Poverty safety nets.
- His determination to escalate U.S. militarism through illegal secret CIA drone attacks and unauthorized wars.
- His willingness to extend the Bush tax cuts for millionaires and bail out big banks without ending the foreclosure crisis that displaces American working families.
- His insistence on pushing a health insurance bill which enriches private insurance companies while ignoring growing support for single-payer health care or robust public options.
- His continuance of President Bush’s assault on civil liberties with an extension of the repressive Patriot Act, along with violations of international human rights.
- His failure to restore due process and Habeas Corpus, while continuing the practice of nationwide FBI raids of anti-war progressive protesters.
- His decision to increase the arrests and deportations of undocumented workers.
- His facilitation of the privatization of the public sphere, which includes education and housing, among others.
- His disregard of his promises to the Labor movement and environmentalists.
Whereas the Progressive Caucus of the California Democratic Party recognizes the historical significance of the great late Robert F. Kennedy’s anti-war challenge to former President Lyndon Johnson, following President Johnson’s decision to escalate U.S. military involvement in Vietnam, betraying his campaign promise to end a war that polarized America, we similarly recognize the danger and betrayal the “Grand Bargain” represents to the legacy of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s signature gift to all Americans: Social Security and the New Deal, a point of pride for all Democrats.
Whereas the Progressive Caucus of the California Democratic Party is committed to the understanding that an interest in a 2012 Democratic Presidential Primary challenge will not interfere with President Obama’s ability to govern, nor limit his ability to do so in ways that include invoking Constitutional options, we recognize that a Primary challenge will, in fact raise debate on important issues without risking the ability to mobilize and energize the base of the Democratic Party to elect a triumphant leader to counter the far-right agenda.
Therefore, be it resolved, to make our views heard, the Progressive Caucus of the California Democratic Party will begin the process of contacting other Democratic organizations, Democratic Party members and public organizations that share our views and which seek to change the course of history by exploring other steps necessary to effect a necessary change, including a possible primary challenge against President Obama.
Following what is being reported as some tense moments, including objections from the CDP’s African-American Caucus, (see here and here) over the introduction of the resolution to the Executive Committee, an “objection to consideration” of the motion was made, effectively tabling the resolution for the time being in order to “give tempers a chance to cool on all sides.”
Thank God people are finally speaking up about a challenge to Obama.
What is this “split the Party” crap? The question assumes that an incumbent President has some God-given right to the nomination of his Party for re-election.
If a President betrays the rank-and-file of a Party by betraying the fundamental principles upon which membership in that Party is based, then that President does not deserve the nomination.
The issue is one of democratic choice. 78% of the American people opposed the cuts in Medicare and favor increased taxes on the wealthy. 60% of the American people (7 in 10 Democrats) favor an immediate end to the war in Afghanistan.
It seems to me that a truly progressive Democratic candidate whose policies are in line with the will of the electorate, as opposed to a corporate-pleasing and spineless sell-out, would have a far greater chance of winning the White House in 2012–and backed up by like-minded candidates–a far greater chance of recapturing control of the House.
Raw Story reports that “Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) said Thursday that President Barack Obama ‘absolutely’ ought to face a Democratic primary challenge from the left in 2012, predicting it would make him ‘stronger’.” But Kucinich ruled himself out as that challenger.
So, in line with my harkening back to 1968, can we get RFK Jr. to step forward to complete the task his father would have carried out but for an assassin’s bullet?
Brad: Just to clarify matters in light of your KPFK comments.
I did not propose a progressive primary challenge to “broaden the debate” or “strengthen the President’s chances through that debate.”
I proposed a progressive primary challenge because, in a democratic society, the People are entitled to chose between candidates who represent their interests and those who do not.
I am proposing that someone who truly represents the interests of the American people run and, hopefully, defeat an incumbent President who does not, period!
from Ernest;
“I am proposing that someone who truly represents the interests of the American people run and, hopefully, defeat an incumbent President who does not, period!”
That is exactly what I would like to see happen!
I just worry that there won’t be anyone with the name recognition that will challenge him. If a person who possesses the attributes that Ernie describes does emerge, and has enough notoriety to be noticed, it’s probable that the D establishment will ostracize them. The media will definitely go to town on this person too, look at the way they treat Nader.
There’s another thing here, too. Not to get too racial, but if the person in question is a white male, there’s a real chance that he and his supporters will be tagged as racists for challenging the first black prez. Probably tough for a white female too.
So yeah, I agree in principle with Ernie, but it will be a very tough sell unless the perfect candidate is found. Someone willing to risk being demonized and ostracized and at the same time face a very small chance of getting the nomination.
I think that the effort to ostracize is already in play, Hankydub. During Brad’s discussion with Karen Bernal on KPFK there was a discussion about the CA Democratic Party “punishing” the Progressive Caucus for its vote.
We the people have to turn that around. We must reject the idea that political parties are top down organizations that can demand loyalty from below. That is fundamentally at odds with the tenets of a democratic society.
The prospect of a choice between a right wing fundamentalist bent on feudal autocracy and a corporate Dem who will provide an incremental surrender of our liberty, our health, our environment and our democracy is no choice at all.
Fundamental change can be realized only when a democratic people unite behind a true progressive who is willing not only to challenge the incumbent President but the unsustainable and untenable doctrine which permits the richest one percent of our citizens to exert near total control over the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government.
Candidate Obama was quite clear that he needed to be guided by an involved citizenry to make things happen. Of course, that now seems like one of a million things he didn’t really seem to mean, but I think this would be a great way to try to jar some sense into the fellow.
In Obama’s Compromising Stirs Talk of Dem Primary Challenge; Bernie Sanders Says It’s a ‘Good Idea’, The Nation reports:
Oh, as always, David Lasagna makes an important point.
But, if we had a true progressive leader, we would not have to “jar some sense into the fellow.” He/she would not have to be pushed to do the right thing. He/she would “lead” the nation towards democracy, peace, equality, environmental integrity, and application of the rule of law to all, including the billionaire thieves on Wall Street.
Although it absolutely breaks my heart to agree with everyone here regarding a primary of Prez O, sadly i have been thinking it is what will be needed since almost 1 1/2 years ago now. We need a massive FDR size congressional delegation too!!
Regarding Mr. Canning’s remark, “So, in line with my harkening back to 1968, can we get RFK Jr. to step forward to complete the task his father would have carried out but for an assassin’s bullet?” ~ This has been precisely my thinking whenever i am trying to dream up who would have everything we need in one person & imho, i believe RFK Jr. would be PERFECTION!
perfection? really?
an ex heroin junkie who has never held or even ran for ANY public office? Curious.
In this dimension I do not believe an animal called perfection exists, but for ME, the closest thing is the warrior I voted for last time,
Cynthia Ann McKinney
Someone with the balls to call the Zio-Nazis on their bullshit. Talk about walking the walk. On boats to Gaza…..weeks inside Libya denouncing the illegal imperial assault while the bombs are flying….on Libyan TV
Not afraid to question nine eleven, or any other topic most “progressives” are too chicken shit to even quietly think about to themselves.
Our planet needs fighters. Get in the streets game changers, not milk toast trust funders and keyboard warriors.
I agree with most of the progressive complaints with Obama, but real world politics call for strategic decision making. Please let’s not risk a Romney (or Perry!) presidency. No more Nadars please! Incidentally, I believe Obama will shift a bit to the left if he wins a second term.
Eli @12 wrote:
Ah, the lesser-evil paradigm rears its ugly head. But is it rational? Why would having a Democratic candidate whose policy positions are supported by the vast majority of Americans (e.g., 60% of Americans favor an immediate end to the war in Afghanistan; 60% favor a single-payer health care system; 78% are opposed to cuts in Medicare and the vast majority support ending the Bush tax cuts for billionaires) create a greater likelihood of a GOP victory than having a President who has taken the wrong side on all those issues as the Democratic nominee?
Eli next states:
Yes, and you probably believed Obama in 2008 when he promised to be the “change we can believe in.”
Compare your “belief” to Kucinich Says Obama Got the Deal He Wanted
With all due respect, Eli, your “belief” amounts to blind faith — hardly a reliable basis for casting one’s vote.
Mr. Canning, I’m surprised that you think the solution is merely to put better people (in terms of politics and, I’m assuming, personal integrity and competence) in office. Will it really take the failure of that strategy on a massive scale to wake you up to how misguided it is? Just as political parties can’t be top down, neither can a society. True democracy – economic, political, social – is, while still not some kind of magic bullet to cure all woes, I think more what you’re looking for. Instead of just replacing one person, we must recognize that these problems we see are systematic, then work from there.
Re Ross @14:
Who said anything about replacing one person as the beat all to end all?
Of course we are faced with systemic dysfunction brought on by a global corporate autocracy that is devoted to inequality. Of course fundamental change requires a multidimensional strategy, which, of necessity, requires economic as well as political democracy.
But the topic at hand deals with the most powerful political office on earth. It deals with the right of a People in a democratic society to make a choice as to who occupies that office based on whether the individual represents their interests as opposed to those who represent the corporate security state.
So, I’m afraid, Ross, that in claiming there is “no magic bullet”, you’ve raised a straw man that is not germane to anything I’ve written on this topic.
I commend Mr. Canning’s idealism in espousing the view that the nomination can be taken from Obama but it’s unrealistic. The President deserves criticism for continuing Bush’s economic and military policies and I am not defending this. But Obama did say very early on in his first term to progressives – “make me”, asking for ground-up support for change that never came and instead went the other way – the voters didn’t even hold the House or state legislatures in the midterms.
Obama eats (most of) his own words: “I believe in a tax code that we need to make more fair. I believe in universal health care. I believe in making college affordable. I believe in paying our teachers more money. I believe in early childhood education. I believe in a whole lot of things that make me progressive.”
We are therefore not fighting Obama – he is a smart, savvy candidate playing electoral politics. He could do what’s progressive, what’s ethical, what’s just, fair – or he could win reelection in a system that encourages 80% of campaign money and effort going into about sixteen key swing states.
He is running as an amalgam of a RINO/DINO so he can beat the other guy and no amount of moral philosophizing can change what his campaign strategy will need to be to get those electoral votes.
Is he better than the Republican? Maybe 20-30% in my mind. What came first, the chicken or the egg? He started to go wobbly on issues like FISA and hawk-talk in 2005, but it made him more and more popular.
Obamacare is barely tolerable, but it took literally every vote in the House and Senate to squeeze that sh!tty bill through using reconciliation. Liz Warren, Goodwin Liu, Van Jones were all run out on a rail. Is Obama the problem or a symptom? I believe the problem is money in elections and media, but that’s just me.
So make your protest vote if you must – especially if you are not in a swing state. But the “lesser evil” voters will be reliably be held hostage and taken for granted in the quest for the undecided independent.
I’m sorry to point this out, but tens of thousands may have died in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere because of a few thousand “spoiler” votes for Nader in 2004. Would Kerry have pulled out, drawn down? Who knows – he wouldn’t even challenge his own election fraud.
Instead of waiting for a savior to float in to the White House who will be impervious to corporate blackmail, who will defy the banks, who will resist the extortion of lobbies, big pharma, defense and all the SIGs and PACs who outraise the grassroots exponentially, progressives need to produce numbers and strength on their own. In fact, I’d say Congress and state legislatures at this point might be a better aim because they are tipping the other way just now and change MUST come from the ground up anyway.
Democratic Primary challengers, yes, pleeeaaase.
We can’t have four more years of this be our only alternative to the kind of civil unrest England is now experiencing.
There is an organization called the New Progressive Alliance which hopes to field a challenger to Obama (www.newprogs.org). They state on their welcome: “We not only support a primary election challenge to Barack Obama in 2012, but will endorse an Independent or third-party candidate to oppose both corporatist marionettes in the general election.”
I happen to believe that ANY challenge is worthwhile. Having Franklin Roosevelt XXIV would be nice, but even a no-name would establish their name by dint of stepping into the ring.