Some progressives casting a wary eye on Barack Obama

Part of every presidential campaign is the post-primary shuffle. That's when the Republican nominee tries to show centrist voters that he isn't really as conservative as he made himself out to be to win his party's base, and the presumptive Democratic nominee similarly tries to pull himself in from the left.

The Swamp notes this morning that the perception among some progressives that Barack Obama is leaving the left for the center has given rise to an unusual way of tethering the candidate to their issues. They're putting their money on the table, hoping to raise $1 million in an "escrow" fund that Obama can't tap until he displays "progressive leadership" on issues.

The issue that sparked the mini-revolt was Obama's support for giving wiretapping immunity to the phone companies under the recent FISA vote, something he had earlier said he would oppose. In a memo to fellow progressives, Bob Fertik, president of Democrats.com, said he still backs Obama but thinks the candidate could use a little wake-up call from the folks who played a significant role in securing him the nomination.

We're asking you to put some of the money you plan to give Obama "in escrow" until he demonstrates progressive leadership on the issues we care about, like warrantless wiretapping.

We are absolutely not trying to hurt Obama -- we'll give him our money at some point. We're just asking for a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T like Aretha Franklin sang about.

We can get Obama's respect because needs our money -- he turned down $85 million in taxpayer dollars because he believes small donors like us will contribute $300 million. And now is the best time to use our modest leverage, before the campaign goes all-out after the convention.

-- Scott Martelle

Photo: Francine Orr /Los Angeles Times

Comments

[TheNumantine]

Dear fellow progressives, the Primary is over. This former Kucinich supporter has just sent a contribution to Obama.

Obama is not perfect, but thank God he is not John McCain.

Quiet down. Send in your checks. Join the campaign. Let's reclaim America.

[dave]

'settle for the perceived 'lesser of two evils.' sedate your conscience. howl with the wolves. crouch and creep. abandon your convictions. preemptively give to those that will rob you anyway, so you can pretend it's your choice. and kick those in the teeth that will stay principled and defend your liberty, along with their own. whenever and wherever you can. reclaim an america you don't want and already got.'

not good. no way.

[Back to the goulag]

The biggest flip-floper since John F'n kerry.Patriotism and
faith are not his forte. Does anyone know what this guy's
no one priority is ?

[Stevenage]

Being too extreme to the left or right is not where objectiveness can be achieved and apparently Obama agrees. This is the general election. The stakes are too high to hold Obama hostage to the left's idealistic standard.

[Philip]

Obama, is first a responsible leader. He must do what is best for the troops in harms way and for the nation.

This is not a flip-flop, but a reasoned approach. If the situation of withdrawing troops to soon would cuase the lose of more lives then I am for delaying the withdrawal.

[toby]

LOL, ummm, only the super Liberal elite and Reporters were under the impression that Obama was the first coming of Liberal Idealism.

The rest of us Democrats saw him as an unapologetic opportunist who literally has no experience.

[Lynn]

I second Toby's comments. Obama is the biggest fake and apparently some people still want to believe he is worth it because McCain has been painted as evil. The Democratic convention has not been held yet and Obama is the presumptive nominee. He got the required votes by ignoring Michigan and Florida and by having a mob on the Internet intimidate superdelegates. Older people who don't use the Internet much or aren't as savvy didn't have a chance. That is not equality or fair. This guy needs to go or McCain will win. Do you think the right except for maybe the religious right, will be taken in by Obama's schmoozing at this point? They've seen enough of the Democratic primaries and what happened to Hillary Clinton to fall for it. Obama just makes the Republican party and John McCain look better. What a lousy election! I've never been so discouraged in my life!

[Robert]

Barack Obama fooled his extremely far left liberal voters. The loney left dont want to hear him bend his campaign promises. They want out of Iraq in no more that 16 months like he promised. Oh Hillary? You still there?

[chris]

obama seems to be starting to act like dubya with his arrogance.......which makes sense, considering his supporters have acted like dubya's supporters for awhile now....

[BJ]

When you buy into the Obama myth, you get what you pay for!

A politician who will CHANGE as needed, giving you nothing but HOPElessness. Buyer's remorse HOPEfully sets in before it's too late. He is so unqualified for this position!

Watch, a few more weeks, and he will be saying that "drilling for oil" might be a good idea, after all.

[jurinui]

1 million? If people think that 1 million from small doners will get Obama's respect or attention is an illusion. Obama's campaign raised only 45% from the small doners below 200 dollars during the primary. And from now on, it is all about big indivisual doners who can pay 30,000 dollars for an oppulant dinner gathering and pay antoher 15,000 dollars for a photo op with Obama. 5 million dollars they raised in a couple days in Hollywood a few dats ago is the kind of fundraising they are focusing from now on.

The honeymoon with small doners is over. Political benefit of bragging about the small doners as the symbol of his campaign's grassrooted power is not needed any more.

And, democrates are left with no other choice than Obama. Obama knows too well of it. He might comment on the 1 million in escrow if it becomes hard to avoid but he won't change anything for the hearts and passions of his sincere supporters.

I found the movement in the Obama supporters is a very honorable thing, but at the same time I feel bad they didn't look into him more carefully enough.

[Tired of The Obamas]

Elect Barack Obama for president and you will get, Rev.Wright and his church, William Ayers, Father Michael Pfleger, Rezko, Farrakhan, and a whole bunch of very angry black people who think it's time the government pay them for doing nothing but being here. Some admit they don't know Obama, but will vote for him only because he is black/white.

Tired of the Obamas.

[Red]

Go Toby. Phillip get a clue. Bush lied (had powell lie too) and now Obama lies. If you change your tune, you were wrong to begin with. Have you ever met a politician who admitted they were wrong?

[chris]

obama lemmings should take note: don't be like dubya, learn from your mistakes (supporting obama)....

[Helena]

As the Wall Street Journal editorial page pointed out, Obama is running for a third Bush term.

Those liberal types were well and truly taken in.

Obama even sounded like Bush when he talked about
conditions on the ground and the opinions of the generals.

We'll be there for.....100 years! Just you wait.

[betsy]

Hillary.

[tedson]

Black or white, Republican or Democrat what does it matter? Name one politician who isn't wealthy. We have a classic class struggle in this country and it is in the interest of the rich to keep things the way they are. Thomas Jefferson said a nation needs a revolution every 50 years. Too bad he's dead.

[Harry]

The mistake that the msm make is that we are a red or blue state. The fact is, if Obama got all 18 million of his primary votes, and all 18 million of Clinton's primary votes, that equals 36 million. He needs almost twice that to win the general. What people on the Dennis Kucinich Left and the Dick Cheney Right can't fathom is that most Americans are more tethered to the center. That's where Obama is going and that is why he is going to win.

And all you Clintotnistas need to get over yourselves. Even she's on board, but you're doing your Japanese soldier in the jungle bit. Must suck to be you.

[Lois Rees]

I prefer to vote for a man who has had the courage to uphold an unpopular but correct position, than to vote for a man who blows with the wind. Obama flaps whichever way the wind blows. John McCain is a steady hand on the rudder.

[The American]

Barrack is black correct?

Then why not vote for him?

It's the politically correct thing to do for liberals right?

They are all so commie like.

[genop]

How about a little substance naysayers? Yes, Obama shows he can compromise, hold his nose on civil immunity and take half a loaf when holding out for the whole will leave us hungry. Criminal culpability was not compromised and soon there may be some US Attorney's willing to prosecute. Will this more likely happen with McCain appointees or Obama's? Click - light bulb time for some? Sorry, if you're an extremist, you will never be happy. Learn to compromise, and move forward incrementally. After all, change doesn't come in leaps and bounds.

[Jonathan]

"The biggest flip-floper since John F'n kerry.Patriotism and
faith are not his forte. Does anyone know what this guy's
no one priority is ?"

I know - I can't believe that he's already flopped on offshore drilling, torture, televangelists, Roe v. Wade, the estate tax, tax cuts for the rich, immigration, ethanol, privatizing social security, and . Oh, you weren't talking about John McCain?

[Jonathan]

"Elect Barack Obama for president and you will get, Rev.Wright and his church, William Ayers, Father Michael Pfleger, Rezko, Farrakhan, and a whole bunch of very angry black people who think it's time the government pay them for doing nothing but being here. Some admit they don't know Obama, but will vote for him only because he is black/white." - Tired of the Obamas

Rev. Wright isn't a reverend, and Obama doesn't even go to Rev. Wright's former church anymore. William Ayers, Fr. Pfleger, and Rezko have had absolutely nothing to do with Obama's candidacy. Obama and Farrakhan have never met, and Obama has never, ever expressed any kind of support for him. Obama is against reparations and has always been against reparations, very clearly and publicly.

But your fear of "very angry Black people" shows exactly where you lie.

[Michael]

People are saying that McCain would be a GWBush third term. What people don't see is that Obama would be a GWBush third term.

[William, aka, Haji Mohammed]

They're putting their money on the table, hoping to raise $1 million
in an "escrow" fund that Obama can't tap until he displays "progressive
leadership" on issues.

We're asking you to put some of the money you plan to give Obama "in
escrow" until he demonstrates progressive leadership on the issues we
care about, like warrantless wiretapping.

1) Article II, the executive, now can unilatterally tap, right?
2) So, How about requiring Article III to form an oversight committee
of 50 people selected from 200 nominations made: 4 each from each state
[sound]... the legislature of each state names 20, the governor picks
4, then the US congress investigates and names 50, and the Supreme
court then distributes a driver's manual format booklet of rules and
when the candidate is ready he or she takes a DMV style written test,
and an oral exam, and then is certified as a checker on warrantless
wire taps.
3) How many warrantless wire taps are made each day? each week each
year? If it is a US citizen, these guys have to review it. If it's a
non citizen? Then what?
4) If these guys question the wire tap.. do you want to form subgroups
because they're so many wire taps to review? Do you get only screen
names in the case etc. to evaluate it? Then if thsi group our sub
groups blows the whislte, then the supreme court directs a federal
court to review the complaint in closed session. If the Federal court
agrees with the comittee, then the person who is tapped is informed and
they can pursue legal remedy. If the federal court disagrees, the
group of 50 can appeal it to the US supreme court to review. Teh group
of 50 has the right to bring up any appeal again after two years and
every two years thereafter until either the USSC changes it's [Hnk]...

[Michael]

The progressives who support Obama must think that they can influence him by withholding $1 million for a while. If he wins the election, the progressives and any other group of his small donors had better brace themselves. As soon as Obama doesn't need their small donations any more, he won't think twice about throwing them under the bus. He will not and never did intend for them to help him run the country. He just let them think they would so he could get their money.

[Did you say progressives ?]

Hey Scott
The class warfare groups like moove on and other Michael Moore inspired or brainwashed fringe are your
idea of progressives ? Where does that leave the rest
of the god fearing ,hard working regular folks ? I guess
you meant liberal or ultra liberal like in ACLU or GLBT or
Geoge Soros....huh? Conservatives offer a surer path
to progress if you ask me, and no doubt a much more
even keel path to the future. Obama's road reminds me
of old bumpy gravel roads that few people wish to go
back to.

[dedem]

He says what he has to say in order to get elected, then once elected, he will go back to the left...mark my words.

[Eric Coleman]

To Lois Rees: Bush had a steady hand too...led us right into a stink storm and lost all credibility with the rest of the world. I can't say McCain will be better than Obama because they're both politicians. But I'd rather have a captain who will change course when it's necessary than one who'll take me into the storm and lose both the ship and it's crew.

[Obama 08 Oh Yeah!]

Get with the program, Obama supporters. This is not a case of the lesser of two evils. You are playing well into the hands of the Republicans. TV is eating it up as well and you are shooting all of us in the foot. The people of Iraq, the world and the U.S. are crying out to end this war. Not to mention protecting Roe v. Wade, universal healthcare, labor and environmental standards in trade deals, alternative energy, K-12 education, equal opportunities for college for all kids, restoring the U.S. standing in the world, etc. Get out there and register people to vote. Get Obama elected and then let's put the pressure on to make this country and world a better place. McCain will indeed be Bush's 3rd term, maybe worse with his untreated PTSD and accompanying volatile temper. He scares me and he should you too. Keep donating! Keep working for Obama! Stay smart! Vote for Barack 08!

[dave]

common sense will tell you that someone who will say anything to get elected, can be expected to continue cheating and lying once they do get elected; when this is what they got elected for, it's their duty.
amazingly, there still are people who will run on an agenda of telling the truth, harsh as it might look to anyone, and not resort to pandering, lies and flip flopping in the first place; they will propose the steps to correct the course, whether they might be popular or not. those are the few people of true presidential format, like RON PAUL.

[Brian Randall]

If protecting the civil liberties of all Americans is more important than progressive economic freedom then another choice is available. Bob Barr. Bob Barr says absolutely to the new FISA. Spying on Americans is anti-Americans. The new law stretching far beyond Jimmy Carter's initial FISA.

It in effect legalizes a de facto police state. Those with power get to forcefully muzzle those without. Bob Barr has flip-flopped on key issues (who hasn't?) but unlike Obama or McCain at least he has been scared into recognizing that a corrupt constitutionally unaccountable government deserves less not more of OUR freedom.

He was absolutely BRILLIANT on Fox News the other day. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbHtWQ-Hj04

[dave]

RON PAUL has never flip-flopped on key issues. as evidenced by his voting record in congress throughout decades, and his consistently constitutional views as proclaimed to date. there isn't any reason to expect he will now, after all he's been through to defend his - and your - liberty, maintaining his integrity. (for a basic understanding of his ideas his latest book, 'the revolution: a manifesto')

[Shirley Freeman]

McCain has just released a statement calling for job creation now in face of the latest job loss figures. He is an innovative man, who can and will respond to the problems we face. Obama is calling for more tax credits and unemployment benefits now. He wants to wait to create jobs until he is President--I prefer McCain's way, to get Congress and the current Pres. working on new jobs now.