From the vantage point of ‘coalition’ Britain, the past couple of months of American politics have been fascinating. As in the UK, two parties that traditionally loath each other and everything they stand for try to come together in the national interest, you almost have the direct opposite happening in America.
What I have found most interesting is role the ‘professional left’, Obama’s (once) base, has chosen to play over the past couple of months. I have no doubt that the left generally see themselves as being the shepherds and guardians of liberal ideas and principle – principle and ideas which should be defended at all cost. More to the point, I am also convinced that the ‘professional left’ who supported Obama in the 2008 saw Obama as the lefts answer to George W Bush, in that he would champion the vast majority of liberal ideas, pushing them through congress, regardless of what conservatives think – and by conservatives, I am also referring to conservative Democrats as well as rank and file Republicans. Obama was going to be their Reagan and live up to the Republican label of being the most liberal politician in Washington.
That’s what change was for liberals, more of the same Bush style partisanship but from a liberal perspective.
Today you find a spitting mad liberal base, a rejuvenated GOP party and a centre which could be best described as confused but wrongly labelled as shrinking. Obama been planted in the low to mid 40s in most polls for months and the economy…well it put it mildly, it stinks.
Liberals will argue that the economy is not doing better because Obama was not brave enough, he didn’t ask for enough money for the stimulus bill, he gave away the stall to pharmaceutical and insurance companies in the healthcare debate and now he, to use a British term, bottled it in this new tax deal. Even Joe Scarborough remained perplexed to why Obama did not stand and fight for what he saw was a key liberal principle.
‘Why did he not challenge the republicans to stand against tax cuts for the middle class?’ Why did he cave?’ ‘Obama got rolled again.’ ‘Obama is not up for the fight.’
It’s amazing that it is in these terms, the partisan fight, that America is choosing to frame pretty much every single political issue since the healthcare debate. It would be have been nigh near impossible for Obama to get any concessions out of the
Republicans when Congress resumes in the new year, so in reality what the left is actually arguing for is an increase in taxes, for everyone, no unemployment extensions and no tax breaks for businesses and middle class — all for the fight.
You can argue whether you feel the concessions Obama got from the Republicans were enough, although, again, I believe that would be the wrong question to ask. If the deal wasn’t done, taxes for all earners would have risen, so the real question becomes, is this the right time to raise taxes?
Another question liberals should ask of themselves is, should Obama have taken a stand when millions of Americans out of work were perilously close to losing their unemployment benefits?
If you’re out of work, or you’re a middle income family struggling to get by, Christmas is creeping up round the corner, are you going to be mad at Obama for reducing your bosses taxes if that meant still get to keep your financial lifeline or your own taxes don’t rise after Christmas.
I feel that political junkies like myself, political bloggers and pundits are caught in this alternative universe were the only thing that matters is political communication, PR, optics and we forget that there is another world out there were everything that happens in institutions such as Congress or in my case Parliament, matters.
Watching the press conference of Obama trying to explain why the deal he brokered with the Republicans was beneficial was difficult to watch. It was like watching a parent trying to tell his kids that Santa, Peter Pan, Aladdin, fairytales were not true and trying to explain the harsh realities of life. Maybe that was a bad analogy, let me use a cliché, it was like a doctor trying to administer gut wrenching awful medicine to a patient that did not understand why they needed it.
Maybe I am just crap at this analogy thing.
Anyway, till next time TMV — thoughts in the village are much appreciated.
Just a normal everyday bloke writing about films.