Tag: the Democratic Left

Being Right on the Big Issues Means you are Left Out of the Obama Cabinet

First, let me say what this diary is not. It is not an OMG, Obama fooled us and betrayed the movement.  It is not OMG, it’s all over and we must oppose Obama.  It is not, OMG, let’s start or join a third party, because the Dems are bankrupt and Obama/Reid/Pelosi are not progressives.

What I hope it is, is a springboard for discussion about why we are left out and what it means.    

I agree with the Nation’s take on this: in Obama’s cabinet and other appointments, the Left of the Democratic Party has been left out.  We’ll see how his policy is, but people make policy, and all these appointments (or rumored appointments) have had a distinctly centrist tinge.  I’m not surprised that Obama is not leaning left, because I expected mildly left of center policy choices, and we have not seen him govern yet, so we don’t yet know all his policy choices.

More, including an excerpt from the Nation blog, after the fold.  

(Also on Dkos: http://www.dailykos.com/story/…  )