This is one those “self-awareness failures” Obama is well known for
(The Hill) President Obama on Thursday warned Democrats against adopting a “Tea Party mentality†that could lead to deep divisions within the party and harm its chances of winning national elections.
Following the rise of the Tea Party and Donald Trump, Obama said infighting within the Republican Party is much worse than it is on the Democratic side.
But he urged his party’s voters to be mindful of that danger in the midst of a heated primary battle between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.
“The thing Democrats have to guard against is going in the direction that the Republicans are much further along on, and that is this sense ‘we are just going to get our way, and if we don’t, then we’ll cannibalize our own, kick them out and try again,’ †he said at a town-hall meeting with law students in Chicago.
In that scenario, Democrats could “stake out positions so extreme, they alienate the broad public,†Obama added. “I don’t see that being where the Democrats go, but it’s always something we have to pay attention to.†(snip)
“The danger, whether for Democrats or Republicans, is in a closed-loop system where everybody is just listening to the people who agree with them,†he said.
This is coming from a man who tends to listen only to his small circle of advisors. And donors. Can’t forget about them. What he’s advocating is that the Democrat big wigs not listen to the people who vote for them. Not listen to the base. I wholly endorse that idea. Remember, it was the Tea Party that propelled the GOP to regain the House in a historic beatdown of the Democrats in the 2010 midterms. And then more wins in the House in 2012 and gains in the Senate. Then taking back the Senate in 2014.
Of course, the Republican bigwigs mostly failed to listen to the Tea Party afterwards, much as they’ve relied on the Conservative base to get out the vote then ignored us.
“A lot of Democrats supported me and still support me got frustrated is because a bunch of the country doesn’t agree with me or them and they have votes too. And they elect members of Congress. That’s how our democracy works,” Obama said.
“If you don’t get everything you want, it’s not always because the person you elected sold you out,” he continued. “It may just be because in our system, you end up taking half loaves.”
O actually has a point on this. That is politics. Sometimes you have to give a little to get a little. Sometimes you have to compromise. You can’t always get what you want, especially in a big country with over 300 million people who will have differing priorities based on political views and location. There’s a reason why the federal government was not meant to be so strong. States tend to be as big or bigger than many nations around the world, especially the European ones at the time the Constitution was written.
But, it is cute that O yammers on about democracy and half loaves when he’s laid out a my way or the highway vision during his period in office and tends to act that way with regulation and rules.
Republicans/conservatives are much smarter and more disciplined than the pollyannish Dems/libs. Years ago the Repubs saw the demographics aligning against them, and chose to consolidate their hold on power at the local level. It was a long view.
It is impossible for a Republican (as currently configured) to win a national election if the election is conducted fairly. The Republican approach was to attack at the State level, winning statehouses, and once there, gerrymandering to their benefit and importantly, working 24/7 to suppress the votes of traditional Democratic voters. They also attack gays, Blacks and transgendered just for fun.
As usual, Barry will read anything on his teleprompter. The lying simply comes naturally.
Compromise ?? Is that a new word in your vocabulary ?
In just over 6 months we are going to have new elections
The Dems are heavily favored to win the White House and the Senate
After the next more leftist Associate Justice is confirmed it will put an end to gerrymandering of House districts
We’ll ask J again for proof of his assertions “of Republicans working 24/7 to suppress the votes of traditional Dem voters, and attacking gays, blacks and trannys.” All kinds of proof of still being a drama queen, though. And I just learned that gerrymandering was never practiced till the Republicans allegedly did it.
jl,
You are such a little gurl when it comes to debating. Poor widdle thing.
Translated: I can’t defend a thing I said. Surprise, I’m a liberal.
Translated: I’m a widdle gurl. Surprise, I’m a widdle gurl.
Game. Set. Match. Thanks again for proving my point.
Don’t shoot! You get whupped then claim victory! LOL
You’re the Black Knight blocking the bridge in the Holy Grail.
[King Arthur has just cut the Black Knight’s last leg off – no arms, no legs]
Black Knight: All right, we’ll call it a draw.
King Arthur: [Preparing to leave] Come, Patsy.
[King Arthur and Patsy ride off]
Black Knight: [calling after King Arthur] Oh, oh, I see! Running away, eh? You yellow bastards! Come back here and take what’s coming to you! I’ll bite your legs off!