For the idealogue, political pragmatism is considered betrayal. Democratic nominee, Barack Obama is finding this out each time he "refines" his positions. Those refinements have been coming regularly since he finally vanquished Hillary Clinton.
The most recent dust up came over his comments regarding troop withdrawal from Iraq. Obama's campaign theme in the primary was a complete withdrawal in 16 months. Statements like these should always be qualified with such things as after consultation with people who know much more about the situation than I do, or that would be a goal I would strive for if elected depending on the situation at the time or any other qualifying conditions that take into consideration reality. He did in fact qualify his statements with such things as this "I want to be as careful getting out of Iraq as we were careless getting in."
His progressive base in the party has reacted quite negatively because this is one of a steady stream of perceived flip flops coming from the Illinois senator. Others have included special interest donations, campaign financing, lifting the Cuban embargo, decriminalization of marijuana, immunity for telecom companies in the FISA legislation, illegal immigration, gun control and NAFTA.
Not only is the left becoming disconcerted but it seems some in the main stream black community are feeling a bit disenchanted as well. Jesse Jackson's comments this week are 4 parts Jesse jealousy over being eclipsed as the primary poltical leader in the black community and one part real concern that Obama's straying from conventional wisdom regarding who is responsible for under achievement in the African American community.
Is it centuries of overt racism or is it a lack of personal responsibility that makes crime, drug abuse, school drop outs and unwed mothers a plague? Bill Cosby began speaking about the need to look inward back a few years ago and these comments were hardly embraced by the likes of the Reverends Jackson and Sharpton. It is another thing altogether when a person who has a fifty fifty chance of becoming the next U.S. president espouses such views.
Whether or not Obama fervently believes such things is not as important as the fact that he believes they need to be said from a political standpoint. The fact that he has gotten this far in the process and defeated as politically a savvy a group as the Clinton's tells us that this guy can read polling numbers.
He knows that his support is very strong on the Left and in the African American community. This is the core of the Democratic primary participants. Pandering to the views of the various politically correct factions in the party can get you the nomination, however, Gay rights, feminism, environmentalism, slavery reparations, socialized medicine and other various special interests group issues will simply not be a large enough coalition to win the general election.
This is becoming more and more apparent as we get closer to the general election. McCain is a really old senator from an electorally insignificant state who supports an unpopular occupation, has luke warm support from his own base and yet as of today he is running neck and neck against Obama.
Obama is going to have to move even more to the center and away from his most devout followers if he wants to win. Such liberal taboos as nuclear energy, more drilling, illegal immigration, terrrorism, social security, military preparedness and moderation on taxation are subjects that Obama will have to refine his positions to the center if he hopes to win over moderates and independents. Some might argue that it is his swaying from the base that has eroded his lead in the polls, more likely it is that he has not moved away from the Left fast enough.
