I consider my frequent critiques of some of President Obama's policies --the misguided ones-- a form of "tough love." After all, I voted for him. And he wants to hear from his supporters, right?
Here's the Progressive Congressional Caucus' Donna Edwards urging progressives to "find their voices."
Here's the line I like:
"As progressives we haven't quite found our voice in terms of offering the appropriate critique of this administration. And you know what? He needs us to do it. And the reason he needs us is because it will make him a stronger and better President. It will make him more progressive. It will make him less likely to have to always bow to the conservative wings not just of the Republican Party but of the Democratic Party.
Paul Karsh is one progressive who has raised his voice "to let [Obama] know where we need to hear his voice" with this open letter. It reads in part:
"I need your voice to do something about service people who have served our country with honor and distinction, and who have skills that our services desperately need, being discharged for being openly gay. ...
"I need your voice to allow the option of single-payer to be part of the discussion of health care reform."
Have you considered sending coppies of your critiques to the White House via e-mail? His staff places a sample (10 or so) of comments they receive each day.
Sorry, I do not know the address.
Posted by: howard | May 31, 2009 at 12:09 PM
"Speaking truth to power", in this case Obama, is a waste of time. The reason is that power already knows the truth. Bush may well have been so ignorant that he didn't know what was being done by others in his name, but Obama is a well educated and sophisticated person who sees no problem with torture and murder of innocents, deprivation of health care, two sets of standards for the elites and the rest of us, etc.
The "make me do it" meme can only have value if we hit the streets and close down the imperial edifice. Sending emails and letters to beg for crumbs is what the greedheads and torturers want.
Posted by: Harry Kershner | June 01, 2009 at 12:38 PM
Someone recently wrote (I don't have the article) that Obama needs to see that there exists an actual "base" for progressive change, an organized base.
And Howard Zinn --a member of that base for change-- wrote in the latest edition of The Progressive
"Our job is not to give him a blank check or simply be cheerleaders. It was good that we were cheerleaders while he was running for office, but it’s not good to be cheerleaders now. ...
"That’s been the story of this country. Where progress has been made, wherever any kind of injustice has been overturned, it’s been because people acted as citizens, and not as politicians. They didn’t just moan. They worked, they acted, they organized, they rioted if necessary to bring their situation to the attention of people in power. And that’s what we have to do today.
I'm not into rioting. But I can type.:)
Posted by: Terry | June 01, 2009 at 02:23 PM
It's time to do whatever is necessary. The rulers will not give up their power without a shitstorm of disobedience.
Malvina Reynolds from another time ("It isn't Nice"):
"It isn't nice to block the doorway,
It isn't nice to go to jail,
There are nicer ways to do it,
But the nice ways always fail.
It isn't nice, it isn't nice,
You told us once, you told us twice,
But if that's Freedom's price,
We don't mind.
"It isn't nice to carry banners
Or to sit in on the floor,
Or to shout our cry of Freedom
At the hotel and the store.
It isn't nice, it isn't nice,
You told us once, you told us twice,
But if that's Freedom's price,
We don't mind.
"How about those years of lynchings
And the shot in Evers' back?
Did you say it wasn't proper,
Did you stand upon the track?
You were quiet just like mice,
Now you say we aren't nice,
And if that's Freedom's price,
We don't mind."
There are direct actions planned for forcing the hands of the non-representatives who continue to deny what the majority wants. Anyone who sits out (rather than in) is an impediment.
Friday, 6/5:
Meet at the corner of Albina and Killingsworth at 2:30 to Rally for Single Payer.
Portland Community College Cascade Campus Moriarty Auditorium
705 N. Killingsworth St.
At 3:30, Blumenauer and Dean will be lying their asses off about single-payer and hoping Democrats will fall for it. Don't do it.
Posted by: Harry Kershner | June 02, 2009 at 12:36 PM
With respect to what a previous poster said, you can try communicating to the White House on this link:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
This is also reachable from www.whitehouse.gov and clicking on the "Contact" link.
I have no idea if what you send will actually be read but this is preferable to being totally silent.
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