News Orgs: The Left Is Upset With Obama -- Even Though It Isn't

[ProSense]

News Orgs: The Left Is Upset With Obama -- Even Though It Isn't

By Greg Sargent - December 9, 2008

Look, this is getting ridiculous already. Is it possible that "the left" isn't a monolith that has reached a collective and uniform conclusion about the entire Obama presidency?

Today The New York Times reports that criticism of Obama from the left has been "muted" thus far. Yet the paper nonetheless buries that observation inside a long story devoted to the idea that Obama has "deeply frustrated liberals who thought Mr. Obama's election signaled the rise of a new progressive era."

Meanwhile, over at The Politico, Ben Smith notes accurately that the angst on the left is largely a fiction, adding that "the bigger, and a bit harder to dramatize, story is probably the one about how happy the left is with him." Yet Politico nonetheless felt obliged to run an entire piece claiming that liberals are monolithically "nervous" and "flat out angry" about Obama.
The problem here is this bizarre need to decide one way or the other whether the entire left is or isn't irrevocably dismayed with the Obama presidency and whether it has or hasn't completely given up hope on it.

This is fairly straightforward. Some liberals have concerns about this or that particular appointment or this or that particular policy statement. They're voicing those concerns. That doesn't make "the left" as a whole unhappy with Obama's entire presidency. Those same liberals are happy about other things Obama's doing, and many of them are generally optimistic. Believe it or not, people can simultaneously entertain more than one opinion about Obama's evolving administration.

The problem here is the desire that the news orgs have to tell a simplistic story about those poor, sad, delusional lefties whose silly idealism blinded them to Obama's "pragmatism" and "centrism." You can understand why centrist and right-leaning commentators are pushing this line: They're hoping to discourage Obama from attempting big liberal initiatives by hailing him as pragmatic and centrist, the ultimate D.C. establishment seal of approval.

The news orgs, by contrast, are doing this out of laziness and a hopeless addiction to portraying lefties as a kind of perennially-disappointed lost tribe who will never, ever find their way out of the wilderness. It's just boring and predictable, really.

[babylonsister]

1. Hard to believe the m$m has nothing else to talk about but this

non-story. They're trying to stir up stuff that basically isn't there, yet it's working to a certain extent right here at DU. Go figure.

[ProSense]

6. Really, what's there to be angry about:

The election of a progressive Democrat? The 58 Senate seats occupied by Dems? Bush reign of terror is finally over? Republicans are still trying to come to grips with losing? The wingnuts have nothing but straws to grasp at?

I'm pretty damn happy. The only thing that could make me happier about the political landscape is the indictment and conviction of Bush and his minions, including the robber barons.

[HughMoran]

2. It is "boring and predictable", isn't it?

I could be cynical and point out that those who stated that "this is just a post on some blog, nobody reads this stuff" were maybe underestimating the laziness of the media. Just a few unhappy voices has provided some of those hapless incompetent news writers something to do - even though I do believe that most on the left are quite happy with Obama (including me).

[Triana]

3. The lame$tream media - always trying to cook up division and derision...

...between Obama and his supporters and between Hillary and Susan Rice, most recently.

They remind me of First Grade shit-stirrers from elementary school - always trying to stir up antagonism where there is none - just for "entertainment"

Idiots.

[bunnies]

4. word. nt

[Alter Ego]

5. The "left" as a whole is not monolithic.

There's just a bunch of people who get their undies in a wad whenever Obama doesn't appoint a clone of Kucinich to another post in his Cabinet.

And to talk about them being upset with his Presidency is ludicrous on its face. WHAT PRESIDENCY?! HE HASN'T TAKEN THE FUCKING OATH OF OFFICE YET! AT LEAST LET HIM SIT AT THE RESOLUTE DESK ONE TIME!

[Thrill]

7. You must have missed whiny ass David Corn on MSNBC

[ProSense]

8. Didn't see him, still

one person's opinion is not a consensus. I'm sure individual progressives are complaining about one thing or another, but the notion that "the left" is upset is ridiculous.

[Uzybone]

9. "The Left" will be a bogey man used by lazy media and GOP to bash Obama

in reality I'm sure Obama is getting 80-90% approval from liberals. The small cadre of handwringers and internet bloggers who only know how to whine suddenly seem to be getting the most attention from the media.

[Median Democrat]

10. MSM Meme - Liberals Are Not Practical, Therefore Appointing Pragmatists Pisses Us Off

Also, we should be careful when the theme that liberals are not happy with Obama is being pushed by RW outlets like Politico.

[FrenchieCat]

11. Obama's entire presidency?

Wow, that was quick! :wow:

[AtomicKitten]

12. The MSM is reduced to reporting on their Magic 8 ball findings.

[unblock]

13. if you think the "left" is upset with obama, imagine how that "right" must feel.

hell, the "right" was upset with mclame! imagine how the must feel about obama!

:rofl:

[Downtown Hound]

14. I'm "left" and I'm not upset with Obama

So, there it is.

[Laelth]

15. I love telling non-Democrats that I am upset about a couple of Obama's positions and cabinet picks.

First, they love to hear it. It opens them up to the idea that Obama intends to govern in the interests of all Americans (and not just my interests).

Second, this whole narrative plays to our advantage. I hope they keep calling Obama a centrist and a pragmatist the whole time he governs from the left (which is, for the most part, very pragmatic). It's the best way to get liberal policy and yet avoid the "socialist/communist" label. I don't care what people call him. I care what he does, and the media is giving him cover to govern from the left.

The United States is a LIBERAL Country.

:dem:

-Laelth


Edit:Laelth--sloppy proofreading.

[Life Long Dem]

16. I feel MSM will be using Hillary and the freepers to go against Obama's withdrawal from Iraq.

This can be another rumor or false information about Hillary and Obama, just as it is with Susan Rice and Hillary.

So are you standing with Obama over Iraq or Hillary? Have a good night all.

[NutmegYankee]

17. They must read DU daily...

[Vinca]

18. They must be mistaking general discussion for being upset.

Democrats talk amongst themselves about issues, Republicans keep their mouths shut and take orders.