Would someone please tell Obama that he was elected because he's a DEMOCRAT.

[Dawgs]

Not because people want him to reach across the isle.

Robert Gibbs just said that he was elected because people want him to work with Republicans. That's bullshit.

80% of the people that voted for Obama would have voted for ANY Democrat.

10-15% were voting for him because he wasn't George Bush or a Republican.

The rest voted for him because of other reasons.

Can someone please tell him this so he stops bringing Republicans(Gregg's replacement) to Washington; so he stops giving in to Republicans in congress; so he stops losing his political capital.

:wtf:

[rcrush]

1. Ok I'll tell him.

[ronnykmarshall]

50. I just called too.

He told me you had just called.

You guys .... NO MORE CALLS!

He's very busy. rcrush and I have told him.

[geek tragedy]

2. Did Gibbs really say that? Oh Jaysus. n/t

[Political Tiger]

3. He was elected because he was the best person for the job.

eom.

[Dawgs]

7. I agree, but he seems to think his main focus should be working with republicans.

Which is not why he was elected.

[Political Tiger]

12. He was elected to get things done.

That sometimes means working with the opposition.

George W Bush completely ignored the opposition, and looked how that turned out!

People didn't vote for a Democratic version of George W Bush.

[Dawgs]

29. Working with the opposition is one thing.

Giving them more than they deserve, not getting anything in return, and not learning from it is just not acceptable.

[avaistheone1]

32. Things didn't work out because the Democrats DID work with George Bush.

The Democrats pretty much gave Bush everything he wanted. So much for bipartisanship.
The republicans have nothing to offer us except cutting more taxes for the rich, giving all our power to the corporations and war, war war. What the hell do the republicans bring to the table? They continue to undermine Obama's and the Democratic agenda.

Obama should stay away as far as possible from the republicans. Quit kowtowing to the repukes for God's sake.

[girl gone mad]

66. How it turned out was..

he got a lot of stuff done.

[redstate_democrat]

72. "George W Bush completely ignored the opposition, and looked how that turned out!"

George Bush was "elected" twice and he got through most of everything he wanted save for some of the more ludicrous, sacrilegious crap that had been collecting dust in the files of the Heritage, AEI, PNAC, and Cato think tanks during the 90s.

Turns out all of his ideas were craptaculous and detrimental to the health of the nation. Democrats don't have that problem. We have that other one that Bush didn't have.

[tsuki]

77. Yep, working with the opposition is great until you are bipartisan'd out. nt

[Jennicut]

4. Actually many people not on DU did elect him for his transformational

ability to seem above it all and possibly break the politics as usual gridlock in Washington. The general public really just wants things to get done and the economy to get better.

[Maven]

10. Break the gridlock!

LOL.

Like all of the ZERO Republicans in the House who voted for the stimulus. How many will he get in the Senate? 5? Maybe? At the end of the day there are more Republicans in his cabinet than there are Republican legislators who aren't trying to block his agenda.

I think the buzzwords ("transformational," "above it all," "gridlock" etc.) are clouding your brain.

[Jennicut]

17. I am not talking about us. I am talking about independents and

some Repubs. They did vote for him too you know. Also the general public that are not political junkies. We know Repubs are aholes. I think Obama is just doing this for appearances and to say, "see, I tried, they won't work with me" and move on.

[Dawgs]

11. I'm sorry, but you have no idea why people voted for him.

:eyes:

[MadBadger]

13. Oh, how silly of us. We dont have the made up statistics like you do!

[Baltoman991]

74. I think

I have a pretty good idea why people voted for him.

1. He was the best person for the job.
2. The American People are tired of business as usual.

Look, the man said from day one that he's going to work with the other side. If the American People didn't want that then they wouldn't have voted for him. Seems pretty obvious to me that the American People were in fact ok with that and they voted for him.

[BlueCaliDem]

16. And this is the bat repubs use to smack him and the Dems over the head with

giving them power the Dems didn't and don't seem to ever have in congress.

Repubs might be in the minority, but with the solid help of BushDogDems, they're actually in the majority and is making sure Pres. Obama and REAL Dems understand this.

[Richardo]

5. Guess what? He knows.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3722602&mesg_id=3722602

[Dawgs]

15. Bullshit. If he knew he wouldn't have picked a republican to replace a democrat(Richardson), and...

then let a Democratic Governor pick a republican as the replacement.

Maybe you're right and he finally learned this morning. If so, it's disappointing that it took this long.

[Richardo]

20. "Learned this morning"? He's 18 steps ahead of you or me

We're the ones catching up.

[Dawgs]

28. Sorry. I'll get back in line.

:eyes:

[Solomon]

54. Thanks

[FrenchieCat]

6. Do you have a link to source your stats......

or are you just pulling them out of your ass?

Barack Obama promised to change the partisan tone in Washington.
If you didn't want that, you should have voted for Nader...cause he was running.

[Dawgs]

21. You disagree that any Democrat would have gotten 80% of Obama's votes?

Even after 8 years of Bush and the Republicans?

"Barack Obama promised to change the partisan tone in Washington."
Then he's failing big time.

[Richardo]

23. Any Democrat who got 80% of Obama's votes would have LOST

[Dawgs]

30. That's not my point.

Maybe you should read the OP again.

[Richardo]

34. You said he was elected because he was a Democrat

But a Democrat who got 80% of the votes he did would NOT have been elected.

Therefore, he was elected for reasons IN ADDITION to his being a Democrat.

I read pretty good.

[Dawgs]

40. No you didn't.

Many independants, and even some Republicans, would have voted for any other Democrat.

Nice try though.

[FrenchieCat]

26. See, when someone is telling me that Obama is failing at changing the tone in Washington

after being in office 2 weeks, I have to tell them that they are full of shit.

In addition, I just asked for a link for the stats that you cited, i.e., asking you to back your shit up. If there are no such stats, then my question to you is why are you making shit up; what is the purpose?

[Jennicut]

33. Because Obama just is not pure enough for some. He has Rethug cooties

now or something like that. Its kind of childish.

[FrenchieCat]

36. Perhaps that is why he warned us that we needed to put away

childish things.

I'm sure some thought that message wasn't for them, but just maybe it was.

[Dawgs]

42. That's classless Frenchie.

I've been just as big an Obama supporter as you; long before most.

I trust that Obama will give us everything we expect and more.

You can't always be blind.

[FrenchieCat]

46. Perhaps I am being harsher than I need to be, and for that I apologize.....

However, you are pulling stats out of your ass, to make a point that I don't agree with as much as you do....nevertheless.

[Dawgs]

35. Fail. I'm not telling you that Obama is failing at changing the tone in Washington.

I'm telling you that he CAN'T change the tone in Washington. Anyone that's been following politics for more than half a day knows this.

My numbers are just guesses; they're not stats. I used them to make the point that most of the people that voted for him loved him as a candidate; but loved him because he had good Democratic ideas. Ideas that were drastically different from Bush and the Republicans. Not becuase we wanted him to give in to the Republicans; which is what he's done so far.

[FrenchieCat]

41. So you provide stats that you've pulled out of your ass.....

and expect me to take your word about that and other things.

If I recall correctly, the slogan for the Obama campaign was "YES, WE CAN".....
and so to hear you say what CAN'T be done lets me know that you are playing
on the other team.....the NO WE CAN'T folks.

Did he say it would be easy to make changes? NO, he said it would be hard. He said it would be a climb. He said that at times it would seem unsurmoutable. He also said that he would make mistakes.....but that we would get there.

It appears that we will get there, although we will have to drag some of youse as you scream and shout....NOoooooo!

I'm going to guess that if I were to look back via the search engine, I could probably find a quote from you stating that America CAN'T elect or isn't ready to elect a Black man as well. Am I right?

Far as I'm concerned, you are part of the problem.

[Dawgs]

47. So you accuse me of making stuff up, and then do the same thing in your post.

Please use the search engine to see how I've supported Obama. I've been fighting right along side of you for over two years to get this man elected. Ask many of the Hillary supporters.

"Far as I'm concerned, you are part of the problem." That's funny. I was thinking the same thing about you.

Are you a Democrat, or just an Obama supporter. I know it's your goal to look like the biggest one.

[Jennicut]

59. I don't Obama is so dumb and naive and needs us to tell him he can't possibly

get anything done in DC. That is my problem. I realize the Rethugs are impossible to work with except for maybe 3 or 4 of them. If we get that then a grown Harvard educated man gets it too. I just think putting down poor little inexperienced Obama is kind of funny. I think he wants people to see he tried and then the Rethugs would not work with him, put it back on them.

[ronnykmarshall]

52. I'll take "Things you pull out of your ass" for $200, Alex!

[Dawgs]

55. Those numbers I put up there have nothing to do with my point.

It's just that Obama needs to learn that he can't work with Republicans. They will ALWAYS disappoint him.

[Life Long Dem]

8. Their getting whipped by Obama Ithink

You see McCain? A mistake to air him. He looked all tuckered out. And Obama is just practicing for the marathon of getting this country on track. And McCain is already pooped out. :rofl:

[Dawgs]

22. I hope so. The one thing I do believe is that Obama will try his hardest to push what we want.

McCain does look like shit.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

9. What was Obama's margin of victory again?

That's right, about 7%.

In your estimates (assuming they are correct, which I don't believe they are), you account for a maximum of 95% of the people that voted for Obama. They alone would barely bring him to victory.

Then you need to account for the latter group - the 10-15% that voted against Bush and the Republicans. They are not exactly wedded to the Democratic Party and cannot be relied upon in future elections. That brings us well below the mark for victory.

And you fail to account for 5%.

Simple math is your friend. That at least 20% of his voters would not necessarily vote for him again just because he's a Democrat is reason enough to cross the aisle.

[Connie_Corleone]

14. Gee, I thought Obama did earlier today.

[Dawgs]

24. Are you talking about words or actions?

Because, just yesterday he agreed to add a republican to his cabinet, while at the same time letting a democratic governor pick a republican replacement. That's adding one more republican to washington.

I say one day too late.

[stray cat]

18. Maybe thats why you voted for him. I want him to get things done that work for Americans

I don't vote for anyone simply on the basis of a D next to their name. They better offer better than just that.

[Dawgs]

25. Nope. I voted for him because he's the first candidate I've ever trusted.

I believe he will fix everything Bush and the Republicans broke plus so much more.

But, his actions with the Gregg appointment and not getting Democrats on board with the stimilus bill show me that he still needs to learn a little bit about Washington.

[Solomon]

56. Oh yeah, right. You know a lot more about Washington than he

does.

[ellacott]

19. You all paid no attention to him while he was campaigning

He stated that he wanted to reach across the aisle and that he would have Republicans in his cabinet.

He stated this many times. It's amazing how upset yall get when he does something that he promised to do when he was campaigning.

[Dawgs]

37. Reaching across the isle is fine.

I have no problem with him meeting with republicans, or inviting them over for parties.

But, giving into their demands while getting nothing in return is not acceptable.

There is a difference.

[ellacott]

43. He campaigning on going to parties with them

You don't know how things will turn out.

He's been in office for 15 days. I'm amazed at how critical you all are of this President. Were you all this critical of our past Presidents?

It seems that he will never do enough to please most of you.

[Dawgs]

51. You're right. I don't know how things will turn out. But, I do see the direction things are going.

Maybe you're okay with Obama losing the stimulus fight. I'm not.

I think this country desperately needs this bill.

It also bothers me that so many think the republicans will ever play along.

[ellacott]

I wish you all would stop this

I never said I was ok with him losing the stimulus fight. As I said, you don't know how things will turn out.

I remember during the campaign that people were piling on because they felt he was not assertive enough against Clinton and McCain. Many felt they saw the direction things were going and they were wrong.

I'm going to give him more than 15 days before I get worried.

It will be better if the Repubs don't play along and it could be his goal to expose how uncooperative they are.

[Jennicut]

61. Exactly. Expose them for the obstructionist aholes they are.

Obama is far from losing the stimulus battle. He had Snowe and Collins over at the WH today. They are Repubs who could not get elected in the rest of the country. New England Repubs. Yes, there may be some compromise. But there was a lot of crap that can be cut out of the bill that has nothing to do with creating jobs.

[ellacott]

63. That's how I see it too

I believe they loaded the bill with things that wouldn't be difficult to remove. Some of those items could be presented in future bills.

The Republicans were talking about there wasn't more spending for infrastructure. That was added to the bill today and they voted against that amendment.

[Hippo_Tron]

27. One thing's for sure, he wasn't elected to solicit political strategy advice from the peanut gallery

[Solomon]

57. LOL

Well done!

[elocs]

31. Aren't you someone? Why don't you do it then?

Critics are a dime a dozen and are never satisfied. Something will always be wrong.

[Dawgs]

38. Wow. You're smart.

"Why don't you do it then?"

WTF!!

[elocs]

49. It's your thread, you said it, you do it. Simple concept, isn't it?

I may not be smarter than you, but I am more perceptive.

[Dawgs]

62. If you were more perceptive you wouldn't have said something so stupid.

Sorry, you failed twice.

[Name removed]

39. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

58. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Phx_Dem]

44. He was NOT elected because he was a Dem.

He was elected because of his policy platform, his intelligence, and because Independs and Republicans voted for him as well as Democrats. He's doing exactly what he said he would do.

[avaistheone1]

48. He was elected because he was a Dem.

Most voters don't know anything about his policies accept Obama's want out of Iraq and tax relief for workers and the middle class - if they even know that much.

If Obama was a Republican he never, ever would have been elected. To get elected as a republican, he would have tied by the public to GW Bush which would have been the death of his candidacy.

[Dawgs]

53. Could he have won as anything but a Democrat? NO!!

That's not even my point.

[WinkyDink]

70. Oh, please.

[Phx_Dem]

71. Oh yeah, I think I remember hearing everyone saying

hey let's elect a Democrat, any Democrat will do. Not.

[WinkyDink]

75. The election proves my point, not yours.

[AndyA]

45. Working with the other party is a TWO-WAY STREET.

Barack is smart enough to know that the other side should occasionally reach across the aisle as well. Yet, they never do. So "working with the other party" is defined as Democrats caving in to the GOP.

Barack Obama was elected because people want

CHANGE

Someone needs to tell Mr. Gibbs that.

[LittleClarkie]

60. This is the man we elected. This is who he said he was and would be

why is anyone surprised?

All you had to do was read "The Audacity of Hope" to know we were electing a moderate uniter.

If the people didn't know that's what they were electing, that's there problem.

[sohndrsmith]

64. That's not my main reason for voting for him - and simply because he's a

Democrat doesn't mean he's going to negate or try to undermine anyone who isn't. I voted for him, in large part, because he is NOT lead first and foremost by the letter after his name, even if the general values and ideology of that letter are ones I fully support - almost to a fault.

I voted for him because he said he wouldn't be "protectionist" and divisive with any group, and this is what he said in just about every single speech I've heard him give.

AND he's living up to his promises. That others refuse to meet him halfway or work cooperatively when he has extended to want to do just that for the good of all, not just some (designated by a political party, a religion or faith, or skin color, etc.).

That he is being met with inordinate opposition that - if it keeps us distracted long enough, and by long enough I don't mean long at all - it terminates the thing being put into place then I truly believe we will shortly be in a full fledged Depression.

The more time it takes to bicker and demand things that keep making the entire plan increasingly impotent, the more we are racing at the speed of light towards even greater disaster that will be all that much harder to get out of.

[WI_DEM]

65. And he's been performing as a democrat.

[mvd]

67. But is it really Obama's fault?

I don't think Obama has capitulated very much on the details, even though he has listened. This thread might lift your spirits:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3722602

I still think the problems with the stimulus plan are more the fault of a lack of leadership from Reid, and a few Democrats who agree with the Repuke economic policies too much.

[lamp_shade]

68. Go to whitehouse.gov

[WinkyDink]

69. Re: Gibbs: That is SO NOT why I voted for him!

[Kaleva]

73. What's a Democrat?

I think the majority of people here at DU are far more to the left of average Dem.

[Zavulon]

76. "80% of the people that voted for Obama would have voted for ANY Democrat."

As someone who fits that description, I find it hard to believe the number is that low, actually. I mean, McStain was the opposition.