Nader: Obama in the Shark Tank

[Karmadillo]

http://www.counterpunch.org/nader12222009.html

A Weak Character
Obama in the Shark Tank
By RALPH NADER

The ancient Greek philosopher, Heraclitus (535-475 BC) said that "character is destiny." He might have added that "personality is decisive." Where is Barack Obama in this framework?

The venerable historian, James MacGregor Burns, in his book "Transforming Leadership," drew an important distinction between "transforming and transactional leadership," and calling Franklin Delano Roosevelt a reflection of the former genre.

Given all the burgeoning crises in the United States and the world, the only global military and economic superpower (albeit in serious deficit straits) needs a transforming leader, when, at best, it has a transactional leader in the White House.

I say "at best," because President Obama displays an uncanny inability to deal. He is not even anywhere near Lyndon Baines Johnson in that regard. This lack is due more to his personality than to his character.

His is a concessionary demeanor, an aversion to conflict and to taking on entrenched power, a devotee of harmony ideology not because he doesn't believe in necessary re-directions, but because he does not project the strength of his beliefs and willingness to draw the line-here and no further-as did Ronald Reagan or FDR.

In the shark tank known as the federal Washington, D.C. Obama's personality projects weakness as someone who does not take a stand and fight, as someone inclined to rely on his rhetoric to explain his withdrawals, retreats and reversals. Some examples follow.

First, the President has been openly for single payer health insurance (full Medicare for all with free choice of physician and hospital) since before he became a politician. His friends included single payer leaders such as the stalwart Dr. Quentin Young in Chicago.

So, instead of starting with "single payer," he descends to vague policy declarations, asks Congress to come up with a specific bill, while cutting private deals in meetings in the White House with drug industry and health insurance executives.

more...

[Larkspur]

1. Agree with Nader on this

and its confirmed by Feingold and Lieberman who said that the WH did not pressure him on supporting the public option.

[Goldstein1984]

2. Science, according to Kuhn, has the same structure

"Normal Science," which is basically ongoing research within a paradigm (maintaining and slowly changing the status quo)
"Revolutionary Science," which is the paradigm shifting process (Darwin, Relativity, Copernican Universe)

Nader's point is probably significant in view of expectations. Many expected Obama to be a transforming/revolutionary figure, but he has turned out to be a transactional/normal president. So, whether or not he is doing a good job of being a normal president is overshadowed by disappointment that he isn't creating the revolution many who supported him expected.

[leeroysphitz]

11. An oh so normal president at that.

[cliffordu]

3. If nader knew what the fuck he was talking about, he'd have been elected to some fucking thing/

[Xipe Totec]

4. Agreed

This is just Nader, still trying to justify his scorched earth approach to politics.

[MuseRider]

6. Really?

Do you know anything about Nader? If you did you would never say he would have been elected to some fucking thing if he knew what he was talking about. He does not need to be elected to some fucking thing to know what he is talking about, look at his political past and what he has done for this country as a consumer advocate and then say that he doesn't know what the fuck he is talking about. Never mind, it won't matter will it? He spoiled your party and it had nothing to do with election fraud and a poorly run campaign by Gore. Gore won you know that don't you?

[Goldstein1984]

17. Nader is my candidate of choice whenever

the lesser of two evils just ain't good enough.

[MuseRider]

20. Not mine but I do have a lot of respect

and appreciation for him. The lesser of two evils will never be good enough for me ever again. It was a lesson learned a long time ago. You have to have someone to vote for if you are not willing to stay home. While I may not think Nader would be a good president he certainly knows enough and has the best interests of the people up front. Ego? Well yes he does. Show me a politician who does not have one, how could you not in that position? I almost voted for him because Gore was not someone I was terribly comfortable with and in Kansas I could have voted for Homer Simpson and done as much good since Kansas was obviously going to go Bush** in a big way. I caved, voted for Gore, was uncomfortable about it but knew it would never matter.

Kucinich is my candidate of choice, again it would simply be a statement but no more lesser of two evils for me either.

[Goldstein1984]

21. For me it's Nader, or a write in Hugo Chavez

Nader isn't infallible, but he has a long history of working on behalf of the people.

Gotta go. I'm being crucified on another thread.

[MuseRider]

22. I saw that.

Good luck with that. :)

He does have a wonderful history and we are only richer and have safer lives because of him. I will never be able to say enough thanks for what he has done for this country.

[Goldstein1984]

24. I really enjoy the give and take

I was sure when I wrote it that my commentary of the use of "Uncle Tom" was going to get negative feedback. I was hoping for more substance,though.

I work in the business world, probably in the only field--environmental safety and health--that someone like me could work without going insane. "Uncle Tom" is used all the time for employees who buy into the whole "upwardly mobile" thing, and also for compliance people who become too close to the regulators that oversee the business.

[MuseRider]

25. I used to enjoy it.

Now there is mostly little substance unfortunately. I think it used to be better, in fact I know it was. I learned here how to debate/fight and use links and facts and to check and recheck because crap like you see now did not fly. Now I just post what I think on occasion, there is no need to document because it is how you feel or what you personally believe in that gets crapped on. It is tiresome and dumb and I find myself caught up in it far too easily. I post for a few days then just read for months.

I am glad you found a place to work that is not too crazy making. :-)

[Goldstein1984]

26. Thanks.

At work, I think of myself as a socialist insurgent. I was once invited to lunch at "The Petroleum Club," a private restaurant so exclusive that you don't even know it exists until you've been invited to dine there by a member. I felt like I was eating in Satan's private dining room. Dick Cheney would have been an honored guest. If they had any idea of my political views I might have found myself on the menu.

My political views moved further to the Left after I was too far into this career to allow me to change without hurting my family. It is probably what I have experiences (e.g. Working for Williams Energy when they backed the 2002 coup against Hugo Chavez; working briefly for Flint Hills Resources, a Koch subsidiary; working on the Exxon-Valdez Spill) that has driven me to the left and into socialism over the years. i'm fortunate to have a job that allows me to help family who have been severly impacted by the Economic Melddown.

Once I hit 1000 posts so I can blend in a little better, I'll going to get back to my reading, too.

[Karmadillo]

30. It's an amazing change.

I remember a reminiscing thread some years back where mike_c was saying it used to be like attending a seminar class around here. There were lots of incredibly bright people writing things they obviously put a lot of thought into and there were fierce debates where people remained (lots of the time) fair and reasonable. There was kind of a respect for the "institution" of DU that made you not want to post something unless it seemed at least semi-intelligent. Nothing stays the same, but we have certainly lost something here over the years.

[MuseRider]

32. You have been here longer than I

so I would imagine it is even harder for you. I got busted hard on my first post and the poster even started sending me PM's that were essentially trying to get me to think outside the little box I found myself in. I felt so bad that I stopped posting for a while. :-) There was not enough time in the world to read all the well thought out posts, it was like reading books sometimes. I loved it. Now, not so much but there are still some wonderful people here who I would not want to miss as I miss those who are not here anymore. Still some great posts but they are much fewer than before. Why when I was a young poster we posted with a dictionary at our side and the constitution on the other and WE were not allowed to get away with anything, not like these young whippersnappers :-) I feel so old when I read what I just wrote, the old back in the day but yes you are correct, it is not the same at all.

[dbonds]

5. I believe Nadar is right on this.

Obama has shown to be more afraid of confrontation than a deal maker. He hasn't stood up strongly for any beliefs yet.

[dionysus]

7. feh, ralph nader is a douchebag.

:shrug:

[SemiCharmedQuark]

8. He refuses to back down from his "Uncle Tom" remarks.

"This is what I meant a year ago when I said the next year will determine whether Barack Obama will be an Uncle Tom groveling before the demands of the corporations.”"
December 18, 2009
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-12-18/the-man-cheering-obamas-health-care-woes/full/

[dionysus]

9. no big surprise there.

[blondeatlast]

10. That guy who called Obama an Uncle Tom? Meh. nt

[Luminous Animal]

23. As far as can tell via google, he didn't call Obama "Uncle Tom".

Link to the transcript:
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article21169.htm

"Nader: "To put it very simply, he is our first African American president; or he will be. And we wish him well. But his choice, basically, is whether he's going to be Uncle Sam for the people of this country, or Uncle Tom for the giant corporations".

Fox News: "Really. Ralph Nader -- What was that?"

Nader: "It's very simple. He has gone along with corporate power from the moment he entered politics in the State Senate -- Voted for the Wall Street Bailout -- Supports expanding military budget that is desired by the military industrial complex, and doesn't really have a tax reform thing for the ordinary fellow in this country -- Opposes single-payer full Medicare for all, because the giant HMOs AETNA and SIGNA do -- Doesn't have a living wage -- He's supposed to be respectful of the poor -- hardly mentions them in his speech -- It's all the middle class -- He doesn't have a comprehensive program...""

>>>>>

Fox News: "You said "Uncle Tom". I didn't say it, sir. With respect, I did not say it..."

Nader: "I said that's the question HE has to answer. He can become a great President, or he can become a toady for the corporate powers that have brought both parties to their knees against working people in this country, and have allowed our country to be hijacked by global corporations who have no allegiance to this country other than to ship its jobs and industries to fascist and communist dictators abroad who know how to keep their workers in their place. This is reality here. This is not show business. It's not celebrity politics. There are people suffering in this country, and we expect a great Presidency from Barack Obama, and we're gonna try to hold his feet to the fire..."

For the record, though I agree with Nader's point, I believe that he did not choose his words wisely.

[blondeatlast]

28. Perhas he could have been more careful in his rhetoric then. Leaders do that. nt

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

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

[SemiCharmedQuark]

13. Sorry, the phrase "uncle Tom" *IS* still racially charged.

[blondeatlast]

15. Bull. Fucking. Shit. nt

[Goldstein1984]

16. I think we disagree

[blondeatlast]

18. Ya think? My ex-hisband is a man of color. My kid is mixed race. Don't tell me

it's appropriate.

[Goldstein1984]

19. My wife of 30 years is a woman of color

Don't tell me.

[Skidmore]

14. Keep tossing the chum in, Ralph. It's the only think you are good at

any more.

[truebrit71]

27. Up yours Nader!! Thanks to you we got 8 years of Lt AWOL...

...

[mdmc]

31. lol

:eyes:
Leiberman 2016!

[Vidar]

29. Bravo Nader!

[mdmc]

33. --