Are There Any General Election Races Where Both Candidates Are Running To The Left Of Him? Anyone?

[TomCADem]

Many folks who are self-proclaimed disenchanted liberals are trying awfully hard to push the narrative that Obama is a closet conservative, and that the American people are demanding a real progressive on issues like social security, GLBT rights, immigration, and the war in Afghanistan.

Of course, the corporate media is pushing the contrary narrative that President Obama is a closet leftist, but that is another story.

Yet, it appears that most general election races are dominated by folks trying to run to the right of President Obama. The most important issue on voter’s minds is the economy. Yet, when it comes to federal spending and tax cuts, are there any general election races where the candidates are pushing for more taxes or more stimulus spending? No.

Another issue that is frequently discussed here is GLBT rights. Is anyone aware of any general election races where both candidates are tacking to the left of President Obama on the issue?

What about immigration? It seems that most races are dominated by folks tacking to the right of President Obama on this issue.

If President Obama were truly this closet conservative that many folks say he is in posts that are repeatedly bump with no message one line posts, you would expect to see races dominated by both candidates loudly proclaiming that they are more liberal or to the left of President Obama.

So, is anyone aware of any highly contested and competitive races where both the Democratic and Republcian candidates are tacking to left of President Obama on taxes, fiscal policy, GLBT issues, immigration, or energy?

[DFLforever]

1. A brilliant point

and there don't seem to be any answers.

[tularetom]

2. Anybody who harbored ideas of running to the left of Obama

Has been intimidated into utter silence by the liberal media.

They'd be crucified and they know it.

[DFLforever]

3. I thought this would be a hot topic on DU

what with so many well-informed critics of the President here.

[zipplewrath]

4. Are there races where they both are running to his right?

There's not alot of room on his right for someone to be running as a democrat. I'm not sure how you get to his right on Afghanistan, torture, gitmo, wiretapping, health care reform, gay rights, etc. and still be in the race as a democrat. Lincoln is about as close as one might come and I don't think she'd be right of him on every issue.

[Fumesucker]

5. "Closet leftist"?

My impression is that the "liberal media" is painting Obama as "the leftistist president evah"..

[27inCali]

6. People on the Left think they need to destroy O

as some sort of prerequisite for the dramatic revolutionary change that they think they want -the irony being that he's the best ally they have ever had in the WH if only they can except he's not always going to do things they think he should.

the Left sometimes forgets how ahead of the curve they are on pretty much every issue and how hard it is the drag the rest of the dumbshits along. They keep expecting it not to be a long painful process but instead like some quick, emotionally satisfying event with lots of easily distinguished heroes -no, it will LONG, CONFUSING, FRUSTRATING. It will involve making allies of people with whom they cannot stand. There will be NOTHING expedient about it.

[Fumesucker]

7. Yes, everyone on the left thinks exactly alike..

:eyes:

Could your brush possibly get any more wide?

[27inCali]

8. either you detect a kernel of truth or not

I just don't understand why the Senate's bullshit keeps getting left at Obama's doorstep.

[zipplewrath]

11. Because he supports much of it

There are alot of folks apologizing for Obama, without realizing that he actually LIKES Lincoln and Specter. He actually WANTED mandates and cadillac taxes. He negotiated with Big Pharma. Geitner was lobbying to WEAKEN aspects of the Banking Bill. The White House advocated AGAINST confronting the conservative democrats in the senate, and then went and campaigned FOR them over the candidates that labor preferred. Obama claimed he "had the backs" of the tortures in the CIA. These things weren't forced upon him by the Senate.

[Radical Activist]

9. There's a lot of that at DU.

Ultimately, the people who think significant change can only happen as a result of some calamitous event that results in a revolution are engaging in a lazy cop-out. They don't want to do the difficult, long term organizing work that it takes to create lasting change. They want some external force to sweep in and magically do the work for them.

After reading Shock Doctrine, it's obvious that, even if such an event were to occur, the right is much more effective at using disasters to their own benefit than the left.

[Radical Activist]

10. One candidate ran left in the primary by supporting Obama.

In the Kentucky Senate primary the more conservative Democrat was running to the right of Obama. Jack Conway went left by expressing support for more of Obama's agenda. I realize this doesn't fit in with anyone's narrative.