Howard Dean says Obama can not "placate the conservatives"

[madfloridian]

He was speaking at a panel discussion about the Citizens' United ruling by the Supreme Court.

Dean tells AP Obama must reclaim progressive base

Dean, the former Democratic National Committee chairman and one-time presidential contender, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that Obama has "clearly upset members of his base" on issues including tax cuts and allowing gays to serve openly in the military. Obama stands to lose both the presidency and his party's credibility if he doesn't reverse course before 2012, Dean said.

"You take care of the people who sent you to the office," he said in an interview. "There are hundreds of thousands of people under 30 who slept on floors for two years to make sure Barack got elected. You can't turn your back on those people because if you do, it's going to be hard to find any friends."

..."He dismissed Obama's efforts to court conservatives as "a waste of time" even as the president was meeting with Republican congressional leaders at the White House for the first time since the midterm elections.

Dean noted that Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has vowed to make Obama a one-term president.

"You can't deal with people like that — you're not going to placate the conservatives," Dean said. "They're out to get you and they've placed that as their highest interest."

Dean also had words about the ruling.

Dean criticized the ruling and slammed the court, saying it had "undermined its legitimacy with what I consider to be an extremely partisan, ill-considered decision."

[madfloridian]

1. I just noticed this was posted earlier in LBN.

So mods delete if you wish.

[Hardrada]

2. Misleading Header

[David__77]

3. Properly said, "Obama CANNOT placate conservatives."

This is not with regard to his policy perspective; that said, Obama is entirely capable of hoisting a right-wing agenda, without nominally right-wing support.

[BeFree]

6. Obama has been kissing con-ass

Sure hope he gives up that style, soon.

[fascisthunter]

4. I think this Bipartisanship thing is a bogus front

for what the man truly believes but will not admit publicly. Hell, look at the people he has appointed.

[Yeahyeah]

8. Absolutely.Obama will not change.

[whathehell]

9. Agreed...I think we've been "had". n/t

[hlthe2b]

5. God, I wish Obama would listen to Dean...

I guess Rahm really poisoned that "well."

[Individualist]

7. Dean said "you're not going to placate the conservatives". I see nothing to indicate Obama concurs.

[madfloridian]

10. Okay I changed the subject line. I was using quotes, by the way.

Frankly I think it is pretty clear what he meant. I changed it. Peace.

[AlinPA]

11. Dean is 100% correct. You cannot work with the crazed right wing. nt

[Still Blue in PDX]

12. I love Howard Dean. nt

[Peregrine Took]

13. He "can't" but he will. Its what he does. n/t