Who said "there is not a liberal America and a conservative America" in 2004?

[alp227]

That's right, US Senate candidate Barack Obama, giving the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention!

Now even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us -- the spin masters, the negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics of "anything goes." Well, I say to them tonight, there is not a liberal America and a conservative America -- there is the United States of America. There is not a Black America and a White America and Latino America and Asian America -- there’s the United States of America.

And during his Thanksgiving radio address, Obama stated:

This is not the hardest Thanksgiving America has ever faced. But as long as many members of our American family are hurting, we’ve got to look out for one another. As long as many of our sons and daughters and husbands and wives are at war, we’ve got to support their mission and honor their service. And as long as many of our friends and neighbors are looking for work, we’ve got to do everything we can to accelerate this recovery and keep our economy moving forward.

And we will. But we won’t do it as any one political party. We’ve got to do it as one people. And in the coming weeks and months, I hope that we can work together, Democrats and Republicans and Independents alike, to make progress on these and other issues.

Obama's been all about bipartisanship even before the 2008 election. In case you didn't remember.

[treestar]

1. He's the opposite of divisive

At least in his intent.

[TheKentuckian]

2. I hoped it was a sales pitch, to be honest.

Play the game and when TeaPubliKlans act like heathens then use the words as a club to beat them senseless.

I'd have written in my pet rock had I thought anyone was foolish enough to believe such nonsense. Look at who he is trying to "partner" with for crying out loud. To be serious about such a sentiment is suicidally naive.

[Clio the Leo]

11. If you refuse to believe the very words that came out of his mouth...

.... the very words that made him famous .... then you cant blame him for being "disappointed."

It would be like voting for the Palin woman in the hopes that she'd be good at geography once she was in the White House.

[TheKentuckian]

13. So you're saying you believe that bipartisanship is a viable strategy for running the country?

You believe the Republicans negotiate in good faith?

You believe the conservatives have a functional ideology that has the best at heart for the American people?

You believe the right has ANY intent of cooperating?

You believe Obama is imbued with some magic that will make all the colors bleed into one?

When someone says straw can be spun into gold, it is not to be taken at face value.

This isn't like thinking Palin was going to learn a subject she clearly does not, this is philosophical in nature like a platitude coming from a politician.

You're saying that politicians can be taken at face value on such things? Fucking shrub ran on working across the aisle and working together too, did you buy that crap.

Yeah, I expect people far less bright than Obama to bust someone in the mouth for kicking them in the behind and telling lies that would make the Devil blush after giving a known sociopath a chance to show they have turned over a new leaf.

You are telling me you trusted that the President was naive to the point of insanity and felt that would work in the real world?

[DJ13]

3. See, I thought Obama's respect for Reagan was respect for creating a new

.... political movement, one that cemented the GOP's power for nearly 30 years.

But nooooo he fooled me...... he really respected Reagan's policies more than leading a new political movement.

[rury]

6. You were right the first time

Obama was talking about creating a movement, NOT praising Reagan's policies.
His policies are the opposite of Reagan's. He is properly re-rgulating what the damn Gipper de-regulated!!

[pscot]

8. He isn't even re-regulating

what Bill Clinton de-regulated.

[Crunchy Frog]

32. Yes. Reagan was responsible for a political realignment in this country.

I had hoped that Obama might do the same thing in reverse and thought that was what he meant. Maybe that's what he earnestly intended, but it's obviously not happening, and maybe he really was talking about respecting Reagan's policies. I just don't know anymore.

[Bluenorthwest]

4. What does 'all about' mean, when it gets no results?

Claiming to be able to do things in a bipartisan manner is very different from delivering that thing, apparently. It is a lovely theory, but this he fails to build that consensus, so what good is being 'all about' that which you can not really bring to meaningful fruition?
We all know he desires such bipartisanship, but he does not seem able to deliver upon it. The GOP will not play ball, and at a certain point he just looks daft being 'all about' those who despise him. This is politics, not some run for Sainthood. No points for intent, only for results.
I know a guy who is 'all about' playing the piano, except he can not play. Is it like that?

[tularetom]

5. I used to say that too but I think we were both wrong

The liberal media has pretty much made it a point to create a liberal America and a conservative America, a black America and a white America.

It suits their narrative and it works to benefit their puppet masters if they can keep the county divided.

And the media have done an excellent job dividing us.

Obama's mistake is in crediting his opponents with motives as honorable as his own. He might believe that there is only one America but his opponents only know they aren't happy that there is a black man in the white house.

[jaxx]

7. Those who listened knew what he is about.

This is part of the change, the understanding that we are one people. He wasn't kidding. And it's being fought against on both sides. From the right because objecting is by rote and they will not come willingly. From the left because people deny what this man stands for, even though he told us early on. We are a deeply divided country and there is one man in the middle pulling on both sides who told us he can't do it alone. So when do we do our part?

[jberryhill]

9. The aspiration to "change politics" went disregarded by some

Some folks are never going to understand the larger problem that he thinks he wants to solve.

[Clio the Leo]

10. I thought he said, "There are some progressives in America ...."

"... and the rest of you can screw off." :sarcasm:

Funny how we forget isn't it? (but thanks for the reminder)

[Chulanowa]

12. He's been for a lot of things the whole damn time

The problem is just that a lot of people voted for "Not-Bush" without informing themselves, and have had their expectations of getting someone far to le left of Bernie Sanders dashed on high rocks.

[Bluenorthwest]

14. Another post on a 'discussion board' where the OP refuses

to discuss. What is that called exactly? I think it is rude as hell.

[alp227]

15. Bottom line is, don't be shocked when Obama calls on bipartisanship

It may not work (as seen in health care reform etc.) but it's not anything new.

[alp227]

16. OTOH, The Young Turks doesn't believe in Obama's "bipartisanship" message

www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x529446

[Honeycombe8]

17. Thanks for the memories. (really) A little reminder every now and then is a good thing. nt

[Phx_Dem]

18. That's right. He hasn't changed, the far lefties just want to move him

to the socialist side of the spectrum, but it's not going to happen.

[craigmatic]

19. Pretty much but we thought he'd at least try to fight them.

[polichick]

20. And he was full of shit then too - it was like saying racism is dead in the U.S. nt

[Peacetrain]

21. There are some people so full of it their eyes are brown..but it is not the President..NT

[polichick]

22. Yes, reading your posts I would come to that conclusion...

But it still doesn't let the prez off the hook for the idiotic thinking that got us where we are as a party.

[Peacetrain]

23. I totally disagree.. I think he has done as much as anyone could possibly have done

with all the things thrown at them..

I have not lost one iota of support for the President.

His main downfall.. honest to GOD.. is his inability to take credit when thing are right..

You have to toot your own horn from time to time and not downplay the progress made by saying constantly it is not enough.

Of course it is not enough..but you have to let people know we are making progress and not spinning our wheels.

He is just terrible at that

[polichick]

24. LOL

[Peacetrain]

25. Well that is how I feel.. and my opinon..

[Hawkowl]

26. I never liked that speech

I was probably one of three Americans who didn't like that speech and thought that Obama was at best naive. I'd have thought he'd grow out of his masochistic, spineless, appeasement of those who would destroy him. He hasn't and he won't. So, we need a new candidate to primary him in 2012.

[polichick]

27. I'd be okay with a primary challenger - give me a chance to use my Dem membership -

...but I don't see anyone burning to step forward yet.

[Grown2Hate]

28. That quote was my tagline for about a year after that speech. I've always agreed with the sentiment

but it's been proven to NOT WORK in real life (at least not in the current climate).

[alp227]

29. I'd agree, given that Republicans have openly stated they want Obama to fail

many of them have NOT welcomed Obama with open arms and would rather have a third term of Bush (hee hee)

[LWolf]

30. I remember quite clearly, which is one of the many positions he

took that convinced me I didn't want him to be president.

[Mass]

31. I understood that as saying that conservative Americans were not evil, which I agree with.

I did not understood that this meant he did not care about what is right and what is wrong and ready to compromise on nearly everything. Sometimes you need to stand up for what you believe in and say your opponent is wrong, and you can do that without treating the other side like hell. You can disagree with somebody and not consider him or her as evil. But you have to disagree and stand strong.

[dsc]

33. yes and it is one of the biggest reasons I didn't back him in the primaries

Bipartisanship in this enviroment is unaffordable.