Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Why do some on the Left keep saying that Pres. Obama is "center-right"? [View all]BlueStreak
(8,377 posts)2. Because everything has moved extreme right in the past 30 years. He is left of the most extreme
right wing, but put him next to FDR or JFK and I think the answer to your question should immediately become obvious.
Because of this far right shift, it probably is not possible to elect an FDR today, but may be in another 3 or 4 election cycles. Obama is as "left" as he can be in today's political climate, which is far, far to the right of our traditional center.
None of this is necessarily a reflection on where his true beliefs might lie. He is, above all else, a pragmatist, and we never really get to see where he really might be.
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
65 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
Why do some on the Left keep saying that Pres. Obama is "center-right"? [View all]
Jamaal510
Mar 2013
OP
Our US History teacher, in the 70's, said that if you go far enough left then you're right.
NYC_SKP
Mar 2013
#1
Because everything has moved extreme right in the past 30 years. He is left of the most extreme
BlueStreak
Mar 2013
#2
That isn't exactly how I see it. The NRA thing has laid bare the state of our "democracy"
BlueStreak
Mar 2013
#51
Banning private health insurance isn't left-wing, it's just authoritarian.
Donald Ian Rankin
Mar 2013
#36
Not to mention that France has a two tiered system where 80% of citizens buy private insurance to
stevenleser
Mar 2013
#61
maybe things like "...I would be considered a moderate Republican"- Obama
green for victory
Mar 2013
#8
Noam Chomsky: Obama Would Have Been Called a 'Moderate Republican' in Recent Decades
bananas
Mar 2013
#23
Two of our greatest Presidents were moderate republicans, Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt.
bluestate10
Mar 2013
#42
Because, in so doing, they subtract "the Left" from his base, thusly forcing BO to the right, which
patrice
Mar 2013
#31
He is centre-right; as was Bill Clinton, as is the Democratic Party, generally.
Spider Jerusalem
Mar 2013
#40
Left vs right is really not relevant, Obama and the DNC are pragmatists not measured that way
HereSince1628
Mar 2013
#48